485-C:6 Ambient Groundwater Quality Standards. –
I. The commissioner shall establish and adopt ambient groundwater quality standards for regulated contaminants which adversely affect human health or the environment. Ambient groundwater standards shall apply to all regulated contaminants which result from human operations or activities, but do not apply to naturally occurring contaminants. Where state maximum contaminant levels have been adopted under RSA 485:3, I(b), or established in law, ambient groundwater quality standards shall be equivalent to such standards or where federal maximum contaminant level or health advisories have been promulgated under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act or rules relevant to such act, the commissioner may adopt ambient groundwater quality standards equivalent to such standards. The commissioner may also adopt standards that are more stringent than federal or state maximum contaminant levels or federal health advisories if, accounting for an adequate margin of safety to protect human health at all life stages, including but not limited to pre-natal development, the commissioner determines federal standards are insufficient for protection of human health. Where such standards are adopted based upon health advisories promulgated under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act that address cancer risks, the ambient groundwater quality standards shall be equivalent to that exposure which causes a lifetime exposure risk of one cancer in 1,000,000 exposed population. Where no federal or state maximum contaminant level or health advisory has been adopted, the commissioner may adopt ambient groundwater quality standards on a basis which provides for an adequate margin of safety to protect human health and safety.
II. Health advisories that are adopted as ambient groundwater quality standards shall be reviewed by the department at least every 5 years to determine if new research warrants revising the current ambient groundwater quality standard. If the department finds a revision is necessary it shall conduct rulemaking to adopt the revised standard.
III. Ambient groundwater quality standards shall be the water quality basis for issuance of groundwater discharge permits under RSA 485-A:13.
IV. Except for discharges of domestic wastewater regulated under RSA 485-A:13 and RSA 485-A:29, no person shall violate ambient groundwater quality standards.
V. By January 1, 2019, the commissioner shall, in consultation with the commissioner of the department of health and human services and interested parties, initiate rulemaking to adopt ambient groundwater quality standards for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS).
VI. By January 1, 2019, the commissioner shall, in consultation with the commissioner of the department of health and human services and interested parties, conduct a review to determine whether current research warrants revising the existing ambient groundwater quality standards for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS).
Source. 1991, 344:1. 1996, 228:110, eff. July 1, 1996. 2018, 368:6, eff. July 10, 2018. 2020, 30:15, eff. July 23, 2020. 2023, 70:1, eff. June 7, 2023.