This bill prohibits the issuance of large groundwater withdrawal permits for the commercial sale of bottled or bulk water. It amends RSA 485-C:21 to state that the Department of Environmental Services shall not approve any large groundwater extraction for the commercial sale of bottled or bulk water. The bill takes effect upon its passage.

The Department of Environmental Services states that this bill would prohibit the department from approving large groundwater withdrawals for bottled or bulk water. Since 1998, the department has approved permits for four large groundwater withdrawals for bottled or bulk water, with one currently in operation. This bill would prohibit the approval of a new permit for this entity in 2024. The impact on revenue at the local, county, and state levels is indeterminable. The bill is not expected to have a fiscal impact.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 485-C:21