Michael Zahner has 28 years of experience in the administration of Act 250, serving half his tenure as the Vermont Natural Resources Board's Executive Director. In that role, Michael was primarily responsible for the overall administration of Act 250 including quasi-judicial and administrative functions; major policy formulation; promulgation of rules; program and personnel evaluation; as well as, statistical tracking and analysis. Michael has expertise in the statutory and regulatory history of Act 250 including a comprehensive knowledge of Act 250 precedent - Environmental Board, Environmental Court and Vermont Supreme Court decisions.

As the Board's primary liaison with the Vermont Legislature, he played a major role in the adoption of important legislation including the Permit Reform Act of 2004 (Act 115) and the Growth Center Act of 2006 (Act 183). He was primarily responsible in 2006 for a comprehensive revision to Criterion 9(B) which now formally authorizes the use of "offsite mitigation" for the loss of primary agricultural soils. Michael now works for the Vermont Chamber of Commerce in legislative affairs relating to land use, environmental protection and energy. In the off-season, he provides a full range of Act 250 consulting services.

Extensive legal training in land use law over the past thirty years working closely with many of Vermont's finest land use attorneys.

Specialties: Legal research, Act 250 jurisdictional analysis, party status

Act 250 feasibility studies and land use permitting

Natural resource mitigation strategies - primary agricultural soils and necessary wildlife habitat

Expert witness: Act 250 statute and rules

Permit compliance and government relations, training seminars

Public Service Board - Section 248a review of telecommunication facilities

Legislative Liaison - Vermont State House

National Pole Vault Champion, USA Masters Track and Field Association (2004)