Erosion of the Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act and other protective conservation measures

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Currently, there are three bills going before the Senate that aim to erode the integrity of important conservation and protection measures:

SB 19 is relative to the definition of prime wetlands;

SB 20 is relative to shoreland protection permits;

SB 21 is relative to the definition of wetlands.

All three are being heard by the NH Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in Room 102 at the Legislative Office Building at 10:15 AM on January 13, 2011. View the calendar (page 3 of the pdf) here.

From Michele Tremblay, President of NH Rivers Council:

These bills would dramatically and harmfully transform the regulatory framework and landscape of our waterbodies. Please ACT NOW on these three very important bills. Some of the senate hearing time overlaps with the Oyster River bill hearing in the House (HB 44, designating segments of the Oyster River as a protected river). It is recommended that the local focus of seacoast advocates be on this house hearing. Alternatively, you can drop off your House testimony letters/cards and then go to the Senate Committee hearings at 10:15.

What can you do now? Call or write your Senator and urge him/her to to vote against these three bills. This is especially effective if your Senator is on this committee. If you cannot be there, please take a moment to write a letter to or call your Senator.

Tools for action and what you need to know:

SB 19 would reduce prime wetlands to areas that are 5 or more acres.
SB 20 would remove the shoreland permit requirement when an applicant receives an alternation of terrain permit. As you are aware, these two programs are complementary and NOT redundant.
SB 21 would remove from wetland jurisdiction all man-made wetlands unless they are part of compensatory mitigation.

Committee membership

Who's my Legislator? (search by city/town)

It's important to close the circle. Please let us know when you have called your Representative or email/fax us your letter so that we can keep track of support when testifying at hearings. There is no assurance that the leadership and the committee membership will be notified of your support. We will make sure that ALL committee members know that you support this bill.