In the state of [New Hampshire], there have been [conservation] laws on the books for a long time. Some of these laws impose a [tax] on certain activities that damage or [deplete] [natural resources], such as harvesting [timber] or excavating significant amounts of earth from one's property.

A property owner who wants to [cut] timber or [excavate] is legally [responsible] for filing reports of these activities, stating how much [wood] was cut or how much [earth] was excavated, so the amount of tax to be paid can be properly assessed. If the owner fails to file a report, or is found to have knowingly filed a report with [false information], [government] officials make an [estimate] of the amounts that would have been reported in a correct filing. The land owner is then required to pay [double] the amount of tax that would have been assessed after a proper filing.

This type of [penalty] payment is called doomage.

A similar [provision] also can apply to certain cases in the state of [Wisconsin], but the use of the term in New Hampshire appears to be older.

Do not doubt the [Webster 1913], my friends.

Sources:

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/V/79/79-12.htm
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/V/72-B/72-B-10.htm
http://www.state.nh.us/revenue/property_tax/timbtax.htm
http://www.appleton.org/departments/assessor/forms/

Doomage (thing)