13:1L-7. Powers of department

7. a. For the purposes of acquiring, holding, managing or developing lands or other properties for a State park or forest, the department shall have the power to enter, inspect, survey, investigate ownership and take title to, in fee or otherwise, by purchase, gift, devise, exchange, or eminent domain, any appropriate lands of the State that would be useful as a State park or forest.

b. The power of eminent domain shall extend to all rights, interests and easements in any property in the State.

c. The department shall exercise its power of eminent domain in accordance with the "Eminent Domain Act of 1971," P.L.1971, c.361 (C.20:3-1 et seq.) and section 28 of P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-28).

d. Whenever the department wishes to acquire, by eminent domain, title to unoccupied lands and it appears that such title may be defective in any manner, the department may, with the consent of the Attorney General, acquire the best available title, notwithstanding that such title is defective or incomplete.

e. For purposes of P.L.1983, c.324 (C.13:1L-1 et seq.), the department may acquire by gift, grant or by payment of tax lien any municipal lands that have been acquired by the municipality through the foreclosure of a tax lien pursuant to chapter 5 of Title 54 (Taxation).

f. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1999, c.152).

g. No title or interest in any of the lands or properties acquired or held by the department for the purposes of P.L.1983, c.324 (C.13:1L-1 et seq.) shall be subject to be taken by condemnation proceedings through the power of eminent domain.

L.1983,c.324,s.7; amended 1989, c.347; 1999, c.152, s.49.