The bill mandates the Department of Environmental Services (DES) to revise its rules regarding the siting, design, operation, and closure of new landfills to better protect human health and the environment. It introduces new legal requirements, including a prohibition on issuing solid waste permits for new landfills located too close to drinking water sources, perennial rivers, lakes, or coastal waters, with specific setback distances calculated based on groundwater velocity. The bill also requires comprehensive subsurface investigations and imposes strict hydraulic conductivity standards for soils beneath landfill sites. Additionally, it establishes that the DES must deny permit applications if certain health and environmental criteria are not met, replacing the previous discretionary language with a mandatory requirement.

Key changes in the bill include the insertion of new paragraphs in RSA 149-M that outline specific conditions for landfill permits, such as the establishment of setback distances and the necessity for detailed hydrogeological assessments. The bill also repeals and reenacts the introductory paragraph of RSA 149-M:7 to emphasize the DES's responsibility to adopt rules that ensure public health and environmental safety. The fiscal impact of the bill indicates potential increases in local expenditures related to compliance with the new requirements, with costs varying based on whether municipalities own or operate landfills.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 149-M:7, 149-M:9
As Amended by the House: 149-M:7, 149-M:9
HB1478 text: 149-M:7, 149-M:9