HB 261 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
19Mar2019... 0028h
2019 SESSION
19-0398
08/06
HOUSE BILL 261
SPONSORS: Rep. Grassie, Straf. 11; Rep. Adjutant, Graf. 17; Rep. Cushing, Rock. 21; Rep. Murphy, Hills. 21
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires the commissioner of the department of environmental services to revise rules relative to arsenic contamination in drinking water.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
19Mar2019... 0028h 19-0398
08/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Ambient Groundwater Quality Standards; Contaminants in Drinking Water.
I. The commissioner shall initiate rulemaking pursuant to RSA 485-C:4, III within 120 days of the effective date of this paragraph to revise the ambient groundwater quality standard for arsenic to a value not to exceed 5 micrograms per liter.
II. The commissioner shall initiate rulemaking pursuant to RSA 485:3, I within 120 days of the effective date of this paragraph to adopt a maximum contaminant limit for arsenic to a value not to exceed 5 micrograms per liter for public water systems regulated by RSA 485-C.
2 Ambient Groundwater Quality Standards. Amend 2018, 190:1 to read as follows:
190:1 Department of Environmental Services; Ambient Groundwater Quality Standards. By January 1, 2019, the commissioner of the department of environmental services shall review the ambient groundwater standard for arsenic to determine whether it should be lowered, taking into consideration the extent to which the contaminant is found in New Hampshire, the ability to detect the contaminant in public water systems, the ability to remove the contaminant from drinking water, the impact on public health, and the costs and benefits to affected entities that will result from establishing the standard. [Any proposed change to the ambient groundwater standard for arsenic shall require the approval of the general court.] On or before January 1, 2019, the commissioner shall submit a report of the findings to the chairpersons of the house and senate committees with jurisdiction over natural resources.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 90 days after its passage.