SB 146 (2021)

This is an omnibus bill related to the environment.  First, this bill establishes a coastal program to be administered by the Department of Environmental Services.  According to the bill text, "It is the intent of the state to encourage and assist state and federal agencies and coastal zone municipalities in the sustainable use of the land and water resources of the coastal zone giving full consideration to ecological, cultural, historic, and esthetic values as well as the needs for compatible economic development."

Second, this bill establishes a goal to reduce the quantity of solid waste disposed in landfills and incinerators by 25% by the year 2030, and by 45% by the year 2050.  The house voted to remove this part of the bill, and instead added a new part to extend the deadline for the PFAS firefighting foam take-back program.

Third, this bill requires the Fish and Game Commission to ban the importation of certain animals and fish due to risk of zoonotic disease transmission.  This part of the bill also regulates live animal markets.  A conference committee of representatives and senators removed the regulations of live animal markets.

Fourth, this bill revises the law limiting pollution of tidal waters used for growing or taking of shellfish for human consumption.

Fifth, this bill establishes a "derelict fishing gear, coastal cleanup, and fishing for energy fund," which will be used for new and existing programs relative to certain coastal cleanup efforts. Money for the fund would come from surcharges on some fishing licenses, for example on commercial shrimp licenses.

Lastly, this bill redefines "high water mark" in New Hampshire's law governing public use of coastal shorelands, based on mean high tide line rather than highest spring tide.

The Senate removed a few parts of the original bill.  In particular, the Senate removed a ban on the incineration of PFAS in New Hampshire.  The Senate also removed regulations for food packaging containing PFAS.  The Senate also removed some changes to the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) and Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS).

The House later voted to add the substance of HB 235 to this bill. This requires the Department of Environmental Services to adopt rules relative to withdrawals of less than 57,600 gallons of groundwater over any 24-hour period.