Vermont Statutes Title 10. Conservation and Development, § 7590. Reimbursement process

(1) A primary battery producer, primary battery stewardship organization, or rechargeable battery stewardship organization that incurs reimbursable costs under section 7589 of this title shall submit a request to the producer of the collected primary battery or the primary battery stewardship organization in which the producer is participating or the rechargeable battery stewardship organization responsible for the collected rechargeable battery.

(2) A producer or primary battery stewardship organization or rechargeable battery stewardship organization that receives a request for reimbursement may, prior to payment and within 30 days of receipt of the request for reimbursement, request an independent audit of submitted reimbursement costs.

(3) The independent auditor shall be responsible for verifying the reasonableness of the reimbursement request, including the costs sought for reimbursement, the amount of reimbursement, and the reimbursable costs assessed by each of the two programs.

(4) If the independent audit confirms the reasonableness of the reimbursement request, the producer, primary battery stewardship organization, or rechargeable battery stewardship organization requesting the audit shall pay the cost of the audit and the amount of the reimbursement calculated by the independent auditor. If the independent audit indicates the reimbursement request was not reasonable, the producer or primary battery stewardship organization that initiated the reimbursement request shall pay the cost of the audit and the amount of the reimbursement calculated by the independent auditor.