Section 21-O:12-a - Geologic Resources Advisory CommitteeI. There is hereby established an advisory committee to determine the priorities and long-term plan for geologic mapping in the state, funded by the United States Geological Survey, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program. This committee shall serve the role of, and is equivalent to, the State Mapping Advisory Committee as required by the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program and fulfills the requirements of 43 U.S.C. 31c(d)(2)(B) pertaining to the geologic mapping program.II. The committee shall be composed of the following members, or their designees: (a) The director of the department of business and economic affairs, planning division.(b) The director of the department of environmental services, waste management division.(c) The director of the department of environmental services, water division.(d) The director of the department of natural and cultural resources, division of forests and lands.(e) The director of the department of safety, division of homeland security and emergency management.(f) The commissioner of the department of transportation.II-a. The following additional members shall be appointed by the governor, with the advice of the commissioner, as follows: (a) Three representatives of 3 separate geotechnical, water resources, or geological consulting firms.(b) One representative of an earth materials commodities firm.(c) A municipal representative, nominated by the New Hampshire Municipal Association.(d) A representative of the United States Forest Service, White Mountain National Forest.(e) A representative of the University of New Hampshire, earth sciences department.(f) A representative of an academic institution in New Hampshire, experienced in, or related to, an earth sciences discipline.(g) A member of the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.(h) A representative of the New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commissions, nominated by that organization.(i) A member of the public, appointed by the commissioner of the department of environmental services.III. The committee shall base the state's geologic mapping priorities on requirements for geologic map information in areas of multiple-issue need, or areas of compelling single-issue need, and requirements for geologic map information in areas where geologic mapping is required to solve critical earth science problems.IV. The committee shall meet at least annually for the purposes of prioritizing geologic mapping projects, determining the long-term geologic mapping plan, determining how the proposed mapping fits into the long-term mapping plans for the state, and voting to determine the mapping projects that will be submitted as part of the state's grant proposal to the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program for that year.V. The meeting shall be called by the state geologist and the director of the New Hampshire geological survey at the department of environmental services. The members of the committee shall choose a chairperson by majority vote. The chairperson shall serve for a term of one year, but may be confirmed by majority vote for as long as the chairperson remains a member.VI. A majority of the membership of the committee shall constitute a quorum.VII. If federal funding through the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP) at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) ceases to be available, the geologic resources advisory committee established in this section and its authority as the Geologic Resources Advisory Committee shall be terminated.Added by 2024, 103:1, eff. 7/1/2024.