Rulemaking & Process Improvement Effort – Wetlands
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Wetlands Bureau
NHDES is seeking public comments on its DRAFT Wetlands Administrative Rules. The last complete rewrite of the wetlands rules occurred in 1991, and since then there have been intermittent changes. The draft wetland rules propose over 50 new definitions to provide clarity and consistency, shorten the review time for lower scrutiny approvals and expand the number of projects that qualify for streamlined review, including stream crossing projects. An important goal with the new rules was to clarify: what activities require a permit and what type of permit authorization is needed; project classification; standard conditions; avoidance, minimization and mitigation requirements; review standards; and project specific standards. The draft rules also provide updates to the prime wetlands rules and requirements for stream crossings.
NHDES is requesting comments on the DRAFT Wetland Rules. The public comment deadline is April 20, 2018.
Learn more HERE and to access the draft wetland rules.
Stormwater Standards for the Future: Environmental & Financial Benefits of Adopting Local Stormwater Regulations
UNH Stormwater Center & Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership
This webinar will highlight an innovative approach to modeling stormwater pollution load reductions to demonstrate cost effective, environmental benefits achieved from implementing model stormwater standards in New Hampshire communities. As part of an EPA Pollution Prevention grant, the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Stormwater Center worked with Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc (VHB), the Stratford and Rockingham Regional Planning Commissions, the Southeast Watershed Alliance and the Piscataqua Regional Estuaries Partnership (PREP) to help towns understand the environmental benefits of adopting local stormwater standards including Green Infrastructure. The webinar will showcase modeling approaches, potential pollutant load reductions expected, and share model ordinance language which can be replicated in other interested communities to achieve water quality results. Several communities in the Piscataqua Region watershed are beginning to adopt full or partial components of the model stormwater standards to improve local water quality.
Click HERE to learn more and to register.