CHAPTER 31
HB 216 – FINAL VERSION
06Mar2007… 0074h
02May2007… 1333eba
2007 SESSION
08/05
HOUSE BILL 216
AN ACT establishing a commission to study the causes, effects, and remediation of siltation in the Great Bay Estuary.
SPONSORS: Rep. Spang, Straf 7; Rep. Abbott, Rock 12; Rep. Rous, Straf 7; Rep. Wall, Straf 7; Rep. Kaen, Straf 7; Sen. Hassan, Dist 23
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
This bill establishes a commission to study the causes, effects, and remediation of siltation in the Great Bay Estuary.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
06Mar2007… 0074h
02May2007… 1333eba
07-0673
08/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seven
AN ACT establishing a commission to study the causes, effects, and remediation of siltation in the Great Bay Estuary.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
31:1 Commission Established. There is established a commission to study the causes, effects, and remediation of siltation in the Great Bay Estuary.
31:2 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) Three members of the house of representatives, at least one of whom is a member of the resources, recreation and development committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(c) The director of the division of ports and harbors, Pease development authority, or designee.
(d) Two professionals in marine studies from the university of New Hampshire, at least one from the Jackson Estuarine Laboratory, appointed by the president of the university of New Hampshire.
(e) One representative of the Nature Conservancy, appointed by that organization.
(f) One representative from the department of environmental services, appointed by the commissioner.
(g) One representative of the Strafford regional planning commission, appointed by that commission.
(h) One representative of the Rockingham regional planning commission, appointed by that commission.
(i) Two representatives from conservation commissions in estuarine towns, appointed by the governor.
(j) The manager of the Great Bay Estuarine Research Reserve, or designee.
(k) The executive director of the fish and game department, or designee.
(l) One representative from the New Hampshire estuaries project, appointed by the director.
(m) Two representatives of water-related recreational interests, appointed by the governor.
(n) Two representatives of water-dependent commercial interests, appointed by the governor.
II. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
31:3 Duties. The commission shall:
I. Seek the assistance of the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and the United States Geological Survey, as appropriate.
II. Study the historic and current sources of siltation in the estuary.
III. Study the impacts upon the aquatic and riparian ecosystem.
IV. Study the recreational, social, and commercial uses of estuarine waters.
V. Study methods of minimizing additional siltation.
VI. Evaluate the desirability of remediation.
VII. Study optimal means of remediation considering economic, ecological, and other relevant factors.
31:4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Ten members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
31:5 Report. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library in an interim report filed on or before November 30, 2008 and in a final report filed on or before November 30, 2009.
31:6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved: May 14, 2007
Effective: May 14, 2007