Commissioner's Office Environmental Fact Sheet
Print Version
CO-8	2006

Integrated Environmental Permitting in New Hampshire

New Hampshire's natural environment, and our relationship to it, cannot simply be divided into separate and distinct pieces for ease of management. Rather, human impacts to air, water, soil, bedrock, and wildlife and their habitats follow the same cause and effect pattern that predominates many of our other daily activities. For example, the release of a toxic chemical to the atmosphere may eventually fall back to earth in a storm and contaminate a lake or stream. Random slope changes to one river bank may simply deflect the water currents to the other bank and erode a neighbor's shoreline property. And, how about trying to construct a new septic system for your home within the groundwater source area for your neighbors' drinking water well? How are such competing uses balanced by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services in pursuit of an informed and impartial decision?

The answer is through integrated environmental permitting. DES administers a comprehensive environmental permitting system to provide an orderly and equitable means by which to make informed decisions for protecting and preserving our natural resources. These same decisions must also strike a balance between economic opportunity and environmental quality, allow for reasonable and sustainable use of these limited natural resources, and maintain overall public health and safety. This deliberative process is based on federal and state laws, administrative rules, technical standards, policy guidelines and public input.

Some common examples of projects with integrated permitting requirements:

Residential subdivisions-erosion control, wetlands, land subdivision, shoreland protection, septic system and drinking water supply.

Manufacturing facility-erosion control, wetlands, land subdivision, wastewater pretreatment, underground petroleum storage tank, hazardous waste storage, air emissions and dams.

Solid waste-to-energy incinerator-erosion control, wetlands, solid waste, air emissions and surface water discharge.

Recreational vehicle park/campground-erosion control, wetlands, land subdivision, septic system, public bathing place and drinking water supply.

What factors does DES consider during an integrated application review?

The need and justification for the permit.

The interrelationships among air, water, soil, wildlife and natural habitats.

The potential for adverse impacts to human health and safety.

Consistency with integrated regulatory requirements.

Expected range of temporary and permanent environmental impacts.

Degree of public acceptance.

Identification of anticipated risks and benefits.

Technical accuracy, content, and merits.

Potential to fulfill the applicant's objectives.

What milestones typify the integrated application process?

Pre-application planning, project design and formal submittal.

Administrative completeness determination and notification.

Technical review and assessment.

Public comment period (and public hearing, if warranted).

Technical completeness determination and staff recommendation.

Final decision and notification.

Appeals.

Notable variables:

Processing times vary. The time required to review, assess, reach a final decision and prepare the necessary paperwork for an application may range from immediate authorization, to a few days, to several months depending on project complexity.

Processing fees vary. There may be no cost, a flat fee, or a formula-based method, e.g., fee based on number of gallons per hour, tons per year, square feet of impact, etc., to process the application.

What types of permitting activities lie within DES jurisdiction?

acid rain

air quality

air toxics

aboveground tanks

aquatic weed control

boat docks

building construction

breakwaters

campgrounds

contaminated sites

culverts

dams

demolition debris

drinking water supply

emissions credits trading

emergencies

flood control

groundwater remediation

gravel pits

hazardous waste management

industrial wastewater treatment

incinerator emissions

juvenile camps

land subdivision

landfills

medical wastes

mining

open burning

public bathing beaches

rivers

recycling

septage/sludge

septic systems

shoreland protection

soil erosion

solid waste management

stormwater

tires

trails

transfer stations

underground tanks

water treatment

water use

wetlands

Whether a project is a simple one or needs a full array of environmental permits to proceed, there is a structured and impartial permitting system in place to help align an applicant's needs with current resource availability, regulatory requirements and public acceptance. As illustrated above, each project is unique and bears its own set of integrated permitting issues.

Where can I get help?

The DES Public Information and Permitting Unit is available to help applicants through the permitting process. Pre-project planning and permit counseling, including pre-application meetings (www.des.nh.gov/PIC/PreApp/), are offered to ensure that all permitting issues have been properly identified and prioritized from the outset. Project coordination, application tracking, status updates, and conflict resolution services are also provided once formal application materials have been received and are undergoing review. By taking advantage of these free services, and applicant may prevent a costly error in construction or the omission of a critical permit before the project gets underway.

For more information, please contact:

Public Information and Permitting Unit
N.H. Department of Environmental Services
PO Box 95 - 29 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03302-0095
Tel. (603) 271-3306; Fax. (603) 271-2867
pip@des.state.nh.us