Rebecca M. LeCain

The Commission discussed several key items, including an update on the demolition and decommissioning of a facility, the status of the poet monitoring program, and the progress of alternate water remedies for affected properties. A new agreement for providing alternate water in Londonderry was reported, highlighting a water main project. The committee also covered updates on water supply well sampling and plans for upcoming groundwater and soil investigation efforts, including future review of data and work plans.

The meeting presented the proposed Ashuelot River protected instream flow study. Discussions covered the regulatory background for river protection, the prioritization process, and the development of protected instream flow criteria. The session included details on the river survey methodology, the division of the river into segments for assessment, and the habitat characteristics used to evaluate the impact of flow changes on aquatic life, wildlife, and vegetation. The informational meeting is part of a broader public process that includes an upcoming public hearing and a comment period for the study report.

The public hearing focused on a request for a Type 1A permit modification from the Ruggiero Processing Facility LLC. The applicant proposed an increase in operational capacity from 200 tons to 800 tons per week and a facility expansion to accommodate a new waste sortation machine and waste baler. The discussion covered the application review process, traffic impacts, noise, and odor mitigation strategies, as well as the proposed environmental benefits of the modifications, such as improved waste diversion and emission reductions.

The commission reviewed updates regarding the decommissioning of a facility, the installation of point-of-entry treatment systems, and the progress of municipal waterline extensions. Discussions included the ongoing groundwater management zone monitoring, the sampling of private wells, and the results of recent soil and groundwater investigations. The members addressed the need for future community information meetings to disseminate findings and correct misinformation. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services provided an update confirming that bottled water manufacturers registered in the state meet both state and federal PFAS and PFOA standards, and noted the availability of aggregate test result reports.

The meeting involved discussions regarding two joint legislative study commissions. Initial proceedings noted a lack of quorum on the HB 737 side, leading to the passing of previous minutes. Key updates concerned commission membership, specifically uncertainty over one member's confirmation and the resignation of another, necessitating confirmation of replacements. A significant portion of the discussion involved a presentation on PFAS contaminated drinking water and its impact on infants, referencing a University of Arizona study. The presentation detailed the empirical approach using hydrological data from New Hampshire to estimate the causal effect of PFAS exposure from contaminated groundwater wells on adverse birth outcomes, including infant mortality, low birth weight, and preterm births. The analysis compared outcomes for mothers served by wells downgradient of contamination sites versus those served by upgradient wells.