New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules
Env - Department of Environmental Services
Subtitle Env-Wt - Wetlands Programs
Chapter Env-Wt 500 - PROJECT-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
Part Env-Wt 521 - UTILITY PROJECTS; PROJECTS IN PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
Section Env-Wt 521.06 - Utility Project Classification

Universal Citation: NH Admin Rules Env-Wt 521.06

Current through Register No. 13, March 27, 2025

(a) A utility project shall be a minimum impact project if:

(1) The project meets all applicable Utility BMPs, available as noted in Appendix B, and will have temporary impacts associated with inspection, maintenance, repair, replacement, or removal of existing utility facilities within existing rights-of-way;

(2) The project does not include establishing new access roads, installing permanent stream or wetland crossings, constructing new utility corridors or rights-of-way, or establishing new utility assets within existing corridors or rights-of-way;

(3) The project does not include any permanent fill in navigable waters;

(4) Impacts to any PRA other than prime wetlands and duly-established 100-foot buffers are authorized by following the recommendations provided by NHB, NHF&G, and the department;

(5) Timber mats are:

a. Not used in a tidal marsh; and

b. Used in an area other than a tidal marsh only if they are:

1. Necessary to conduct activities;

2. Removed as soon as work is completed; and

3. In place no longer than one growing season;

(6) The project does not cause a permanent conversion of more than 3,000 SF in total of forested wetlands to emergent or scrub-shrub wetlands with or without temporary fill; and

(7) For private residential utility projects involving the installation of residential utility lines and associated temporary impacts to bring services to a single building lot:

a. The total jurisdictional impact will not exceed 3,000 SF;

b. Impact width at any wetland crossing will not exceed 20 feet;

c. Stream crossing channels will not exceed 8 feet wide measured bank to bank; and

d. Only swamps or wet meadows that have no standing water for 10 months of the year will be crossed.

(b) A utility project shall be a minor impact project if the project:

(1) Includes the installation of one or more new permanent crossing(s) of a perennial stream;

(2) Establishes a new access road, new utility corridor or right-of-way, or new utility assets;

(3) Exceeds the Utility BMPs, available as noted in Appendix B, or any of the minimum impact criteria in (a), above;

(4) Includes permanent conversion of forested wetlands to emergent or scrub-shrub wetlands with or without temporary fill;

(5) For private residential utility projects, exceeds minimum impact criteria but does not exceed Env-Wt 400 project classification criteria; or

(6) Impacts greater than 3,000 SF but less than 10, 000 SF or meets the requirements for minor impact classification specified in Env-Wt 407.

(1) It does not meet the criteria for a minimum or minor impact project;

(2) It exceeds the minor impact criteria or meets the major impact criteria specified in Env-Wt 407; or

(3) It meets the criteria in (a) above, but:

a. Is in a PRA and has impacts that cannot be addressed through recommendations by NHB, NHF&G, or the department, as applicable; or

b. Requires mitigation under state or federal law.

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