Title L, Water Management and Protection

Each commissioner designated or appointed by the governor and council, who, while such commissioner holds no salaried state office, shall be paid by the state as compensation the sum of $30 for each day's service performed in connection with his duties as such commissioner but no…

Each commissioner designated or appointed under this compact may appoint an alternate member to serve in his place at meetings of the commission that he is unable to attend; provided, however, that whenever a member is a state employee, his alternate shall also be a state employe…

The governor and council, on behalf of this state, are authorized to enter into and execute a compact substantially in the following form with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by and through the commissioners or duly authorized representatives appointed or who may be appointed …

The said agreement or compact, when ratified by the legislature of each of said states and approved by the Congress of the United States, shall thereupon become operative and effective. The governor is authorized and directed forthwith to notify the governor of the Commonwealth o…

Within 30 days after the aforesaid agreement or compact shall have become effective as provided in RSA 484:8, the governor shall, with the advice and consent of the council, appoint 3 members of the Merrimack River Valley Flood Control Commission, one of whom shall serve until Ma…

There is established a coastal marine natural resources and environment commission.

Communities across the state have been impacted by perfluorochemical contamination, largely through no fault of their own. Perfluorochemicals are a class of chemicals that are part of a larger group of chemicals called per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The cost of remedi…

I. The purpose of this chapter is to protect the natural quality of the groundwater resource of the state by assisting local groundwater protection efforts and by establishing procedures and standards for the classification and remediation of groundwater and state permitting of l…

The general court recognizes that the widespread and persistent contamination of the state's drinking water and groundwater by MTBE requires a comprehensive strategy designed to ensure the continued availability of safe drinking water for all New Hampshire citizens. Therefore, to…

The state of New Hampshire enters into the following compact with the state of Vermont subject to the terms and conditions therein stated: Article I. General Provisions A. Statement of policy. It is recognized that in certain cases municipalities in New Hampshire and Vermont may,…

I. New Hampshire's coastal water resources have significant ecological, commercial, cultural, and recreational values for the state and its citizens. The state's coastal water resources are highly sensitive and are subject to intense and increasing pressures associated with popul…

The purpose of this chapter is to protect water supplies, to prevent pollution in the surface and groundwaters of the state and to prevent nuisances and potential health hazards. In exercising any and all powers conferred upon the department of environmental services under this c…

The water and related land resources of New Hampshire's coastal and estuarine environments have significant ecological, commercial, cultural, and recreational values for the state and its citizens. Therefore, it is the policy of the state to ensure the continued viability and imp…

The owner of improved land may detain logs or timber of any kind lodged thereon by the waters of a river or stream until the damages occasioned to the land thereby, the expenses of the removal thereof, and the expenses of advertising the same are paid, or until the owner or perso…

I. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive drinking water protection program for the citizens of New Hampshire. It shall be consistent with and at least as stringent as the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards. II. In order to implement a comprehensive drin…

I. There is hereby established the New Hampshire soil and water contamination settlement trust fund that shall be kept distinct and separate from all other state funds. Any funds or proceeds received by the attorney general on behalf of the state or its citizens as a result of an…

An owner or person in charge of the logs or timber regulated under the provisions of this chapter shall apply for a permit prior to commencing floating timber on the surface water of the state. Notwithstanding any law or rule to the contrary, the authority to regulate and permit …

As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following words shall have the following meanings: I. "Community water system" means a public water system which serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at…

If such logs or timber are removed by the owner or any other person, without payment or tender of such damages and expenses, he shall be liable to the owner of the land therefor, and for costs, in an action to be commenced within one year and not after.

I. Groundwater which has been degraded below ambient groundwater quality standards by past operations, discharges, or other human activities shall not be excluded from the designated class. II. Groundwater which does not meet ambient groundwater quality standards due entirely to …

Any property of the Alliance acquired and used to further the public purpose of planning, developing, and implementing wastewater and stormwater management and other water quality management solutions that protect the water quality and natural hydrology of the state's coastal res…

No person supplying water to the public for domestic use shall resort to, hold in reserve, or maintain, a connection through which water may be received from any auxiliary or emergency source of supply, unless such source shall have been duly declared to, registered, and approved…

There is hereby established in the department the PFAS response fund which shall be maintained as distinct and separate from all other funds. The PFAS response fund shall be invested in accordance with RSA 6:8. Any earnings on PFAS response fund moneys shall be added to the PFAS …

After adoption of a classification for any surface water or section of such water by the legislature, the department may, by its own motion, or upon the petition of not less than 100 persons, legal inhabitants of the county or counties in which the surface water in question is si…

All lakes and ponds defined as public waters of the state by RSA 271:20 shall be classified by the passage of this section as not less than Class B, as set forth in RSA 485-A:8 relating to standards for classification of surface waters of the state.

Any person wrongfully stopping any logs or timber of another, or preventing them from floating down any river or stream, or wilfully and fraudulently cutting out or destroying the marks on such logs or timber shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

I. The department, to the limit of the funds appropriated to the department for this purpose through the actions of the fiscal committee established under RSA 14:30-a or by the general court, shall provide grants to entities meeting the eligibility requirements of RSA 485-H:3 and…

I. The department shall develop best management practices for the activities identified in RSA 485-C:7 as potential contamination sources, except those activities under RSA 485-C:7, II(j) which shall be subject to best management practices and the applicable provisions of RSA tit…

The New Hampshire public utilities commission shall regulate the Alliance only with regard to insurance and safety requirements.

There shall be a backflow prevention device installed at every connection to a public water system if the facility connected may pose a hazard to the quality of water supplied by the public water system as determined by the department. Where applicable, the facility receiving wat…

All valves or gates used in the connection here described, in the case of sources maintained for public fire protection, shall also be subject to the special seal and inspection of the department. Whenever it shall become necessary to break such seal, or to resort to an unapprove…

Within any wellhead protection area classified as GAA, the following new uses are prohibited: I. The siting or operation of a hazardous waste disposal facility as defined under RSA 147-A. II. The siting or operation of a solid waste landfill. III. The outdoor storage of road salt…

A civil action arising out of any harm or injury caused by a person or entity found legally responsible for or an action for any damages resulting from a PFAS exposure may be brought within the 6 years after the date the plaintiff discovers, or in the exercise of reasonable dilig…

I. After adoption of a given classification for a stream, lake, pond, tidal water, or section of such water, the department shall enforce such classification by appropriate action in the courts of the state, and it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to dispose of any sew…

Any person wilfully and fraudulently taking and carrying away, or otherwise converting to his own use, either personally or by others in his employment and under his control, any log or timber of another in any river or stream or on the banks or meadows adjoining the same shall b…

The Alliance shall, no later than November 1 each year, provide to the senate president, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate energy, environment and economic development committee, and the house resources, recreation and development committee, a report on the …

If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application, and to this end the p…

I. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to discharge or dispose of any sewage or waste to the surface water or groundwater of the state without first obtaining a written permit from the department of environmental services. Applications for permits shall be made upo…

The department shall have general control and oversight of emergency intakes. It may, when feasible and deemed necessary for the protection of the public health, upon reasonable notice, require the abandonment of any existent emergency source and the adoption of other means of su…

I. The purpose of a groundwater release detection permit shall be to monitor groundwater for early detection of any impact to groundwater quality. II. A groundwater release detection permit shall be required for the following activities in all classes of groundwater: (a) The siti…

By November 1, 2023, the commissioner shall initiate rulemaking in accordance with RSA 541-A to adopt rules specific to the application of RSA 485, RSA 485-C, RSA 147-A, and RSA 147-B to PFAS contamination and may update such rules thereafter. Such rules shall include soil remedi…

Any person, except for state, and local governments, including counties, and political subdivisions, issued a groundwater permit under RSA 485-A:13, I(a) shall pay to the department a fee of $1,000 for the 5-year permit. Said fee shall be for processing such permits, including an…

I. The lawful owner of any petroleum-powered vehicle or petroleum container that becomes partially or completely submerged in the surface waters of the state shall remove the vehicle or container from the water within 48 hours or as soon thereafter as safety and weather condition…

I. No fluoride shall be introduced into a public water system unless and until the municipality or municipalities served by such system have each held a public hearing as to the introduction of fluoride into the public water system, and the registered voters of such municipality …

Upon submission to the department of an application for a permit necessary for an activity in a contributing area classified as GA1 or GAA, which is a potential contamination source under RSA 485-C:7, the state shall notify the local governing body, as defined in RSA 672:6, as we…

Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, before any person may withdraw 57,600 gallons or more of water in any 24-hour period from a well, such person shall provide written notice to the governing body of the municipality in which the well is located and to the gover…