Revision: Jan. 3, 2023, 10:11 a.m.
2023 SESSION
23-0874.0
08/10
SENATE BILL [bill number]
SPONSORS: [sponsors]
COMMITTEE: [committee]
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ANALYSIS
This bill enables the commissioner of the department of environmental services to adopt certain ambient groundwater quality standards.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
23-0874.0
08/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Ambient Groundwater Quality Standards. Amend RSA 485-C:6, I to read as follows:
I. The commissioner shall establish and adopt ambient groundwater quality standards for regulated contaminants which adversely affect human health or the environment. Ambient groundwater standards shall apply to all regulated contaminants which result from human operations or activities, but do not apply to naturally occurring contaminants. Where state maximum contaminant levels have been adopted under RSA 485:3, I(b), or established in law, ambient groundwater quality standards shall be equivalent to such standards. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, where federal maximum contaminant level or health advisories have been promulgated under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act or rules relevant to such act, the commissioner may adopt ambient groundwater quality standards [shall be no less stringent than] equivalent to such standards. The commissioner may [adopt] revise such adopted standards to be more stringent than federal maximum contaminant levels or health advisories if, accounting for an adequate margin of safety to protect human health at all life stages, including but not limited to pre-natal development, the commissioner determines federal standards are insufficient for protection of human health. Where such standards are [established] adopted based upon health advisories promulgated under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act that address cancer risks, the ambient groundwater quality standards shall be equivalent to that exposure which causes a lifetime exposure risk of one cancer in 1,000,000 exposed population. Where no federal or state maximum contaminant level or health advisory has been [issued] adopted, the commissioner may adopt ambient groundwater quality standards on a basis which provides for an adequate margin of safety to protect human health and safety.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.