Important Changes to Land Resource Management Programs

The new wetlands permit application form, a single permit application form, replaces the expedited review minimum impact, standard review minimum impact and standard review minor or major impact forms.

Important Changes to Land Resource Management Programs

Last year, Land Resources Management (LRM), a new subsection of the Water Division, began integrating those bureaus and permit programs that regulate land development projects that impact aquatic resources. Land Resources Management includes the Alteration of Terrain Bureau, Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau, Subsurface Systems Bureau, Wetlands Bureau and the Shoreland Program. The main objective of this integration is to create a more cost effective, efficient process amongst these programs that provides a more streamlined permitting process for the regulated public and better achieves DES' overall mission of protecting and restoring the environment.

One of the first pieces implemented by LRM last year was the establishment of a new coordinated application receipt center (ARC). The ARC is composed of cross-trained, administrative staff that performs a precursory review of most incoming permit applications to ensure at least the minimum elements are present before DES begins technical review. Application packages received containing all required elements are accepted and applicants are mailed a "letter of acceptance" and applicants that submit application packages missing required elements are mailed a "notice of administrative incompleteness" that identifies all missing elements and the complete permit application package, including the fee, is returned.

Since the ARC was first established, it has been patiently accepting multiple versions of permit application forms - even outdated application forms that were created well over ten years ago! In order to continue creating a more streamlined permitting process that better serves the regulated public, Land Resources Management will no longer be accepting outdated permit application forms. Effective April 1, 2012, except the Drinking Water and Ground Water Bureau, all LRM permit application forms received must have a revision date, located within the footnote, of 01/01/2012. Going forward, all LRM program permit application forms will be simultaneously updated every six months. The next scheduled update will occur on July 1, 2012.

Today, all updated permit application forms are available on their respective web pages and each form clearly identifies all critical elements required in order for the permit application to be accepted by the application receipt center (ARC). For more information on NH DES Land Resource Management, please click here to visit their website, or click here to email Jay Aube, Shoreland Program Outreach Program Outreach Coordinator.