This legislative session, state lawmakers are seeing a steady procession of bills on groundwater.
One recent measure would grant municipalities considerably more authority on the matter.
NHPR?s Dan Gorenstein has more.
Business people, environmentalists, state regulators, lawmakers and residents are all trying to figure out how New Hampshire should regulate groundwater.
The lack of familiarity on the issue breeds a wide range of ideas.
Like House Bill 454, if passed, would place current groundwater law on its head.
Right now the state determines how much groundwater one user may take.
House Bill 454 would give that power over to towns.
Where any town that relies on a particular aquifer, could veto any large withdrawal from that aquifer, even if the state had approved the permit.
Even some of the bill?s supporters aren?t comfortable with that piece of the legislation.
Mara Carrol with the New Hampshire Municipal Association, proposed an amendment that cuts out veto power language from the bill.
Track 10
:00 the state has the authority to determine the use of water, we are not suggesting that that go to local bodies?we think there ought ot be provisions so the concerns of municipalities be taken very seriously.
Carroll and a number of lawmakers want to get towns more involved in the permitting process.
Currently, towns may hold hearings on the matter.
But at least for now, can only block a project through zoning requirements.
Bill McKann, is a member of the group Save Our Groundwater, which opposes the USA Springs project.
He says in addition to more input from locals, the state needs to do something that isn?t happening right now?consider the future need of groundwater.
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:32 I think it is important we continue a process of permitting development but making sure the tools are in place to protect our future water resources.
Towns worry that their plans to use water in the future will be limited by the permits the states issue today.
They argue if a town sets aside land for a well, then the state should take that into account.
Many business leaders say the state has already crafted a system that safeguards future use.
Under current law, DES grants permits that last for ten years.
If at any point during the permit?s life, an adverse impact occurs to any surrounding wells or water supplies, the state can ratchet down or completely shut off the withdrawal.
The BIA?s Michael Giamo holds that altering future use rules makes New Hampshire less business friendly.
3:50 there is no need to extend the breadth of municipal interaction b/c it will be costly to developers and businesses and will breed uncertainty and delay projects.
And examines the impact
Patrick Donoho of the International Bottled Water Association is also concerned about the future of the source.
Track 12
:10 the critical question that came up today, was a question on balancing the rights of current users vs. future needs?our industry is dependent on the sustainability of water. We make a 20-30 million investment for future, the question and the trick becomes how do we design that system. That?s the complexity of water law.
Water rights will continue to be the source of numerous debates in the coming months.
And the primary discussions around the issue will boil down to local control, future use and property rights.
For NHPR News, I?m DG.
