Revision: Jan. 25, 2017, 3:11 p.m.
HB 591-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2017 SESSION
17-0368
08/03
HOUSE BILL 591-FN
AN ACT relative to suction dredging in the surface waters of the state.
SPONSORS: Rep. Oxenham, Sull. 1; Rep. Gottling, Sull. 2; Rep. Messmer, Rock. 24; Rep. Mangipudi, Hills. 35; Rep. McConnell, Ches. 12; Rep. Spang, Straf. 6; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Hennessey, Dist 5; Rep. Almy, Graf. 13
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
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This bill defines recreational prospecting.
This bill also prohibits the use of suction dredging for the purposes of recreational prospecting.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
17-0368
08/03
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen
AN ACT relative to suction dredging in the surface waters of the state.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Recreational Prospecting. Amend RSA 482-A by inserting after section 21 the following new section:
482-A:21-a Prospecting.
I. In this section:
(a) "Hand panning" means separating minerals from water by means of washing soil or gravel in a pan with water.
(b) "Recreational prospecting" means searching for mineral deposits in the surface waters of the state where such searching is undertaken primarily for recreational purposes.
(c) "Sluice box" means a trough or box through which water is directed to separate minerals from soil or gravel.
(d) "Vacuum dredge" or "suction dredge" means a machine that uses a vacuum to draw water and soil or gravel through a hose to a recovery unit which separates minerals from the soil and gravel.
II. Prospecting by hand panning or by using sluice boxes is permitted on the surface waters of the state so long as:
(a) All necessary permissions and permits have been secured prior to initiation of the prospecting activities;
(b) Reasonable efforts are made to ensure that such prospecting activities shall not result in stream bank erosion when entering, exiting, and using the surface water for recreational prospecting activities; and
(c) Reasonable efforts are made to ensure that such recreational prospecting activities shall not result in water quality degradation.
III. Recreational prospecting shall not be conducted on surface waters traversing or bordering private, nonprofit, or conservation trust lands without prior authorization from the landowner, or on state land without permission from the department of environmental services.
IV. No person shall use vacuum or suction dredges when engaged in recreational prospecting in any surface water of the state.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2018.
17-0368
1/19/17
HB 591-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to suction dredging in the surface waters of the state.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Legislative Budget Assistant has determined that this legislation has a total fiscal impact of less than $10,000 in each of the fiscal years 2018 through 2021.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Environmental Services