New Hampshire § 485-A-27 - Section 485-A:27 Injunction; Emergency Closures.

§ 485-A-27. Section 485-A:27 Injunction; Emergency Closures.

I. Any person operating or maintaining a public swimming pool or bathing place facility without the same having been approved by the department may be enjoined by the superior court or any justice of the court upon petition brought by the attorney general. II. Whenever the department determines that conditions at a public bathing facility jeopardize the health and safety of patrons of the facility, the department shall issue an emergency closure notice. The department shall apply the following procedure in determining whether to issue an emergency closure notice: (a) The department shall perform an on-site inspection to determine whether each pool at the facility is in compliance with the following standards established in rules adopted by the commissioner pursuant to RSA 541-A: (1) Bacteriological, chemical, and physical water quality standards; and (2) Patron safety requirements relating to emergency response, emergency rescue equipment, first aid kits, suction outlet covers/grates, and security fencing. (b) If the department determines that a pool at the facility is not in compliance with the standards and safety requirements specified in subparagraph (a) and that the deficiencies threaten the health or safety of patrons of the facility, the department shall issue an emergency closure notice to the owner of the facility or the owner's on-site representative and immediately provide a copy of the notice to the town or city health officer. The notice shall identify which pool must be closed and specify the reason for the emergency closure. (c) Upon receipt of an emergency closure notice, the owner shall immediately close the identified pool. The owner shall not reopen the pool until each deficiency cited in the emergency closure notice has been corrected and the department has confirmed the corrections. (d) If an owner believes an emergency closure notice has been issued in error, the owner shall notify the department in writing, which may be sent by email, fax, United States Postal Service delivery, or private delivery. The written notice shall identify each reason why the owner or operator believes the emergency closure notice is not appropriate. The department shall provide the owner or operator with an opportunity for an adjudicative hearing within 10 days of receiving the written notice.