New Hampshire HB 1607: relative to the use and storage of road salt.

Bill Text

HB 1607-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2407

 04/09

HOUSE BILL 1607-FN

AN ACT relative to the use and storage of road salt.

SPONSORS: Rep. Rung, Hills. 12; Rep. Taylor, Carr. 8; Rep. J. MacDonald, Carr. 6; Rep. Ebel, Merr. 7; Rep. Lovett, Graf. 8; Rep. Darby, Hills. 11; Sen. Watters, Dist 4

COMMITTEE: Public Works and Highways

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ANALYSIS

 This bill prohibits unsafe chemical storage, protects water sources from contamination, and empowers the department to regulate and enforce stricter safeguards in vulnerable areas.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2407

 04/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to the use and storage of road salt.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 New Section; Groundwater Contamination; Storage and Management of Snow Ice Control Chemicals. Amend RSA 485-C by inserting after section 8 the following new section: 

 485:C-8-a Storage and Management of Snow Ice Control Chemicals.

 I. No person shall store sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, or salt treated abrasives or other chemicals used for snow and ice management on road parking lots and sidewalks in such a manner or place as to subject groundwater or surface water to the risk of contamination.

 II. The department shall issue regulations as to the place and manner of storage and management of such chemicals. Such regulations may provide additional requirements if such chemicals are to be stored and managed over or adjacent to areas where groundwater or surface water is presently or has previously been impacted by chemicals used for snow and ice management. 

 2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage. 

 LBA

 26-2407

 12/8/25

HB 1607-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to the use and storage of road salt.

FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.

 Estimated State Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Revenue Fund(s)

None

 Expenditures*

$0

Indeterminable Increase 

$10,000 to $100,000

Indeterminable Increase $10,000 to $100,000

Indeterminable Increase

 $10,000 to $100,000

 Funding Source(s)

General Fund and Various Agency Funds

 Appropriations*

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Funding Source(s)

None

 *Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

 Estimated Political Subdivision Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 County Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 County Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable Increase

 $10,000 to $500,000

Indeterminable Increase $10,000 to $500,000

Indeterminable Increase

 $10,000 to $500,000

 Local Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Local Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable Increase 

$10,000 to $500,000

Indeterminable Increase $10,000 to $500,000

Indeterminable Increase 

$10,000 to $500,000

METHODOLOGY:

This bill adds a new section to RSA 485-C prohibiting the storage of road salt and other snow and ice control chemicals in a manner that risks groundwater or surface water contamination. The bill requires the Department of Environmental Services (DES) to adopt rules governing storage and management practices and authorizes additional requirements in areas where contamination is present. 

The DES states this bill will increase State expenditures by an indeterminable amount. DES states that although the development of administrative rules can be completed by existing staff, the primary cost of the bill stems from enforcing those rules once adopted. Enforcement may include reviewing self-reports, conducting inspections, and issuing administrative orders or fines. DES notes that the extent of enforcement activity cannot be estimated because there is no statewide inventory of salt storage facilities. Because the scope of enforcement is unknown, DES cannot determine whether existing staff can absorb the workload or whether an additional entry-level position would be needed. If a new position is required, DES estimates enforcement-related costs would fall within the range of $10,000 to $100,000 annually. 

Additionally, DES states county and municipal expenditures may increase because local public works and highway departments that do not currently meet proper de-icing storage standards may need to upgrade or construct compliant de-icing storage structures. DES notes that storage facility costs vary significantly, with large barns potentially exceeding $500,000 and smaller pole barns costing less than $50,000. Man