A bipartisan bill, House Bill 707, led by Rochester Republican Rep. Kelley Potenza, aims to change the recently updated regulations regarding landfill construction in New Hampshire. Concerned advocates and lawmakers argue that the current regulations could allow landfills to be built almost anywhere in the state. The bill proposes a site-specific setback for new landfills based on specific soil characteristics to prevent pollution from reaching water sources within five years in case of a leak. Additionally, it seeks to address loopholes in the regulations, such as the imported soil rule and the hydraulic conductivity standard. The bill would also require permit applicants to plan for more severe weather events and prohibit permits for applicants with environmental violations or within a certain radius of other landfills or Superfund sites. While the bill has received some criticism for being too aggressive in some aspects, advocates believe that these changes are crucial to protecting water sources in the event of landfill failures. The bill is part of a larger effort to ensure stricter regulations on landfill construction in the state, as concerns over the weakening of environmental protections persist.
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