New Hampshire § 147-C-4 - Section 147-C:4 Duties of the Committee.

§ 147-C-4. Section 147-C:4 Duties of the Committee.

I. The committee shall: (a) Represent the town in the public hearing process relating to the facility's permit application; (b) Have access to all information given to and comments made to the department, except that information relative to a facility application obtained by the department which, in the judgment of the federal Environmental Protection Agency or the department, constitutes a trade secret shall not be disclosed to the committee without notice to the owner of the trade secret and an opportunity for hearing. The department may provide information relating to trade secrets to the Environmental Protection Agency, provided that the Environmental Protection Agency guarantees the same degree of confidentiality provided by the department. A "trade secret" means any confidential formula, pattern, device or compilation of information which is used in the employer's business and which gives him an opportunity to obtain an advantage over competitors who do not know or use it. A trade secret is known to the employer and those employees to whom it is necessary to confide it; (c) Comprehensively study the immediate and long-term effects of proposed facilities on: (1) The health and welfare of people in the vicinity of the facility; (2) The environment; and (3) The economy of the area in which the facility would be located; and (d) Submit a report to the department within 30 days of the end of the public hearing process containing the committee's recommendations regarding the proposed facility, including a recommendation as to whether or not the permit should be granted. II. The committee shall hold public hearings regarding the proposed facility. The committee shall provide notice of the public hearings by publication in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the community at least 2 weeks prior to the public hearing. The committee shall notify individuals owning property which abuts the proposed facility site of the public hearing in writing by certified mail, return receipt requested.