CHAPTER 114
HB 487-FN – FINAL VERSION
30Mar2005… 0451h
05/05/05 1271s
05/05/05 1348s
2005 SESSION
06/03
HOUSE BILL 487-FN
AN ACT establishing a volunteer lake assessment program in the department of environmental services.
SPONSORS: Rep. Alger, Graf 6; Rep. Currier, Merr 5; Sen. Johnson, Dist 2
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
This bill establishes a volunteer lake assessment program in the department of environmental services.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
30Mar2005… 0451h
05/05/05 1271s
05/05/05 1348s
05-0804
06/03
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Five
AN ACT establishing a volunteer lake assessment program in the department of environmental services.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
114:1 New Subdivision; New Hampshire Volunteer Lake Assessment Program. Amend RSA 487 by inserting after section 30 the following new subdivision:
New Hampshire Volunteer Lake Assessment Program
487:31 Volunteer Lake Assessment Program Established.
I. There is established within the department of environmental services the New Hampshire volunteer lake assessment program to provide water quality data to the state and federal governments to define water quality trends; provide data for lake protection, management, and remediation programs; provide information to classify New Hampshire waters; and supply data for surface water quality reports.
II. To the extent that funds are available, the department shall:
(a) Assist volunteer organizations to monitor the water quality of public lakes and ponds and tributaries to said lakes and ponds;
(b) Provide technical assistance to lake associations, municipalities, educational facilities, and the general public for the purpose of monitoring lake water quality;
(c) Educate citizens in the need and methods to sample lakes and ponds and the importance of keeping the state’s waters clean;
(d) Provide the water quality data obtained by volunteers to other state programs that administer water quality programs, the federal government, including the Environmental Protection Agency, and municipalities;
(e) Provide volunteer monitoring organizations with an annual monitoring report that includes historical data and trends and recommendations to keep a lake or pond within the water quality standards; and
(f) Loan sampling equipment to volunteer monitoring organizations as needed.
487:32 Volunteer Lake Assessment Program Coordinator. There is established in the department of environmental services a state volunteer lake assessment program coordinator who shall be a classified employee qualified by reason of education and experience and who shall administer the New Hampshire volunteer lake assessment program.
487:33 Acceptance and Expenditure of Funds.
I. The commissioner may apply for and accept gifts, donations of money, federal, municipal, or private grants, or other funds or incentives from any source for the purposes of this subdivision. The funds accepted under this paragraph shall be paid into the lake restoration and preservation fund established under RSA 487:25. All funds received shall be continually appropriated to the department for the purposes of this subdivision.
II. The commissioner may expend any funds received under paragraph I for the purposes of this subdivision.
114:2 Volunteer Lake Assessment Program Coordinator to be Current Employee. The volunteer lake assessment program coordinator position established in RSA 487:32 as inserted by section 1 of this act shall be filled by a biologist I who is currently employed in the department of environmental services. The establishment of the volunteer lake assessment program coordinator position does not create an additional position in the department.
114:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
(Approved: June 15, 2005)
(Effective Date: August 14, 2005)