This bill mandates that permit applications for new landfills must include a comprehensive leachate management plan as part of their operating procedures. Specifically, it introduces a new paragraph (V-b) to RSA 149-M:9, stating that the Department of Environmental Services will not approve a new landfill or an expansion unless the application details how leachate will be collected, stored, treated, and disposed of. The plan must outline the frequency of leachate transport, the type of disposal facility to be used, and contingency plans for any capacity constraints. Additionally, the permittee is required to provide documentation of contractual agreements with at least two leachate disposal facilities to ensure compliance with the management plan.

The bill also stipulates that the permittee must notify the department of any changes to these contractual arrangements that could impact compliance and must maintain documentation of at least two current disposal agreements throughout the landfill's operational life, including the post-closure period. The act will take effect 60 days after its passage and is projected to have a minimal fiscal impact of less than $10,000 for each fiscal year from 2025 to 2028.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 149-M:9
As Amended by the House: 149-M:9
As Amended by the Senate: 149-M:9
Version adopted by both bodies: 149-M:9