§1838. Transfer or lease of nonreserved public lands

1.  Transfer of management responsibility to other state agencies.  The bureau may transfer the responsibility for the management of particular portions of nonreserved public land within its jurisdiction to any other state agency upon conditions and for periods the bureau specifies when such a transfer is pursuant to a management plan and has received the written consent of the receiving agency, the Governor and the commissioner. Nothing in this subsection may be construed to negate or affect obligations of the State undertaken in any existing lease, easement or other binding agreement or obligations of the State undertaken by the acceptance of any deed or other grant of an interest in real property.

[PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV).]

2.  Public roads.  The bureau may grant the right to construct and maintain public roads.

[PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV).]

3.  Lease of nonreserved public land to other state agencies.  With the consent of the Governor and the commissioner, the bureau may lease the right to use parcels of nonreserved public land to other agencies of the State for a period not exceeding 25 years for purposes of protecting, enhancing or developing the natural, scenic or wilderness qualities or recreational, scientific or educational uses. Each such lease must contain a provision that authorizes the bureau to terminate the lease at any time when the bureau in its sole discretion determines that termination is in the best interests of the State. No adjustment or compensation may be due any lessee under this subsection on account of such a termination.

[PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV).]

4.  Lease of nonreserved public land for utilities and rights-of-way.  The bureau may lease the right, for a term not exceeding 25 years, to:

A. Set and maintain or use poles, electric power transmission and telecommunication transmission facilities, roads, bridges and landing strips;   [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]

B. Lay and maintain or use pipelines and railroad tracks; and   [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]

C. Establish and maintain or use other rights-of-way.   [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]

[PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV).]

5.  Lease of nonreserved public land for private uses.  The director may lease campsites, garages, depots, warehouses and other structures located on nonreserved public land, or sites for the same, for a term not exceeding 5 years, and also:

A. May grant options to renew such leases for a further term not to exceed 15 years in the case of a commercial use that in the judgment of the director requires the option to secure adequate financing for the maintenance or improvement of facilities located on public nonreserved public land; and   [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]

B. In the case of leases acquired by the State on nonreserved public land, shall authorize, upon reasonable terms and conditions, the transfer of leasehold interests from one lessee of a residential campsite to another.   [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]

[PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]

6.  Lease of nonreserved public lands for industrial and commercial purposes.  With the consent of the Governor and the commissioner, the bureau may lease mill privileges and other rights in land for industrial and commercial purposes; dam sites; dump sites; the rights to pen, construct, put in, maintain and use ditches, tunnels, conduits, flumes and other works for the drainage and passage of water; flowage rights; and other rights of value in the nonreserved public lands for a term not exceeding 10 years.

[PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV).]

7.  Lease of nonreserved public lands to Federal Government.  With the consent of the Governor and the commissioner and with the approval of the Legislature, the director may lease to the Federal Government the right to use nonreserved public lands.

[PL 1999, c. 240, §2 (AMD).]

8.  Lease of nonreserved public lands to municipalities.  With the consent of the Governor and the commissioner, the bureau may lease the right to use parcels of nonreserved public land to municipalities and other political subdivisions of the State for a period not exceeding 25 years for purposes of protecting, enhancing or developing the natural, scenic or wilderness qualities or recreational, scientific or educational uses of the land. Each such lease must contain a provision that authorizes the bureau to terminate the lease at any time when the bureau in its sole discretion determines that termination is in the best interests of the State. No adjustment or compensation may be due any lessee under this subsection on account of such a termination.

The director may lease to incorporated towns the right to manage timber on all or part of the nonreserved public land within the boundaries of the towns in accordance with multiple use management plans, subject to the following conditions.

A. A management plan submitted to the director by a town must be approved or disapproved by the director within 60 days of submission or the plan is deemed approved. The director shall conduct the same interagency reviews and apply the same standards in evaluating such management plans that are being applied in developing the bureau's own management plans as of the date of submission.   [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV).]

B. The leases must be for a period not exceeding 15 years and may be renewed if the director determines that the management plans have been implemented and substantially complied with in a professionally acceptable manner.   [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]

C. The director may terminate the lease at any time, without adjustment or compensation due any lessee, if the termination is in the best interests of the State. The director shall give 30 days' written notice before termination. The director shall hold a public hearing if requested by the lessee within 30 days of that notice. The director shall issue written notice of a final decision within 30 days of the hearing. The decision of the director may be appealed to the Superior Court.   [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]

D. Public access to land leased under this subsection may not be unreasonably denied.   [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]

E. No lease may convey any interest in land affected other than those permitted by this section.   [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]

[PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV).]

9.  Lease of nonreserved public land to private nonprofit organizations.  With the consent of the Governor and the commissioner, the bureau may lease the right to use parcels of nonreserved public land to private, nonprofit organizations for a period not exceeding 25 years for purposes of protecting, enhancing or developing the natural, scenic or wilderness qualities or recreational, scientific or educational uses of the land. Each such lease must contain a provision that authorizes the bureau to terminate the lease at any time when the bureau in its sole discretion determines that termination is in the best interests of the State. No adjustment or compensation may be due any lessee under this subsection on account of that termination.

[PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW). PL 1999, c. 240, §2 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV). PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV).