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Committee backs bill to let DES target contractors in shoreland violations
Summary
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted to recommend Senate Bill 299, which would allow the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services to pursue administrative penalties against contractors who commit repeat shoreland violations even when property owners cooperate with restoration.
Senate Bill 299, introduced by Senator Howard Pearl (District 17), would change enforcement under the Shoreland Protection Act to allow the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) to assess administrative fines against contractors who cause shoreland violations even when property owners later cooperate to restore the site.
The bill’s sponsor told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that, under current law, DES can pursue an administrative fine only if a site is not restored within one year of the agency’s notice; that leaves DES without a remedy against contractors when a cooperating property owner completes restoration. “Many property…
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