Town of North Hampton, NH - SITE RECLAMATION STANDARDS

Within 12 months after the expiration date in a permit issued under this chapter, one of the completion of any excavation, whether subject to permit or not, whichever occurs first, the owner of the excavated land shall have completed the reclamation of the areas affected by the excavation to meet each of the following minimum conditions:

The Regulator or its designee shall periodically inspect the operations and shall perform a final reclamation inspection in order to ensure that the approved plans have been followed.

8.1 No slope in soil material shall be left steeper than 3:1 (three horizontal feet for each one foot of vertical drop) unless it can be demonstrated by the applicant that a steeper grade can be adequately vegetated and stabilized. In no case shall a soil material slope be left steeper than 2:1. Changes in slope shall not be abrupt, but shall blend with the surrounding terrain.

8.2 All debris, stumps, boulder, etc., shall be lawfully disposed of in a manner acceptable to the Regulator or its designee.

8.3 Ground levels and grades shall be established as shown on the approved reclamation plan as soon as practical during site excavation, but not later than one year after excavation has been completed.

8.4 Stockpiled topsoil shall be spread over the disturbed area to a depth sufficient to allow establishment and maintenance of vegetation. Areas posing the most critical problems for re-vegetation shall be given first priority should available topsoil be limited. The disturbed area(s) shall be limed and fertilized, if necessary, and seeded with a grass or grass-legume mixture.

8.5 If deemed necessary by the Regulator, suitable trees or shrubs may be planted in order to provide screening and natural beauty and to aid in erosion control. Such planted areas shall be protected from erosion during an appropriate establishment period by mulch and structural erosion control devices.

8.6 The responsible party shall not be released from its performance commitment (reclamation bond) until the Regulator certifies compliance with all terms of the Excavation Plan and the Reclamation Plan.

8.7 Any excavated area of 5 contiguous areas or more, which is either fully excavated per the approved plan (excluding bedrock), or from which no earth materials have been removed for a two year period, shall be reclaimed in accordance with Sections 6 and 8 within one year following such full excavation or two year period, regardless of whether other excavation is occurring on adjacent land in contiguous ownership.

8.8 Except for exposed rock ledge, all areas which have been affected by the excavation or otherwise stripped of vegetation shall be spread with topsoil or strippings, if any, but in any case covered by soil capable of sustaining vegetation, and shall be planted with seedlings or grass suitable to prevent erosion.

8.10 The Regulator may require the elimination of any standing bodies of water created in the excavation project that may constitute a hazard to health and safety.

8.11 Upon completion of the reclamation operations, the topography of the land shall be left so that water draining from the site leaves the property at the original, natural drainage points and in the natural proportions of flow. For excavation projects which require a permit

from the Division of Water Supply and Pollution Control pursuant to RSA 485-A:17, the provisions of that statute, and rules adopted under it, shall supersede this paragraph as to areas of excavation sites covered thereby. The excavator shall file a copy of permits issued under RSA 485-A:17 with the Regulator.