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2004 New Hampshire Attorney General Reports and Opinions 1 (2004)

handle is hein.sag/sagnh0007 and id is 1 raw text is: ATTORNEY GENERAL
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
33 CAPITOL STREET
CONCORD, NEW HA-AMPSIIIRE O3301-6397
KELLY A. AYOTTE
September 2, 2004
Michael P. Nolin, Commissioner
Department of Environmental Services
29 Hazen Drive
Concord. New laipshire 03301
Dear Commissioner Nolin:
This responds to your request for clarification of several issues involving the
interaction between the Shoreland Protection Act and other state and municipal regulatory
programs. Specifically, you inquired about the obligations of the Department of
Environmental Services (DES) under the Act when issuing other environmental permits,
and the circumstances under which a local shoreland ordinance, rather than the Act, applies
to a particular project.
1.    TIE SHORELAND PROTECTION ACT REQUIRES ThE DEPARTMENT OF
ENVTRONMENTAL SERV[CES, IN PERMITTING A PROJECT WITHIN THE
PROTECTED SHORELAND THAT FALLS UNDER SEPARATE PERMIT
JURISDICTION OF THE AGENCY, ALSO TO ASSESS WHETHER THE
APPLICANTS PROPOSAL MEETS TIEt MINIMUM SHORELAND
PROTECTION DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.
The Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act, RSA Chapter 483-B (the Act),
originally enacted in 1991. functions statewide as an additional layer of regulation which
overlays existing state and municipal permitting schemes, such as building permits, wetlands
permits, and septic system approvals. 1991 N.H. Laws 303:1. Aimed at protecting the
state's public waters and preventing uncoordinated, unplanned and piecemeal development
along the state's shorelines, the Act establishes generally applicable minimum standards for
development within the protected shoreland. RSA 483-B:1 (Purpose); RSA 483-13:9
(Minimum Standards).' In keeping with its comprehensive nature, the Act applies to all
state and local permitting decisions which might affect the development of waterfront
property. RSA 483-1:3, I (State and local permits for work within the protected shorelands
1 The Act applies to land within 250 feet ofthe reference line or high water mark. RSA 483-B:4, XV (definition
of protected shoreland), XV11 (defuilion of reference line).
Telephone 103--171-3658 * FAX 003-271-2110 * TDD Acres: Reiny Nil 1-800-735-2tM

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