Why the NH DES “Green Yard Certification” program should not be taken seriously.

By: StopDustNow

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NH DES) and the NH Green Yards program for salvage yards to gain “Green Yard Certification” is a joke.

As the Merrimack, NH town page states, “New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NH DES), Waste Management Division designed the NH Green Yards program to help motor vehicle recyclers improve environmental practices at their salvage yards.” (New Hampshire RSA 236:90-129)

Fugitive dust is to be controlled on-site (within the property boundary) as stated by NH DES, but you can make all the dust you want and still be a “Green Yard”. To whoever created this program and forgot to include fugitive dust emissions in the qualifications to get a “Green Yard Certification”, look at the NH DES website and read about the prevention and control of fugitive dust in their own words.

All of these regulations and rules against creating fugitive dust, yet no enforcement…

Is it because they don’t know of a long-lasting non-toxic solution? (TheDustPros) Or is it just apathy, that dust is not a hazard? Which is it?

Do your job NH DES and hold all of these salvage yards accountable for polluting with fugitive dust. You should retract your protocol for “Green Yard Certification” because it completely overlooks one of the most destructive activities that could happen in an unpaved dirt salvage yard… which is? Creating fugitive dust.

This is recognized as a hazard by ALA, CDC, EPA, NH DES, and others. It is bad enough that salvage yards emit dust, but add in all the chemicals on the ground and now those chemicals are airborne, as well.

Do something about fugitive dust from salvage yards. It is your job.

Thank you,

Taxpayers of NH

/StopDustNow