This bill mandates specific tests and setbacks that must be met before the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services can grant a landfill permit. It introduces new legal requirements, including the establishment of a site-specific setback distance from perennial rivers, lakes, and coastal waters, which must be sufficient to prevent contaminated groundwater from reaching these water bodies within a five-year timeframe. The setback distance will be determined based on the maximum seepage velocity of groundwater, calculated through independent hydrogeological studies funded by the applicant. Additionally, the bill stipulates that no permit will be issued if the proposed landfill does not conform to these setback requirements, and it sets forth conditions regarding the hydraulic conductivity of soils beneath the landfill footprint.

Furthermore, the bill requires that subsurface investigations be conducted to assess the geological conditions around the proposed landfill site, including the depth of nearby aquifers. It also mandates that landfill facilities maintain 24-hour staffing from the time they begin accepting waste until final closure. The bill is expected to have a fiscal impact, potentially increasing county and local expenditures by an estimated $100,000 to $500,000 annually due to the need for additional staffing and compliance with the new regulations. The effective date of the act will be upon its passage.