NH
New Hampshire Senate Bill SB56

New Hampshire 2023 Regular Session

New Hampshire Senate Bill SB56

Introduced
1/12/23  
Refer
1/12/23  
Report Pass
2/7/23  
Report Pass
2/22/23  
Engrossed
3/20/23  
Refer
3/20/23  
Report Pass
5/10/23  
Enrolled
6/21/23  
Chaptered
7/11/23  

Caption

Relative to payments for restoration of certain jurisdictional resource losses.

Impact

The legislation introduces a method by which the Department of Environmental Services can manage compensatory payments. This is significant as it expands the options available for resource owners and developers facing the requirement to mitigate environmental impacts. By allowing for an in-lieu fee option, stakeholders can contribute financially to the mitigation fund instead of directly restoring the affected resources themselves. While this is designed to simplify compliance with environmental regulations, it could also raise discussions on the adequacy of such fees in truly compensating for the ecological loss.

Summary

SB56 is a legislative proposal focused on the establishment of an aquatic resource compensatory mitigation fund. This fund aims to facilitate the restoration of upland resource losses associated with jurisdictional areas including wetlands and other critical habitats. The bill outlines a structure for determining compensatory payments, particularly when resources such as sand dunes and tidal buffer zones are adversely affected. The establishment of the fund and its operational guidelines are fundamental to ensuring environmental compliance and promoting sustainability within the state's natural resource management framework.

Contention

Points of contention surrounding SB56 include the implications of enabling payments into the mitigation fund versus requiring direct restoration efforts. Critics may argue that offering an option to pay fees could encourage developers to circumvent direct environmental responsibility, leading to potential degradation of local ecosystems. Supporters, however, may contend that the flexibility provided by this bill could lead to more efficient allocation of resources and expedite projects that would otherwise be delayed by stringent restoration requirements.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

NH SB268

Relative to the approval of power purchase agreements for offshore wind energy resources from the Gulf of Maine.

NH SB109

Relative to alteration of terrain permits.

NH HB460

Relative to utility investments in distributed energy resources.

NH HB1451

Relative to the recovery of submerged logs.

NH HB1450

Including agricultural resources under the land and community heritage investment program.

NH SB164

Relative to consideration of biodiversity in the land and community heritage investment program.

NH SB356

Relative to medical benefits payments by state retirees.

NH HB1410

Relative to certain professional licenses and relative to the board of optometry and the regulation of optometry.

NH HB521

Relative to the department of education payment for placement for an episode of treatment.

NH HB521

Relative to the department of education payment for placement for an episode of treatment.

Similar Bills

NH HB524

Relative to regional greenhouse gas initiative funds.

NH HB418

Relative to eliminating the rebates distributed by the energy efficiency fund.

NH SB68

Relative to municipal host for purposes of limited electrical energy producers.

NH HB1601

Relative to funding of the NHsaves program

NH HB233

Relative to useful thermal energy under the renewable portfolio standards.

NH HB114

Removing fees and charges for governmental records under the right-to-know law and reinstating potential liability for disclosure of information exempt from disclosure.

NH HB1170

Requiring public benefit and community impact assessments from the department of environmental services.

NH HB1145

Prohibiting the private ownership of landfills.