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	CLVC Newsletter - 2000-3

Julian Zelazny
ASNH Environmental Policy Director

Dec. 27, 2000 Conservation Legislation Volunteer Corps: Newsletter 2001-3 Dear CLVC Members, I hope that everyone is enjoying the holidays. As of Friday, Dec. 22nd, MANY new LSRs were added to the list (Dec. 22nd was the deadline to submit LSRs). Here are some highlights from the discussion. 2001-H-0698 & 0701-R: Relative to the term of governor and for state senate respectively. Providing that the term shall be 4 years. This is beneficial to environmental issues since it usually takes a long time to pass conservation laws. Having longer terms for the governor and senate allows more time to study the issues, build support, and ultimately pass laws that protect the environment. AIR 2001-H-0642-R: Relative to emissions from electricity generation. Sponsored by Edward M. Gordon 2001-0843-R: Encouraging the use of renewable energy in new or rehabilitated state buildings. Sponsored by Donald B. White. LAND 2001-H-0740-R: Relative to the coordination of state, regional, and local planning efforts. Sponsored by Harold P. Melcher (Prime) and Martha Fuller Clark. 2001-H-0741-R: Prohibiting the granting of certain variances from zoning ordinances. Sponsored by Harold P. Melcher 2001-H-0742-R: Relative to the receipt of information from regional planning commissions by local use boards. All of the above bill proposals suggest efforts to protect land against sprawl. We'll want to pay close attention to these and naturally support bills that protect NH land. As you may have seen on www.specialplaces.org, NH is New England's fastest growing state! 2001-0866-R: Creating certain positions within the division of forests and lands and making an appropriation therefore. Sponsored by David M. Scanlan. This proposes funding for land stewardship, among other things. 2001-0904-R: Relative to the adoption of zoning and planning ordinances relating to wireless communication facilities. Sponsored by Clifton C. Below (Prime), Jeb E. Bradley, Richard C. Cooney, Terie T. Norelli, Naida L. Kaen, Burton J. Cohen, Sylvia B. Larson. This bill would protect public lands from towers. WATER 2001-0800-R: Relative to regional approaches to instream flow preservation. Sponsored by Gary R. Francoer 2001-0801-R: Relative to instream flow study requirements. Sponsored by Gary R. Francoer We'll want to keep our eyes on any LSRs regarding instream flow rules. Support for any bill that sets necessary minimum flow levels is needed. When water levels (of rivers and lakes) go below a certain level, ecological damage results. 2001-0854-R: Relative to milfoil prevention and research grant program and fund. Sponsored by Barbara C. French Milfoil is a non-native aquatic plant known for its ability to rapidly grow and spread. It forms dense beds that decrease fish spawning grounds, deplete oxygen level, decrease the growth of other plants, and overall alter a lake's natural environment. Once milfoil is well established in a lake, there is no know way to eradicate it. (Lakeside (of NH Lakes Assoc.), Vol. X, No. 4, Nov. 2000). 2001-0946-R: Establishing a fee on ethers contained in gasoline. Sponsored by Katherine Wells Wheeler. Since the four southern counties in NH did not meet the ozone standards of the Clean Air Act, oxygenated gasoline is used to "take care of the problem". However, this poses another problem. Ethers (used to oxygenate gasoline) do not break down in water, but they are water-soluble. In other words, the chemicals can get into NH water. This is a difficult issue. If we stop oxygenating gas, we emit more detrimental pollutants into the atmosphere. It's a catch-22. We will keep a close eye on any LSR that mentions ether or any gasoline additive. WASTE 2001-0796-R: Urging the federal government to consider impacts on NH and the smaller states of interstate waste legislation. Sponsored by Betsey L. Patten Thank you for reading. Before closing, I'd like to mention that Gov. Jeanne Shaheen will soon appoint a new Transportation Commissioner. We'll want to support the choice of a forward-thinking individual. More on this to come! Take Care, Emily Genaway emily.genaway@awl.com (603) 343-1343 To view LSRs and other legislative news, visit www.state.nh.us