Go Back   Winnipesaukee Forum > Winnipesaukee Forums > Home, Cottage or Land Maintenance
Home Forums Gallery Webcams Blogs YouTube Channel Classifieds Calendar Register FAQDonate Members List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-13-2011, 09:03 AM   #1
Just Sold
Senior Member
 
Just Sold's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Suncook, NH, but at The Lake at Heart
Posts: 2,612
Thanks: 1,082
Thanked 433 Times in 209 Posts
Post Wetlands re-definitions aim of Senate bill

Wetlands re-definitions aim of Senate bill
Wednesday, January 12, 2011


<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://cdn.robocaster.com/css/m-player-style.css" /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:url(http://cdn.robocaster.com/assets/player-controls.gif);width:225;height:15px" onclick="javascript<b></b>:window.location.href='http://nhbr.robocaster.com/download.mp3?http://www.nhbr.com/businessnewsstatenews/905067-257/wetlands-re-definitions-aim-of-senate-bill.html'"><tr><td class="player-control"></td><td class="player-center" style="width:139px">&amp;nbsp<a href="http://nhbr.robocaster.com/download.mp3?http://www.nhbr.com/businessnewsstatenews/905067-257/wetlands-re-definitions-aim-of-senate-bill.html" target="_blank">Listen to Story</a>&amp;nbsp</td><td class="player-volume"></td></tr></table>


A Senate committee will hold hearings Thursday on three bills aimed at clarifying the state's wetlands and shoreline protection laws and making it a bit easier for the construction industry.

One -- Senate Bill 19 -- would alter the definition of prime wetlands, limiting it to bodies of water of more than 5 acres. Another -- SB 21 -- would redefine wetlands to exclude man-made wetlands of less then 10 acres, unless creased as mitigation for other building projects.

A third, SB 20, would exempt those who already received a wetlands alteration permit from getting some shoreline protection permits.

"At this point, we are going to monitor" the legislation, said Mark Holden, president of the Associated Builders and Contractors of New Hampshire and Vermont. "But it seems like it's trying to make things reasonable and more appropriate for those trying to build."

The bills are sponsored by Sen. Bob Odell, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which will hold the hearings on Thursday in Room 102 of the Legislative Office Building. -- BOB SANDERS/NEW HAMPSHIRE BUSINESS REVIEW
__________________
Just Sold
At the lake the stress of daily life just melts away. Pro Re Nata
Just Sold is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2011, 10:05 AM   #2
DickR
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Moultonborough
Posts: 734
Thanks: 4
Thanked 254 Times in 166 Posts
Default Wetland minimum size definition needed

In the survey done before applying for our shoreline permit, a very small "jurisdictional wetland" area was initially flagged, based on surface probing. In the end, actual digging showed that the soil failed the test for such a designation (whew!). However, in investigating the definitions and determination of such a wetland, it seems that there is no minimum size for an area to be designated a wetland. Theoretically, a single spot of one square foot could be so designated, which would be absurd.

At what size would an area otherwise meeting the criteria to be called "jurisdictional wetland" rationally be declared as such? One square foot would be absurd, so how about two square feet? That is equally absurd. By the "argument of the beard" ("How many hairs does it take to make a beard? Pluck one and the man is beardless?), one could sneak up on some number, a square foot at a time, to a point where it would seem reasonable finally to call the area a "wetland." But would having just a single square foot shy of that number make the area not a wetland? That is equally absurd.

If the state is going to fiddle with redefinitions of wetlands, it might be a good time to define minimum size to qualify, so as not to unnecessarily encumber a property having a tiny wet area of no practical environmental concern.
DickR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2011, 01:36 AM   #3
Irish mist
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 682
Thanks: 122
Thanked 85 Times in 49 Posts
Default

You make a very good point DickR on the size issue. You might want to contact your state rep of state senator about this & see if you can work with them on this issue. Several years back I spent over a weeks time ( as a citizen ) helping a NH state rep craft & write a bill that reached the NH house floor ( lol, we lost the vote ). In a small state like NH you can often reach your lawmakers easier, and get more done on an issure than you first thought.
Irish mist is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:17 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.

This page was generated in 0.13759 seconds