This bill aims to facilitate the extension of municipal sewage services to neighboring communities by establishing an expedited review process for such projects. It introduces a new paragraph in RSA 485-A:4, which mandates the Department of Environmental Services to create targeted timelines for approvals related to intermunicipal sewer service extensions. The bill also inserts new sections into RSA 486, detailing the criteria for expedited applications, which must be consistent with regional plans or address community needs identified in master plans. Additionally, it prioritizes these projects within existing loan and grant programs, allowing municipalities to recover costs through user fees or assessments.

Furthermore, the bill includes provisions for a "compelling necessity" process, enabling the commissioner of the Department of Environmental Services to approve intermunicipal sewer extensions even if local municipalities refuse, provided certain conditions are met, such as the existence of adequate treatment capacity and no increased costs for existing ratepayers. The bill also requires the commissioner to adopt rules for implementation, including application ranking criteria. The act will take effect 60 days after passage, and while it does not change state expenditures, local costs remain indeterminable due to the potential variability in municipal participation in interconnection projects.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 485-A:4
HB1461 text: 485-A:4