Some Good News for the North Country

Here’s some good news for the North Country, especially welcome after all the worries about Covid-9, quarantines and cancellations.   

HB 1319 – the bill that establishes a 2 mile dump-free buffer around our beloved state parks — passed the NH House of Representatives on Thursday, 189 to 123.  

Many, many thanks to all of you who called, emailed and wrote your legislators about HB 1319.  Next comes a vote in the Senate, probably in April, and the need to urge the governor to sign the bill, which likely means more emails, letters and phone calls.  We’ll keep you posted. 

There were good outcomes from Tuesday’s NH Town Meetings, too: 

Dalton elected Selectwoman Tamela Swan, who was opposed by a dump supporter.  Dalton also voted to start using the Mt. Carberry landfill instead of Casella’s Bethlehem dump.  

Whitefield voted resoundingly to oppose a dump on its doorstep. This is a non-binding resolution, but it demonstrates Whitefield’s strong opposition to the Casella landfill.  

Bethlehem defeated a proposal to establish a little-needed study of the town’s waste management systems, a proposal promoted by Casella.  

Finally, the NH Department of Environmental Services is requiring the Dalton drag strip developer to justify some apparent alterations to his terrain, made in spite of his suspended drag strip permit. 

That’s all for now.  We’ll keep you updated on all these developments.

 Meanwhile, stay well!  And — as always — thank you for your support.