Bill > HB1622

This bill requires the Department of Environmental Services (DES) to create a comprehensive inventory of all landfills in the state, including currently operating landfills, closed landfills that do not need remediation, and closed landfills requiring remediation. The department must determine the available acreage at each site for potential additional landfill capacity, taking into account current regulations such as setback requirements from airports, water bodies, and residential areas. Additionally, the bill prohibits DES from accepting applications for new greenfield landfills (undeveloped land) unless the applicant can conclusively demonstrate that none of the existing landfill sites in the inventory are suitable for expansion or further use. While the bill does not provide new funding, the fiscal note indicates that implementing this comprehensive landfill inventory will require significant resources, including hiring two environmental scientists and spending approximately $4 million annually on consultant investigations over seven years, with funding coming from the Solid Waste Management Fund. The bill will take effect 60 days after its passage, and the DES anticipates a multi-year effort to complete the detailed landfill inventory and assessment.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=1766&inflect=2