NPS Management Program Plan Update and invitation for public comment on the DRAFT 2020-2024 New Hampshire Nonpoint Source Management Program Plan – A plan for controlling nonpoint source pollution in New Hampshire waters from 2020-2024.
2020-2024 New Hampshire Nonpoint Source Management Program Plan-DRAFT
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) is proud to announce the DRAFT 2020-2024 New Hampshire Nonpoint Source Management Program Plan. The Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Program Plan (Plan) presents the NHDES strategy for preventing, controlling, and reducing NPS pollution to protect and restore the quality of New Hampshire waters. The DRAFT 2020-2024 Plan, covers the Nonpoint Source Management Program goals from October 1, 2019 – September 30, 2024, and updates and builds upon the 2014-2019 NPS Plan.
We invite you to review, comment, and provide feedback. All comments and suggested edits will be considered by NHDES prior to the submittal of the final Draft Plan to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Comments must be submitted in writing to Steve Landry, NPS Program Coordinator via email at stephen.landry@des.nh.gov no later than September 19, 2019.
Once approved by EPA, the final 2020-2024 New Hampshire Nonpoint Source Management Program Plan will be posted to the NHDES website.
About the DRAFT 2020-2024 NPS Management Program Plan
The DRAFT 2020-2024 Plan details the organization of the New Hampshire NPS Program, highlights the outstanding work completed by our program partners and identifies how the NPS Program is integrated with water quality monitoring programs, watershed management organizations, and municipalities across New Hampshire.
The DRAFT 2020-2024 NPS Plan updates the 2014-2019 NPS Management Program Plan and continues to serve as a non-regulatory road map to guide NPS Program activities including outreach, planning and implementation projects. The DRAFT 2020-2024 NPS Plan maintains the major programmatic goals, consistent with the previous NPS Management Program Plan, with associated objectives and milestones.
Key updates from the 2014-2019 NPS Plan include:
- Integration of resiliency and climate change readiness/preparedness into appropriate objectives and milestones;
- Improved alignment of NPS Program and Natural Resource Conservation Service National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) pollution reduction efforts in priority watersheds;
- Discussion of Emerging Issues: perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS); pharmaceuticals and personal care products; and marine debris, trash and microplastics;
- and a revised Restoration Priority Screening and Protection Priority Screening Tool based upon the 2018 Comprehensive Assessment and Listing Methodology or 305(b)/303(d) Report to identify priority watersheds in New Hampshire for protection or restoration recovery potential.
NHDES realizes that achieving the objectives, and milestones outlined in the NPS Plan relies upon the cooperation of many different programs, actions, and initiatives, working toward a common goal. The NPS Plan recognizes that NHDES must continue to work with its many partners on a watershed-by-watershed basis to improve, restore, and protect New Hampshire’s water resources. We look forward to continued collaboration with our extensive network of program partners in protecting and restoring the quality of waters throughout New Hampshire.