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Divisions > Water Division > Programs/Bureaus/Units >

Alteration of Terrain Program

New Hampshire Alteration of Terrain permits are issued by the DES Alteration of Terrain (AoT) Program. 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

• NH Stormwater Manual
• Workshop Presentations

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
• Using DES’s OneStop Web GIS to Locate Protection Areas

Rules/Regulatory

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

Forms/Applications (Compete List)

• Amendment Request Form - for Change of Ownership, Time Extension, and Plan Change requests
• Application Form
• Application Checklist
• Best Management Practices (BMP) Worksheets
• Land Resource Management Complaint Form || Form Only in Word

Permits

• Alteration of Terrain Permit

Related Programs (Complete List)

• Groundwater Discharge Permitting and Registration Program
• Shoreland Program
• Storm Water (Phase II)
• 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

Contact Us (Complete List)

• NHDES Alteration of Terrain Bureau
  29 Hazen Drive; PO Box 95
  Concord, NH 03302-0095
  (603) 271-3434
  (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