Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state Department of Environmental Services to create a two-step permitting process for new solid waste landfills. The first step is a preliminary screening where applicants must provide enough information to show their proposed site does not violate specific location rules, such as being near permeable soils or sensitive habitats. If a site fails this initial check, the department will reject the application without prejudice, allowing the applicant to choose a different location and resubmit. The department will establish these prohibitive criteria through public hearings and written comments, focusing on factors like soil quality, distance from waste sources, and environmental preservation. The changes will take effect 60 days after the bill passes, with existing rules remaining in place until July 1, 2025.
Sen. David Rochefort
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits private individuals or companies from owning new landfills in New Hampshire, requiring that any future facilities be owned by the state or a local municipality. While the state or local governments would own these sites, they could still hire private companies to manage and operate the daily functions of the landfills. Existing private landfills that were fully permitted and actively accepting waste as of December 1, 2023, are allowed to remain under private ownership and may expand or modify their operations. The law is designed to shift ownership of new waste disposal sites to public entities while ensuring private expertise is utilized for operations.
Maddy summaryHB 1620 would have paused the issuance of permits for new landfills in New Hampshire until July 1, 2031, to ensure future sites are chosen carefully and align with state waste management goals. While the bill would stop approvals for entirely new facilities, it allowed existing landfills permitted before December 1, 2022, to expand or modify their operations on the same property. The Department of Environmental Services would have continued to review applications but would not have been required to make final decisions within standard time limits during the suspension. Ultimately, the bill did not become law because the House voted to kill it on May 15, 2024.
Maddy summaryHB 1632 proposed a limit on out-of-state solid waste by capping the amount accepted at facilities receiving new permits at 15 percent. The bill specifically excluded facilities that were fully permitted before the law would have taken effect or those seeking to expand existing permits. It was designed to prioritize local waste management over imported materials but was ultimately killed by the legislature in May 2024.