Category: Events

Tuesday, December 6, 6-8PM
Profile Junior High School
691 Profile Rd, Bethlehem, NH 03574

The public will interact with NH DES as Casella seeks an additional 5.71 acre, 100-foot lateral expansion of the southern and eastern limits of the landfill, increasing capacity by 1.22million cubic yards.

Additionally, Casella NCES is seeking a waiver for ENV-SW 805.07 related to leak detection systems.

Casella NCES Bethlehem is running out of room ahead of schedule, due largely in part to the import of at least 30% of its rubbish from out of state sources. This expansion will supposedly extend the facility’s life span into 2023.

Commentary may also be sent directly to the DES at mailto:swpublic.comment@des.nh.gov by December 20, 2019 at 4PM.

July 30 at 7 p.m. is the Special Town Meeting to deliberate and vote on Emergency Temporary Zoning in Dalton. Voting is by secret ballot, in person only. It will be conducted during a two hour period following the conclusion of the deliberations at the Dalton Municipal Building. 

If this passes it will give the Town a critical tool to prevent a landfill from being built in Dalton. A landfill is something that would have destructive effects on the North Country for generations to come. 

If you are registered to vote in Dalton, please be sure to attend and vote yes. 

If you are not a Dalton voter, please contact your friends and acquaintances who are and encourage them to vote yes.

Here are two key points to know about the zoning ordinance:

1. The emergency zoning is temporary.
   If we vote YES at the Special Town Meeting on July 30th, the Emergency Temporary Zoning Ordinance will only be in effect until the 2021 Town Meeting. Dalton voters could craft a permanent zoning ordinance before then, but have no obligation to do so. If there is no further action on a zoning ordinance by the 2021 Town Meeting, the emergency zoning simply expires – in less than two years.
   
2. Emergency zoning means Dalton decides its own future.
   All current homeowners, businesses, and land uses would be allowed to continue as they operate now – they would be “grandfathered in”. The Emergency Temporary Zoning Ordinance only applies to new land uses.
   
   Restrictions on land uses listed in RSA 674:25-27 include the following: “No business, commercial or industrial venture or use shall be permitted which could cause any undue hazard to health, safety, or property values or which is offensive to the public because of noise, vibration, excessive traffic, unsanitary conditions, noxious odor, smoke or other similar reason” RSA 674:27, I (bolding added for emphasis)

Enacting the Emergency Temporary Zoning Ordinance would give the Dalton voters a chance to carefully consider whether a landfill fits with the landscape and lifestyle of the town. It puts the choice in the hands of Dalton voters instead of the decision being made primarily by developers Casella.