New Hampshire Officials Push for C&D Burning Ban

Some New Hampshire activists and politicians have testified in support of a permanent statewide ban on burning wood from construction and demolition debris, according to a report in the Concord Monitor (Concord, N.H.).

Gov. John Lynch was among the officials who testified at the Feb. 7 hearing before the House Science, Technology and Energy Committee. The Concord Monitor quotes Lynch as saying, “The burning of toxic construction and demolition debris poses an unnecessary and unacceptable danger to the health of New Hampshire’s people and health of our environment.”

The state has a moratorium in place that expires Dec. 31. New legislation would introduce a permanent ban, effective Jan. 1, 2008, according to the report.

The hearing is the latest in a legal struggle that extends back several years involving Bio Energy, a Hopkinton, N.H.-based plant that burns wood fuel to generate electricity. The plant applied for a permit to burn wood from C&D debris, which led to opposition from some residents and state lawmakers.