2003 SESSION

03-0679

06/10

HOUSE BILL 454

COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development

ANALYSIS

This bill:

I. Requires the department of environmental services to protect existing water rights before granting approval for any new large groundwater withdrawal.

II. Prohibits the department from approving a large groundwater withdrawal when the governing body of a municipality within the zone of contribution to the well disapproves of it.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03-0679

06/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Three

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Paragraph; Duties of the Department; Protection of Existing Water Rights. Amend RSA 485-C:3 by inserting after paragraph V the following new paragraph:

VI. Protect existing water rights before granting approval for any new large groundwater withdrawal.

2 New Paragraphs; Existing Water Rights Protected; Approval for Large Groundwater Withdrawals; Municipal Approval. Amend RSA 485-C:21 by inserting after paragraph VI the following new paragraphs:

VII. In considering any application for a large groundwater withdrawal, the department's first consideration shall be to protect existing water rights from impairment by the proposed new withdrawal.

VIII. The department shall not approve any large groundwater withdrawal when the governing body of any municipality within the anticipated zone of contribution to the well votes to disapprove the large groundwater withdrawal at a public meeting of the body.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.