212-A:9 Conservation Programs. –
I. The executive director shall establish such programs, including acquisition of land or aquatic habitat or interests therein, as are deemed necessary for the conservation of endangered or threatened species. The executive director shall utilize all authority vested in the fish and game department to carry out the purposes of this section.
II. In carrying out programs authorized by this section the executive director shall consult with other states having a common interest in particular threatened or endangered species of wildlife and may enter into agreements with federal agencies, other states, political subdivisions of this state or private persons with respect to programs designed to conserve endangered or threatened species of wildlife including, where appropriate, agreements for administration and management if any are established under this section or utilized for conservation of endangered or threatened species of wildlife.
III. All other state departments and agencies, to the extent possible, consistent with their authorities and responsibilities, shall take such action as is reasonable and prudent to ensure that actions authorized, funded, or carried out by them do not appreciably jeopardize the continued existence of such species or result in the destruction or modification of habitat of such species which is determined by the executive director to be critical, by requiring that all such action is designed to avoid, minimize, and mitigate harm to such species and habitat designated as critical. Other departments and agencies may consult with the executive director or hire their own internal wildlife biologists to carry out the requirements of this paragraph. The executive director shall assist other departments and agencies in carrying out this paragraph. For the purpose of this statute, "appreciably jeopardize the continued existence of such species" shall be defined in rules adopted by the executive director pursuant to RSA 541-A. The provisions of RSA 212-A or any rule promulgated under this chapter shall not be applicable to a state department or agency when that state department or agency, in the process of undertaking an action, is required by federal law or regulation to address the environmental impact on wildlife or wildlife habitat, of that action.
IV. To meet the requirements of paragraph III, the department of environmental services shall complete the review for any permit, approval, or written authorization required pursuant to RSA 482-A, RSA 485-A, and RSA 236. The department of environmental services shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A to implement the review process and establish a fee schedule for any requested reviews. Such rulemaking shall commence within 90 days of the effective date of this paragraph. The revenue collected from this section shall be deposited into the water resources fund established in RSA 482-A:3, III.
V. Any reviews conducted to fulfill the requirements of paragraph III for any permit, approval, or written authorization shall be conducted as follows:
(a) Reviews shall not exceed 60 days from receipt of all information as required by rules developed pursuant to paragraph IV;
(b) The time to complete the review may be extended with written authorization from the applicant;
(c) If the agency or department requests additional information from the applicant necessary to complete the review, the time it takes the applicant to respond shall not count against the 60 day timeline in subparagraph (a); and
(d) If the review period is not completed within the required timelines, except as provided for in subparagraph (c), then the permit, approval, or written authorization shall be deemed to not appreciably jeopardize the continued existence of a threatened or endangered species.
Source. 1979, 356:1, eff. Aug. 22, 1979. 2021, 203:1, eff. Oct. 9, 2021. 2025, 141:2, eff. July 1, 2025.