Senate Finance Committee OKs changes to landfill policy bill

DEVELOPMENT SETS UP ANOTHER SHOWDOWN FOR THE LEGISLATURE. AS STATE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS GRIND DOWN TO THE FINAL FINE, DETAILS OF BIG POLICY AND FUNDING ISSUES, THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE IS OVERHAULING EFFORTS BY THE NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE TO SET A HIGHER BAR FOR THE SITING OF LANDFILLS. STATE REPS HAD INCLUDED IN THEIR VERSION OF THE STATE BUDGET A NEW SOLID WASTE EVALUATION COMMITTEE, TO WHICH LANDFILL DEVELOPERS WOULD HAVE TO GO FIRST BEFORE SEEKING ANY OTHER PERMITS. THE HOUSE ALSO IMPOSED A THREE YEAR MORATORIUM ON NEW LANDFILLS. SENATORS SAW THIS AS A PROJECT KILLER AND REWORKED THE PLAN TO LIMIT THE NEW COMMITTEE’S JURISDICTION AND ENFORCEABLE TIMELINES ON APPLICATIONS CREATE A PREFERENCE FOR EXPANSION OF EXISTING FACILITIES AND TAKING THE MORATORIUM DOWN TO ONE YEAR. THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND WE’RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE BEING RESPECTFUL OF THE PROCESS AS IT HAS TO WORK, AND SO THAT IT WORKS WELL FOR THE STAKEHOLDERS. THE ORIGINS OF THIS DEBATE ARE IN THE NORTH COUNTRY. CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS HAS BEEN TRYING TO BUILD A LANDFILL IN DALTON NEAR FOREST LAKE STATE PARK FOR YEARS. THAT APPLICATION WAS RECENTLY DENIED BY THE STATE, PROMPTING A LAWSUIT. ACTIVISTS AGAINST THE LANDFILL ARE WARY OF THE AMENDMENT APPROVED TODAY BY SENATORS, SAYING IT IS STILL TOO FAVORABLE TO THE WASTE MANAGEMENT INDUSTRY. I DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW THE SENATE THAT USUALLY TALKS ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL COULD BE THIS FAR REMOVED FROM IT AND BASICALLY SAYING THE STATE CAN COME IN AND DECIDE THAT IF WE NEED CAPACITY, WE’RE JUST GOING TO PUT SOMETHING WHEREVER WE WANT TO PUT IT. AND THE LOCAL TOWNS WOULD HAVE NO RECOURSE. THE SENATE AND HOUSE WILL STILL HAVE TO MEET TO SORT OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES ON THIS ISSUE. AND FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, JUNE HAS BEEN A MONTH OF IMPASSE BETWEEN THE TWO LEGISLATIVE BODIES ON LANDFILL POLICY. I HOPE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS

As state budget negotiations grind down to the final, fine details of big policy and funding issues, the Senate Finance Committee is overhauling efforts by the New Hampshire House to set a higher bar for the siting of landfills.