All sand and gravel pits which will disturb more than 100,000 square feet of contiguous area or 50,000 square feet within the area protected by NH RSA 483-B, The Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act, must obtain a permit commonly referred to as an Alteration of Terrain permit or RSA 485-A:17 Site Specific permit from the N.H. Department of Environmental Services (DES) prior to starting operation.

This permit is a technical permit designed to protect water quality and does not address other impacts which tend to be of concern to local citizens such as aesthetics, noise, dust, etc. These types of issues are addressed at the local level, usually by the planning board under authority granted by RSA 155-E.

The general requirements of an application for this permit include a plan drawn to a scale no larger than 1" = 100' with existing and proposed contours drawn at a 5-foot interval and showing as a minimum:

a. Existing physical features including wetlands, roads, property lines, etc.;
b. Abutters;
c. Methods used for protecting water quality;
d. Soil Types;
e. Vegetation limits, tree lines;
f. Access roads with locking gates;
g. Note prohibiting fuel storage in pit floor;
h. Information confirming location of groundwater;
I. An Operation Sequence; and
j. Methods of restoring the pit.

It should be noted that there is not an exemption for highway construction for this permit, as there is under RSA 155-E. It should also be noted that any wetlands issues involving the New Hampshire Wetlands Board must be resolved prior to the granting of the RSA 485-A:17 Alteration of Terrain permit by DES.

 Feel free to contact the DES Water Division, Wastewater Engineering Bureau, at 271-3503; the N.H. Wetlands Board at 271-2147; or local officials (usually planning board officials) if you are in need of further information.