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DES requests matching funds for dams, SRF grants and a Superfund site cleanup match
Summary
The Department of Environmental Services asked the committee for state matches tied to federal clean‑water and drinking‑water SRF increases, additional dam repair funding and a state match for a Superfund remedial action at New Hampshire Plating Company.
The Department of Environmental Services asked the Senate Capital Budget Committee for several matches and continuing dam and wastewater investments, explaining that federal supplemental funding has increased and requires higher state matches.
Commissioner Bob Scott and COO Susan Carlson said the department manages 276 dams and maintains a running priority list; the agency presented an "indicative" list of dams proposed for repair, noting priorities can change if new structural concerns appear. The department said some projects control major waterways, including Lake Winnipesaukee and headwaters of the Connecticut River, and asked senators to consider a recurring allocation for dam repairs.
DES explained that the federal Infrastructure/Inflation Reduction Act supplemental funds that increased available state revolving loan fund (SRF) monies also raised local match requirements in many cases from 10% to 20% for the final supplemental year; the department asked the legislature for the state match necessary to leverage those federal dollars for community wastewater and drinking‑water projects.
DES also requested roughly $829,000 to complete a state match for the New Hampshire Plating Company Superfund site in Merrimack, noting the state match leverages about $12.6 million in federal funds; separate slide materials listed proposed wastewater force main replacements in the Winnipesaukee River Basin that are self‑funded and to be bonded by the member communities.
Senators asked DES to clarify priorities and whether the presentation’s ordering represented ranking; DES said the slide with the five requests was set in priority order, with dams, SRF matches and the Superfund match among the top items. Senator Carson told the committee she is working with the department to identify ways to fund additional water projects that were not included in the governor’s request.
