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House committee backs 3-year moratorium on permits for new landfills; sends bill to floor
Summary
The Environment & Agriculture Committee debated the length and purpose of a moratorium on new landfill permits and voted 13-1 to advance a three-year moratorium with amendments. Supporters said the pause will give state agencies time to write rules; opponents urged a shorter or longer pause for different reasons.
After hours of debate in committee work sessions and a recorded roll call in executive session, the House Environment & Agriculture Committee voted to advance HB 171, a bill placing a temporary moratorium on new landfill permits in New Hampshire.
Supporters argued the pause is intended to allow the Department of Environmental Services (DES) time to write and refine rules to improve siting, environmental protections and oversight. Representative Gruber offered the amendment that set the moratorium at three years; that amendment and the motion to pass the bill with the amendment were adopted by the committee in recorded votes.
Committee members described a range of positions during debate. Representative Scully and other members proposed shortening the moratorium to one year so future legislatures would retain flexibility; Representative Germana and…
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