Legal briefs: News from around NH

NH approves 60-acre expansion of Turnkey landfill in Rochester. Permit now with EPA.

Waste Management’s Turnkey landfill on Wednesday received state approval to move forward with a 60-acre expansion of its massive garbage disposal operation in Rochester, despite health and safety concerns expressed by neighbors.

The project still requires approval from the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

The state approval came from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Air Resources Division (NHDES), which issues the Title V Operating Permit in accordance with the New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules governing the Control of Air Pollution.

The permit has been submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region I (USEPA) for review. That federal agency has 45 days, beginning Oct. 25, in which to object to the issuance of the permit. If no objection is made by the end of the period, NHDES will issue a final permit.

— SEACOAST ONLINE (Full story)

Keno gambling on Portsmouth ballot again in 2023: Is ‘third time the charm?’

PORTSMOUTH — Members of city charitable organizations, along with restaurant owners, lobbied for the passage of Keno gambling in the Nov. 7 municipal election.

The ballot question coming in two weeks will mark the third time Keno has been put to voters in Portsmouth, a popular tourist city with more restaurant and bar seats than residents.

Tom Beaudoin, a member of the Portsmouth Elks and lifelong city resident, said “having Keno would drastically increase the amount of funding we can give back.”

Portsmouth Elks Lodge members give about $100,000 each year “back to the community,” he said.

— SEACOAST ONLINE (full story)

Gordon joins IP team at Downs Rachlin Martin

 Attorney Shawn Gordon has joined the northern New England law firm Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC. Shawn began practice in the firm’s intellectual property group in mid-September.

Prior to joining DRM, Shawn had his own practice based out of Montpelier, Vermont, and has extensive experience protecting clients’ patents and trademarks. He will be based out of DRM’s Montpelier office.

The firm, which has offices in Vermont and New Hampshire, offers legal services that include bankruptcy and business restructuring, business law, captive insurance, renewable energy, telecommunications, health law, intellectual property, labor and employment, litigation, white collar defense and government enforcement, real estate and land use, environmental, tax, and trusts and estates, plus legislative and regulatory services through the firm’s government and public affairs group.

— NH BUSINESS REVIEW

One-time Freedom fire chief sent to prison for sexual assault

An 80-year-old man who served as a longtime Freedom fire chief and Effiingham selectman was recently sent to prison after pleading guilty to sexual assault.

Richard Seamans, 80, of Freedom pleaded guilty to aggravated felonious sexual assault on Oct. 20 in Carroll County Superior Court in Ossipee.

Seamans was indicted in November of 2020. The indictment signed by then Deputy County Attorney Steven Briden states that Seamans “engaged in a pattern of sexual assault” against a female minor between September of 2014 and 2017. It appears the girl was about 6 years old when the assaults reportedly started.

The assaults “were committed over a period of two months or more and with in a period of five days,” the indictment states.

After Seamans pleaded guilty, Carroll County Superior Court Judge Mark Attorri sentenced him to four to eight years in state prison to be served immediately.

— CONWAY DAILY SUN