The bill, SB 445, amends various sections of New Hampshire's environmental laws, particularly focusing on the adjudicative proceedings of the Department of Environmental Services regarding the suspension or revocation of permits and the imposition of administrative fines. A significant change is the deletion of the requirement for a hearing before the commissioner can suspend or revoke a permit, as indicated by the removal of the phrase "following a hearing" in RSA 125-C:13, II and III. The bill also updates the appeals process for decisions made by the commissioner, shifting from RSA 541 to RSA 21-O:11, IV, and clarifies that administrative fines will be imposed directly without prior notice or hearing. The maximum fines for various violations are set, with $4,000 for general offenses and $2,000 for specific violations related to waste management and underground storage facilities.

Additionally, the bill outlines the criteria for determining administrative fines based on the severity of violations and specifies that proceeds from these fines will be deposited into the general fund. It allows the commissioner to assess additional fines for repeat violations and emphasizes that the imposition of fines does not preclude further penalties under the respective chapters. The bill also streamlines the certification process for wastewater treatment plant operators and clarifies the appeal process for individuals dissatisfied with departmental decisions. Overall, SB 445 aims to enhance the efficiency of regulatory enforcement while maintaining accountability within the environmental framework.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 125-C:13, 125-C:15, 125-D:4, 125-I:3-a, 125-J:8, 141-E:16, 146-A:15, 146-C:4, 146-C:10-a, 147-A:17-a, 149-M:16, 149-M:38, 332-E:9, 482:89, 482-B:8, 482-B:9, 482-B:16, 483:9-c, 485:42, 485:58, 485-A:7-a, 485-A:7-c, 485-A:28, 485-E:35, 485-A:36, 485-A:40, 485-A:43, 485-A:54, 485-C:2, 485-C:18, 486-A:14, 487:7, 488:8, 489-C:5, 482-A:2, 482-A:13, 483-B:18, 21-M:3, 21-O:14, 541-A:30
As Amended by the Senate: 125-C:13, 125-C:15, 125-D:4, 125-I:3-a, 125-J:8, 141-E:16, 146-A:15, 146-C:4, 146-C:10-a, 147-A:17-a, 149-M:16, 149-M:38, 332-E:9, 482:89, 482-B:8, 482-B:9, 482-B:16, 483:9-c, 485:58, 485-A:7-a, 485-A:7-c, 485-A:28, 485-A:35, 485-A:36, 485-A:40, 485-A:43, 485-A:54, 485-C:2, 485-C:18, 486-A:14, 487:7, 488:8, 489-C:5, 482-A:2, 482-A:13, 483-B:18, 21-M:3, 21-O:14, 541-A:30
As Amended by the House: 125-C:13, 125-C:15, 125-D:4, 125-I:3-a, 125-J:8, 141-E:16, 146-A:15, 146-C:4, 146-C:10-a, 147-A:17-a, 149-M:16, 149-M:38, 332-E:9, 482:89, 482-B:8, 482-B:9, 482-B:16, 483:9-c, 485:58, 485-A:7-a, 485-A:7-c, 485-A:28, 485-A:35, 485-A:36, 485-A:40, 485-A:43, 485-A:54, 485-C:2, 485-C:18, 486-A:14, 487:7, 488:8, 489-C:5, 482-A:2, 482-A:13, 483-B:18, 21-M:3, 21-O:14, 541-A:30
Version adopted by both bodies: 125-C:13, 125-C:15, 125-D:4, 125-I:3-a, 125-J:8, 141-E:16, 146-A:15, 146-C:4, 146-C:10-a, 147-A:17-a, 149-M:16, 149-M:38, 332-E:9, 482:89, 482-B:8, 482-B:9, 482-B:16, 483:9-c, 485:58, 485-A:7-a, 485-A:7-c, 485-A:28, 485-A:35, 485-A:36, 485-A:40, 485-A:43, 485-A:54, 485-C:2, 485-C:18, 486-A:14, 487:7, 488:8, 489-C:5, 482-A:2, 482-A:13, 483-B:18, 21-M:3, 21-O:14, 541-A:30
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 125-C:13, 125-C:15, 125-D:4, 125-I:3-a, 125-J:8, 141-E:16, 146-A:15, 146-C:4, 146-C:10-a, 147-A:17-a, 149-M:16, 149-M:38, 332-E:9, 482:89, 482-B:8, 482-B:9, 482-B:16, 483:9-c, 485:58, 485-A:7-a, 485-A:7-c, 485-A:22, 485-A:28, 485-A:35, 485-A:36, 485-A:40, 485-A:43, 485-A:54, 485-C:2, 485-C:18, 486-A:14, 487:7, 488:8, 489-C:5, 482-A:2, 482-A:13, 483-B:18, 21-M:3, 21-O:14, 541-A:30
SB445 text: 125-C:13, 125-C:15, 125-D:4, 125-I:3-a, 125-J:8, 141-E:16, 146-A:15, 146-C:4, 146-C:10-a, 147-A:17-a, 149-M:16, 149-M:38, 332-E:9, 482:89, 482-B:8, 482-B:9, 482-B:16, 483:9-c, 485:42, 485:58, 485-A:7-a, 485-A:7-c, 485-A:22, 485-A:28, 485-E:35, 485-A:36, 485-A:40, 485-A:43, 485-A:54, 485-C:2, 485-C:18, 486-A:14, 487:7, 488:8, 489-C:5, 482-A:2, 482-A:3, 482-A:13, 483-B:18, 21-M:3, 21-O:14, 541-A:30