Lawrence Keane

HB 1810 would establish a $4 per ton fee on bulk road salt, road salt mix, and brine sold in New Hampshire, collected by certified bulk sellers and deposited into a new Road Salt Mitigation Fund. The fund will support grants to municipalities, businesses, and the state for certified winter maintenance practices, helping them acquire equipment and follow best practices. Bulk sellers must register and maintain records, and the bill sets penalties for noncompliance. This matters because road salt runoff can contaminate groundwater and surface water, harming New Hampsire’s lakes, rivers, and aquatic ecosystems—including conditions that favor cyanobacteria blooms. The fee would provide a dedicated funding source (estimated at $4 million annually) to reduce salt pollution, improve public water protection, and support safer and more effective winter road maintenance. State and municipal costs are expected to be modest and partially offset by grant funding and more effective use of materials. We need to do a better job of protecting our economically vital natural resources especially our lakes, rivers and other water bodies. This bill is a step in the right direction. I strongly support this bill.