The bill mandates the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) to revise its rules regarding the siting and operation of new landfills to better protect human health and the environment. Key provisions include the establishment of specific setback distances from drinking water sources, perennial rivers, lakes, and coastal waters, ensuring that contaminated groundwater from landfills does not reach these bodies of water within five years. The bill introduces new requirements for subsurface investigations, hydraulic conductivity standards, and mandates that permits for new landfills can only be issued if these conditions are met. Additionally, the bill emphasizes the need for the DES to consider health and environmental impacts when formulating future rules.

Significant changes in the bill include the insertion of new paragraphs in RSA 149-M that outline the criteria for issuing solid waste permits, including the requirement for a hydrogeologist to assess groundwater velocity and the establishment of a minimum hydraulic conductivity standard for soils beneath landfill sites. The language in RSA 149-M:9 is amended to require the DES to deny permit applications under certain conditions, replacing the previous permissive language. The bill is expected to result in increased local expenditures for municipalities, particularly those looking to expand existing landfills or site new ones, with costs estimated between $10,000 and $100,000 depending on the specific circumstances.

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