GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

S	1 

SENATE BILL 953

Short Title:  Wetlands Restoration Prgm. Amends.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senators Clodfelter; Albertson and Kinnaird.

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Referred to:  Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources.

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April 14, 1999

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO DISTRIBUTE FUNDS FROM THE WETLANDS RESTORATION FUND AND TO CONVEY INTERESTS IN REAL PROPERTY ACQUIRED UNDER THE WETLANDS RESTORATION PROGRAM TO FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND PRIVATE NONPROFIT CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 143-214.12 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"( a1)	The Department may distribute funds from the Wetlands Restoration Fund directly to a federal or State agency, a local government, or a private, nonprofit conservation organization to acquire, manage, and maintain real property or an interest in real property for the purposes set out in subsection (a) of this section.  A recipient of funds under this subsection shall grant a conservation easement in the real property or interest in real property acquired with the funds to the Department in a form that is acceptable to the Department.  The Department may convey real property or an interest in real property that has been acquired under the Wetlands Restoration Program to a federal or State agency, a local government, or a private, nonprofit conservation organization to acquire, manage, and maintain real property or an interest in real property for the purposes set out in subsection (a) of this section.  A grantee of real property or an interest in real property under this subsection shall grant a conservation easement in the real property or interest in real property to the Department in a form that is acceptable to the Department."
Section 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.