1 Water Management and Protection; Wetland Permitting Procedures. Amend RSA 482-A:11, III to read as follows:

III.(a) Upon written notification to the department by a municipal conservation commission, a local river management advisory committee, or the New Hampshire Rivers Council that it intends to investigate any notice received by it pursuant to RSA 482-A:3, the department shall not make its decision on the application that is the subject of the notice until it has received and acknowledged receipt of a written report from such commission, local river management advisory committee, or the council, or until 40 days from the date of filing with the municipal clerk of such notice, whichever occurs earlier. In connection with any local investigation, a conservation commission may hold a public informational meeting or a public hearing, the record of which shall be made a part of the record of the department. If a conservation commission, a local river management advisory committee, or the New Hampshire Rivers Council makes a recommendation to the department in its report, the department shall specifically consider such recommendation and shall make written findings with respect to each issue raised in such report which is contrary to the decision of the department. If notification by a local conservation commission, local river management advisory committee, or the New Hampshire Rivers Council pursuant to this paragraph, is not received by the department within 14 days following the date the notice is filed with the municipal clerk, the department shall not suspend its normal action, but shall proceed as if no notification has been made.

(b) Relative to any expedited permit under paragraph VI , the provisions of subparagraph (a) shall be modified as follows:

(1) The 40-day suspended action limit is reduced to 21 days; and

(2) The notification by a municipal conservation commission of intended investigation shall be assumed unless the application filed under RSA 482-A:3 was signed by the conservation commission, or, if one has not been established in the municipality, by the local governing body, in which case the provisions of subparagraph (a) shall not apply.

2 Water Management and Protection; Emergency Response Wetland Permitting. Amend RSA 482-A:11, VI and VI-a to read as follows:

VI. The commissioner shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A establishing an expedited application and permitting process for certain minimum impact projects. The provisions of RSA 482-A:3, I and paragraph III of this section shall apply.

VI-a. The commissioner shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A establishing a permit by notification process for certain minimum impact projects. The provisions of RSA 482-A:3, I(a) and (c) shall apply.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

1 Water Management and Protection; Wetland Permitting Procedures. Amend RSA 482-A:11, III to read as follows:

III.(a) Upon written notification to the department by a municipal conservation commission, or the New Hampshire Rivers Council, or local river management advisory committee, or until 40 days from the date of filing with the municipal clerk of such notice, whichever occurs earlier. In connection with any local investigation, a conservation commission may hold a public informational meeting or a public hearing, the record of which shall be made a part of the record of the department. If a conservation commission, or the New Hampshire Rivers Council, or local river management advisory committee pursuant to this paragraph, is not received by the department within 14 days following the date the notice is filed with the municipal clerk, the department shall not suspend its normal action, but shall proceed as if no notification has been made.

(b) Relative to any permit by notification under rules adopted in accordance with paragraph VI-a , the provisions of subparagraph (a) shall be modified as follows:

(1) The 40-day suspended action limit is reduced to 21 days; and

(2) The notification by a municipal conservation commission , or local river management advisory committee where applicable, of intended investigation shall be assumed unless the notification was signed by the conservation commission, or, if one has not been established in the municipality, by the local governing body, or local river management advisory committee where applicable, in which case the provisions of subparagraph (a) shall not apply.

2 Water Management and Protection; Emergency Response Wetland Permitting. Amend RSA 482-A:11, VI and VI-a to read as follows:

VI. The commissioner shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A establishing an alternative, adaptive permitting process to authorize activities required to respond to an emergency or natural disaster. Such rules may allow for the ability to conduct certain activities prior to receiving authorization as necessary to protect public safety and property.

VI-a. The commissioner shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A establishing a permit by notification process for certain minor projects determined to have minimum impact .

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.