In just a few weeks, the New Hampshire House will take up legislation to ensure the natural preservation of our 68 state parks for residents and visitors to enjoy for generations.
State Parks were established by wise people decades ago who realized that protecting natural places to recreate, walk and enjoy is an instrumental need for human beings.
The idea to set aside New Hampshire’s natural splendors from the Seacoast to the North Country– and everywhere in between forever — was the goal for these visionaries.
That in simple terms is the thrust of HB 177, a bi-partisan bill to set a 2-mile barrier around state parks from new landfill development.
There is rising statewide support for HB 177 as residents ask their elected representatives to protect ALL state parks from the public health threats, environmental insults and economic losses that inevitably come with a nearby landfill.
Toxic odors, waters fouled with the feces of scavenger birds, steady noise, blowing dust and trash from heavy truck traffic and eventual wetlands and groundwater pollution would be ruinous for any park.
NH State Parks are our heritage and our legacy
This common sense bill is an assertion of our right as NH citizens to Put NH First — to create a 2-mile buffer around our parks for the public good.
This bill affects very little land statewide. It is not a significant limitation on property owners near parks or developers of landfills. Land adjacent to parks can be sold for any number of land uses — just not landfilling. Developers can seek countless properties through the state without damaging a park with an incompatible land use.
In this decision we must not get distracted by tangential arguments for corporate self interest or by an eager seller with a limited vision for the future. Such narrow interests must not dictate what is best for our whole state. Their personal gain does not begin to outweigh the opportunity HB 177 offers to assure long term protection of our Parks.
People must understand that the N.H. Department of Environmental Services cannot protect State Parks from landfill developers — but HB 177 can do that.
DES issues landfill permits based on a waste management plan last updated in 2003. It is outdated and inadequate by today’s standards. The state’s lack of planning makes it a prime candidate to landfill out-of-state waste produced in Massachusetts and Connecticut — which are closing landfills and incinerators as part of public policy.
Where is that garbage going to go? New Hampshire.
It’s time to take a stand and protect our parks forever.
Please contact your House Representatives before the tentative April 9 final vote on this bill.
Ask them to support HB 177 to protect your favorite park — then, let’s fix our outdated Solid Waste Management plan.
Use this House website directory to find your House lawmaker. Write an email or send a personal letter on behalf of our state parks.