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Divisions > Water Division > Programs/Bureaus/Units >

Alteration of Terrain Bureau

New Hampshire Alteration of Terrain permits are issued by the DES Alteration of Terrain (AoT) Bureau. This permit protects New Hampshire surface waters, drinking water supplies and groundwater by controlling soil erosion and managing stormwater runoff from developed areas. An AoT permit is required whenever a project proposes to disturb more than 100,000 square feet of contiguous terrain (50,000 square feet, if any portion of the project is within the protected shoreland), or disturbs an area having a grade of 25 percent or greater within 50 feet of any surface water. In addition to these larger disturbances, the AoT Permit by Rule applies to smaller sites.

This permitting program applies to earth moving operations, such as industrial, commercial, and residential developments as well as sand pits, gravel pits, and rock quarries. Permits are issued by DES after a technical review of the application, which includes the project plans and supporting documents.

Hot Topics

• New! Precipitation Data
• Permit Application Changes
• Determine if an AOT permit is required
• FAQs – Projects Located on a Designated River
• How to Ensure Your Permit Application is Accepted
• NH Stormwater Manual

Publications (Compete List)

• NH Stormwater Manual
• Quick Reference Guide for Displaying Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW) and Impaired Surface Waters with a 1-Mile Buffer for Development Projects
• Rock Blasting and Water Quality Measures That Can Be Taken To Protect Water Quality and Mitigate Impacts
• Using DES’s OneStop Web GIS to Locate Protection Areas

Rules/Regulatory

• RSA 485-A:17: Terrain Alteration
  
• Env-Wq 1500 Alteration of Terrain
• RSA 155–E: Local Regulation Excavations

Forms/Applications (Compete List)

• Land Resources Management Programs Complaint Form PDF | Word
• NEW! Determine if an AOT permit is required
• NEW! Application Form PDF | Word
• NEW! Amendment Request Form - for Change of Ownership, Time Extension, and Plan Change requests
• Best Management Practices (BMP) Worksheets
• Example Infiltration Feasibility Report

Permits

• Alteration of Terrain Permit

Related Programs (Complete List)

• Groundwater Discharge Permitting and Registration Program
• Land Resources Management
• Shoreland Program
• Storm Water (Phase II)
• Subsurface Systems Bureau
• USEPA Storm Water Program
• Wetlands Bureau

Resources/Links (Complete List)

• AOT Query
• Designated River Communities and Local Advisory Committee Contacts
• NH Natural Heritage Bureau (NHB) DataCheck Tool
• NRCS Datamart
• NRCS Web Soil Survey
• University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center

FAQs

• FAQs – Projects Located on a Designated River

Contact Us (Complete List)

• Ridgely Mauck, P.E., Program Supervisor - Permitting
  NHDES Land Resources Management
  Alteration of Terrain Bureau
  29 Hazen Drive; PO Box 95
  Concord, NH 03302-0095
  ridgely.mauck@des.nh.gov
  (603) 271-2303
  (603) 271-4128 (fax)
• Craig Rennie, CWS, CWB
  NHDES Land Resources Management
  Alteration of Terrain Bureau
  29 Hazen Drive; PO Box 95
  Concord, NH 03302-009
  craig.rennie@des.nh.gov
  (603) 271-0676
  (603) 271-4128 (fax)

 

 

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NH Department of Environmental Services | 29 Hazen Drive | PO Box 95 | Concord, NH 03302-0095
(603) 271-3503 | TDD Access: Relay NH 1-800-735-2964 | Hours: M-F, 8am-4pm