I. Upon application, and after a hearing, the commissioner may suspend the enforcement of the whole or any part of this chapter or of any rule adopted hereunder in the case of any person who shall show that the enforcement thereof would produce serious economic hardship on such person without equal or greater benefits to the public.
II. In determining under what conditions and to what extent the variance may be granted, the commissioner shall give due recognition to the progress which the person requesting such variance shall have made in eliminating or preventing air pollution; the character and degree of injury to, or interference with, the health and physical property of the people; and the social and economic value of the source of air pollution. In such cases, the commissioner shall consider the reasonableness of granting a variance conditioned on the person’s effecting a partial abatement of pollution or a progressive abatement thereof or such other circumstances as the commissioner may deem reasonable. No variance shall be granted to any person applying therefor who is causing air pollution which creates a danger to public health, welfare or safety.

Terms Used In New Hampshire Revised Statutes 125-C:16

  • Air pollution: the presence in the outdoor atmosphere of one or more contaminants or any combination thereof in sufficient quantities and of such characteristics and duration as are or are likely to be injurious to public welfare, to the health of human, plant, or animal life, or cause damage to property or create a disagreeable or unnatural odor or obscure visibility or which unreasonably interfere with the enjoyment of life and property. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 125-C:2
  • Commissioner: the commissioner of the department of environmental services. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 125-C:2
  • Hearing: the opportunity for the submission of either written or oral comments, or the submission of both written and oral comments. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 125-C:2
  • Person: any individual, partnership, firm or co-partnership, association, company, trust, corporation, department, bureau, agency, private or municipal corporation, or any political subdivision of the state, the United States or political subdivisions or agencies thereof, or any other entity recognized by law as subject to rights and duties. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 125-C:2

III. Any variance granted hereunder shall be granted for such period of time, not exceeding one year, as the commissioner shall specify. No variance shall be construed to relieve the person receiving it from any liability imposed by law for the commission or maintenance of a nuisance.