Environment (Hazardous Materials)

HB 707 requires New Hampshire's Department of Environmental Services to establish site-specific setback distances for new landfills from perennial rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. It mandates that setbacks must be calculated using a formula based on groundwater seepage velocity testing (conducted by an independent hydrogeologist) and must be at least 3,000 feet or the 5-year groundwater travel distance, whichever is greater. The bill directly affects developers seeking permits for new landfills by imposing these distance requirements to protect water sources from contamination. It also includes additional safeguards like 24/7 landfill staffing, restrictions on building near Superfund sites or existing landfills, and soil permeability standards. The law does not apply to expansions of currently operating landfills.

SB 644 requires background checks for individuals seeking permits to operate solid waste and hazardous waste facilities in New Hampshire. Specifically, it mandates criminal history checks - including fingerprint-based national database searches - for owners, officers, directors, partners, and managers of these facilities during the permit application process. The law applies to all facility owners (including partners in partnerships and managers/members in LLCs) and covers both new permits and ownership transfers. These checks must be conducted through the state police and FBI databases, with applicants submitting authorization forms and fingerprints to the Department of Environmental Services.