The US Army Corps of Engineers has released the new 2022 NH State General Permit. Use the link below to find a copy of the new permit.

USACE NH GP

 Request for Speakers

Please see the message below from your Education Committee:

In a recent discussion with the Wetland discipline Section, it was mentioned that having some project profiles would be very useful to members.

We are looking for 3-4 people to participate in a round table discussion for our annual conference.  The purpose of the round table will be to highlight projects that were difficult to permit due to the unique circumstances of the property and how those hurdles were overcome.  We are specifically interested in topics such as endangered species, mitigation components, avoidance and minimization issues or difficult site conditions.  We are not looking for opinions on the permitting process or the time it took to work through the issues. 

We are looking to have a 15–20-minute presentation by each panelist and then a question-and-answer session to follow.

The conference is to be held in-person at the Grappone center in Concord, NH on January 27, 2023.  If you would like to participate, please send an email to Randall Shuey, Educational Chair (randall@northpointeng.com)

In the email, please provide a 1-2 paragraph description of the project and issue.  Please respond by October 15^th if you are interested.

 Continue to check back for additional information on these upcoming NHANRS workshops!

EPA signed its 2022 Construction General Permit (CGP) for stormwater discharges from construction activities on January 18, 2022. The 2022 CGP, which became effective on February 17, 2022, replaces the 2017 CGP. The 2022 CGP provides permit coverage to eligible construction stormwater discharges in the following areas where EPA is the NPDES permitting authority

Click HERE or more information and to view the 2022 CGP

On a somber note…

The Board of Directors of NHANRS, on behalf of all its membership, extends our deepest heartfelt sympathies to Rene Pelletier, his wife Lynn, and all of their family on the unexpected passing of their beloved daughter Keri. 

Peace and love goes out to our friend and colleague during this most difficult time.

The association has arranged for the planting of a small grove of trees in memory of Keri.

UNH Bird Workshop

April 4 – June 26, 2022

UNH is offering an introductory course to learn how to ID birds by sight and sound. This is a 12-week online and field course. To find our more information or to register, click the link below. 

UNH BIRD COURSE INFO

Letter From the Joint Board of Natural Resource Scientists

The NHANRS Board of Directors reached out to the Board of Natural Scientists regarding CEU requirements for Certified Wetland and Soil Scientists that need to renew their certifications. Click below to view their response. 

CEU RESPONSE LETTER

News from New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: January 12, 2022

CONTACT: Jim Martin, (603) 271-3710

des.nh.gov

twitter.com/NHDES

Rene Pelletier named new NHDES Water Division Director

Concord, NH – At their meeting today, Governor Chris Sununu and the Executive Council, by unanimous vote, confirmed the appointment of Rene Pelletier to serve as the Director of the Water Division at the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES). Rene has 48 years of experience with NHDES, during which he has worked in all water related programs at the Department and its predecessor, the Water Supply and Pollution Control Commission (1973 to 1987). For the past ten years, Rene has served as the Assistant Director of the Water Division. 

Rene holds a master’s degree in Civil Engineering and is a licensed professional geologist. “His integrity and personal qualities and skills have contributed immensely to important and fundamental improvements at NHDES,” said NHDES Commissioner Bob Scott. “Rene’s extensive technical expertise coupled with his strong working relationships with our legislative leaders, municipal officials, environmental groups and other stakeholders have served him well over his years and will continue to greatly contribute to his ability to guide the Water Division into the future.”

2022 Annual Conference

Friday January 28 and February 4, 2022 8:30 am – 12:00 pm

The NHANRS Board of Directors has decided to hold our annual conference online once again on two consecutive Fridays January 28 and February 4, 2022. Because of the current Covid conditions, it was felt that most people would opt for an on-line attendance.

This year’s conference will focus on regulatory changes with presentations by NHDES Land Management Program, Wetlands Bureau and State Geologist. In addition, we will be focusing on the state of wetland mitigation in New Hampshire with a focus on the Aquatic resource Mitigation Fund and some successful projects that include preservation, restoration enhancement and aquatic organism passage.

Registration is now open. Click HERE to register.

Below is a message from the NHDES Land Resources Management Program Administrator, Philip Trowbridge:

Dear Partner: I am pleased to announce that Darlene Forst has been selected to be the next NHDES Wetlands Bureau Administrator. Darlene brings a wealth of experience to the job from her time managing the Shoreland Program. Prior to focusing on shoreland protection and non-tidal shoreline impacts under the Wetlands Act, she held positions in outreach/education and wetlands permitting within the Wetlands Bureau and conducting cold-water fisheries habitat assessment with NH Fish & Game.  I hope that you will all support her as she transitions to a new role.  Please add her email, Darlene.C.Forst@des.nh.gov, to distribution lists appropriate for the Wetlands Bureau Administrator for New Hampshire.  Thank you.

Recently we have discovered that some members are not receiving NHANRS emails. Certain email servers are holding back NHARNS emails that are sent from the our Constant Contact account because they are viewed as “third party sender” emails. Luckily this is easily fixed! Just click the link below to view instructions on how to add NHANRS emails to your safe sender list for your specific email server.

Review the letter that NHANRS BOD sent to the Board of Natural Scientists regarding CEU requirements during the Covid-19 Pandemic