News
2018-06-20 - High Water Mark Initiative Launch Events – Rye, Hampton and Seabrook New Hampshire
High Water Mark signs have been installed to benchmark the 100-year coastal storm flood level and future projected sea levels at five locations. Launch events scheduled 6/27,6/28 and 6/29
Exeter, NH – The Rockingham Planning Commission, in collaboration with the towns of Rye, Hampton and Seabrook, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) NH State Parks, and the NH Department of Environmental Services Coastal Program announce High Water Mark Initiative Launch Events in coastal New Hampshire. High Water Mark signs have been installed to benchmark the 100-year coastal storm flood level and future projected sea levels at five locations. Many parts of NH’s coast experience seasonal flooding today and even larger areas may be impacted more frequently as sea level rises.
Raising awareness about flooding is of interest to many municipal stakeholders. We invite elected officials and local decision makers charged with addressing such flooding to join us for these launch events!
Launch events will be held at the sign sites on the following dates and times:
Hampton – Thursday June 28, 2018, 11:00am at the Hampton Transfer Station front gate off Hardardt’s Way
Seabrook - Thursday June 28, 2018, 12:30pm at the town boat launch on River Street
Seabrook - Thursday June 28, 2018, 1:30pm at Brown’s Lobster Pound on Route 286
Rye - Friday June 29, 2018, 12:00pm at Wallis Road near the corner of Route 1A
CONTACT: Julie LaBranche, Senior Planner (603) 658-0522, Email: jlabranche@rpc-nh.org
Additional project information is available on the High Water Mark Initiative page.
What can you do to spread the word about flooding? Take a photo with a High Water Mark sign and post it to social media using the hashtag #highwatermarknh
This project was funded, in part, by NOAA's Office for Coastal Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act in conjunction with the NH Department of Environmental Services Coastal Program
2018-06-15 - EPA Hosting Drinking Water and PFAS Community Engagement Event in Exeter, 6/25-6/26
On Monday, June 25, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will kick off the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) community engagements in Exeter, New Hampshire with a two-day public event. This event allows EPA to hear directly from New England residents, communities, state, local, and tribal partners to take action on PFAS.
The New England Community Engagement event will consist of two sessions – a public listening session and PFAS working session – to hear from the public; provide tools to assist states, tribes, and local communities in addressing challenges with PFAS in the environment; and understand ways EPA can best support the work that's being done at the state, local and tribal level.
Information on the event:
EPA will host a Listening Session on June 25 from 4:30 pm-10:00 pm.
EPA will hold a Working Session on June 26 from 8:00 am-3:00 pm.
The event will be held at Exeter High School, 1 Blue Hawk Drive, Exeter, NH 03833
Both days will be open to the public and the press.
The public is invited to speak during the June 25 listening session. Those interested in speaking can sign up for a three-minute speaking slot at this link:www.epa.gov/pfas/forms/pfas-community-engagement-exeter-nh
If you are unable to attend the event or would like to submit additional information or comments, written statements can be submitted to the public docket at www.regulations.gov/ enter docket number: OW-2018-0270.
The full agenda will be made available in the upcoming days. Please check the EPA PFAS Community Engagement website: www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-community-engagement-exeter-nh for further information leading up to the event.2018-06-08 - Statewide Freight Summit & Open House - June 21, 2018
The Future of Freight Operations & Autonomous Trucking
The New Hampshire Department of Transportation is hosting a New Hampshire Freight Summit at the Newington Town Hall Auditorium (205 Nimble Hill Road, Newington) on June 21, 2018 from 12:30 - 3:30 PM that will include discussion with public and private sector professionals regarding the future of freight movement in New Hampshire and key issues affecting the state's freight networks. The summit will provide an overview of the New Hampshire Freight Plan, Insights on Freight Operations and Logistics from the private sector, as well as a discussion of the Economics of Autonomous Trucking. This will be followed by an Open House from 4:00-6:00 PM focused around the ongoing development of the State Freight Plan. The Statewide Freight Plan is a strategic planning document that will define a short and long-term, multi-modal, vision for the freight system in New Hampshire. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about and discuss freight issues and trends with industry experts and proved input on the Freight Plan development.
Follow the link to RSVP for the event: nhfreight2.eventbrite.com
2018-05-24 - RPC Annual Meeting is 6/13 at 6:00 in Portsmouth
Rockingham Planning Commission will host its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at 6:00 PM at the Sheraton Harborside Hotel in Portsmouth, NH The purpose of the meeting is to elect the Commission's officers, present awards, and provide an overview of the Commission's current work.
Please note that registration for the dinner portion of the evening is $35 per person, however, the meeting is open to the public. Registration for dinner is needed by June 6th.
For additional details or to register, please visit our Annual Meeting page.
2018-05-22 - RPC Welcomes Meredith Houghton, Planning Technician
Meredith Houghton joined RPC this May as a temporary Planning Technician for the transportation and water resources programs. As such, she will be primarily supporting the implementation of both the Road Surface Management System (RSMS) and Regional Stream Crossing Assessment (RSCA) projects, which contribute to the New Hampshire Statewide Asset Data Exchange System (SADES).
This summer, RPC’s RSMS program will be focused on the towns of Epping and Fremont. The RSMS program provides state agencies and the participating municipalities with information on the road system’s condition and estimates for future maintenance costs. The main objective of this effort is to identify distressed pavement manifestations, such as cracking or rutting, so that municipalities can better prioritize maintenance projects to maximize their return on investment and road quality. Meredith will be assisting the field team with road assessments and data collection, which will provide information pertinent to the planning and budget preparation for the participating towns’ long-term maintenance programs.
In addition to the RSMS program, Meredith will also be supporting the RSCA project, building on five years of prior data collection efforts by RPC within the region. The program is a statewide initiative that is a collaboration of multiple partners, including the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) and Transportation (NHDOT), Fish and Game Department and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM). The RSCA program aims to evaluate stream crossings to address flood risks and identify problem culverts which may present a hazard to public safety and/or may hinder passage to wildlife. As part of the field team, Meredith will be collecting georeferenced data to locate and assess existing crossings. This data will allow for the prioritization of stream crossing replacement projects within a town, watershed or region. This season, RPC will be performing these assessments primarily within the western areas of the RPC region.
Meredith brings prior experience in environmental remediation and compliance/permitting to RPC, and is currently pursuing her graduate degree in Urban and Environmental Planning at Tufts University. Her most recent professional work has focused on stormwater compliance projects, as well as an invasive aquatic species management contract within a drinking water reservoir in Massachusetts. As an aspiring Environmental Planner, Meredith is excited to build on her knowledge of water resource management and broaden her perspective in transportation planning at RPC.Additional information on the RSMS and RSCA programs is available on the SADES and NHDES webpages.
[Environment][Press Releases][Transportation]
2018-05-18 - Liberty Utilities Hosting Granite Bridge Gas Pipeline Project in Epping on 5/23 from 5-8
Members of the public are invited to join Liberty Utilities and the Granite Bridge project team for an Open House at Josiah's Meetinghouse on May 23, 2018 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. Attendees will be able to speak with team members and learn more about Granite Bridge, ask questions, and provide feedback on the project proposal.
Rockingham Planning Commission is posting permitting process information and resources on our Granite Bridge Pipeline Project page.
May 23, 2018
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Josiah's Meetinghouse
521 Calef Highway
Epping, NH
2018-05-14 - 10 Day Comment Period and Hearing for Revised 2017-2020 TIP Amendment #4
The FY 2017-2020 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a prioritized list of federal and state funded regional transportation projects developed by NH DOT and representatives from the communities of the Rockingham Planning Commission (RPC) region. To comply with Federal Highway Administration guidance regarding a recent court decision on the 1997 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard, the RPC announces its intent to amend the TIP to revoke Amendment #4 as adopted on April 11th, 2018. The MPO will then reapprove Amendment #4 omitting changes to projects that would require the MPO to conduct a full air quality conformity analysis. In this instance, this will require that project 29608 (Epping) not be considered as part of the proposed changes. These revisions will account for project changes and maintain consistency with the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). To maintain consistency between the TIP and the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), the project list of the LRTP will be updated in conjunction with the changes to the TIP. The project specific changes to the TIP and supporting documentation can be found on the Rockingham Planning Commission website at http://www.rpc-nh.org.
A 10-day public comment period for the Amendments begins Monday, May 14th, 2018 and concludes on Wednesday, May 23rd, 2018. A public hearing to consider the changes and any received comments is scheduled for Wednesday May 23rd, 2018, beginning at 5:30 PM at the RPC Offices (156 Water St, Exeter). The Planning Commission Executive Committee will meet after the public hearing to adopt the changes to the TIP.
As of July 20, 2013, all of New Hampshire is unclassifiable/attainment for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (the 2008 ozone standard) and as of April 6, 2015, the 1997 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (the 1997 ozone standard) is revoked for all purposes, including transportation conformity purposes in the Boston-Manchester-Portsmouth (SE) NH area.
Consistent with the RPC’s Public Participation Process, this notice and comment period is also intended to meet FTA requirements for public comment on the programs of transit projects put forward by NHDOT, UNH and the COAST and CART transit systems.
Copies of all documents are available at the RPC offices, on the website at http://www.rpc-nh.org, and will be sent to interested parties by request. Written comments will also be accepted through May 23rd, 2018 and may be addressed to:
Rockingham Planning Commission
156 Water Street
Exeter, NH 03833
Email: transportation@rpc-nh.org with TIP/Plan amendments in the subject line
For more information contact David Walker at (603) 778-0885.
[Public Notices][Transportation]
2018-05-10 - NHDES Offering $200,000 in Coastal Resiliency Grants - Due July 6
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) Coastal Program announces the availability of targeted funds for projects that enhance coastal resilience to current and future hazards. Each year, coastal communities in New Hampshire experience flooding and coastal storm damages to property, infrastructure, natural resources, and cultural resources, along with associated economic disruptions. The past year brought damaging nor’easters and more frequent reports of nuisance high tide flooding. These hazards are projected to continue intensifying and expanding with the effects of climate change.
The purpose of the 2018 New Hampshire Coastal Resilience Grants funding opportunity is to support projects that improve the capacity of a community or system to proactively prepare for and “bounce back better” from hazardous events such as hurricanes, coastal storms, and long-term sea-level rise and associated impacts. There are two types of eligible projects: Creative Capacity Building and Design & Construction.
Proposed work must take place in one or more of the 17 New Hampshire coastal zone communities. Eligible applicants include municipalities, state agencies, regional planning commissions, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations.
A total funding amount of approximately $200,000 is available. Applicants must request a minimum of $20,000 and no more than $100,000 in grant funds per project. A two-to-one federal to non-federal match through cash or in-kind services is required (i.e., if $20,000 in grant funds are requested the applicant must provide at least $10,000 in non-federal cash or in-kind match). Exceptions to the match requirement may be made for Creative Capacity Building project applicants who can demonstrate hardship securing match. The funds are made available to the NHDES Coastal Program through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office for Coastal Management, under the Coastal Zone Management Act.
Proposals must be submitted electronically by emailing kirsten.howard@des.nh.gov by 4:00 pm EDT on Friday, July 6, 2018.
The highest scoring applicants will be asked to refine scopes of services and budgets for contracting.
For more information on eligibility, project types, and submittal requirements, view the full request for proposals at: https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wmb/coastal/documents/2018-coast-res-rfp.pdf.
For further assistance, please contact NHDES Coastal Program Resilience Coordinator Kirsten Howard at (603) 559-0020 or kirsten.howard@des.nh.gov.
2018-05-08 - Public Hearing to Discuss Hampton Beach Traffic and Reconstruction of NH1A
May 10th, 2018 at the Marston School
The Hampton Beach Area Commission will host a public hearing on Thursday, May 10th, 2018 that will be discussing aspects of the Hampton Beach Master Plan and the reconstruction of NH 1A. The meeting will occur at the Marston School Cafeteria (4 Marston Way, Hampton) beginning at 7:00 PM and topics will include the transportation planning grant for Route 1A, traffic flow at the beach, parking areas, and pedestrian safety issues. The full agenda can be found on the Hampton Beach Area Commission 2018 Agendas web page
2018-04-11 - RPC Commissioners Hear about NH Site Evaluation Committee Process
At the April 11, 2018 RPC Commission meeting, Pamela Monroe from the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee provided an overview of the NHSEC and its process to approve siting of energy facilities in the state. (The full presentation is available here.)
This presentation was requested by the RPC to better inform our Commissioners and communities about the permitting process for siting the Granite Bridge Pipeline Project, and underground natural gas pipeline and storage facility proposed by Liberty Utilities within the RPC region. The pipeline is proposed to be built within the NHDOT Route 101 right of way from Manchester to Stratham, with the storage facility being located in Epping near Exit 6.
RPC will continue to monitor the project and to compile information on our Granite Bridge Pipeline Proposal page.
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