87-1-218. Notice of proposed land acquisitions. (1) For all land acquisitions proposed pursuant to 87-1-209, the department shall provide notice to the board of county commissioners in the county where the proposed acquisition is located.

(2) The notice must be provided at least 30 days before the proposed acquisition appears before the commission or the board for its consent.

(3) The notice must include:

(a) a description of the proposed acquisition, including acreage and the use proposed by the department;

(b) an estimate of the measures and costs the department plans to undertake in furtherance of the proposed use, including operating, staffing, and maintenance costs;

(c) an estimate of the property taxes payable on the proposed acquisition and a statement that if the department acquires the land pursuant to 87-1-603, the department would pay a sum equal to the amount of taxes that would be payable on the county assessment of the property if it was taxable to a private citizen; and

(d) a draft agenda of the meeting at which the proposed acquisition will be presented to the commission or the board and information on how the board of county commissioners may provide comment.

(4) For all land acquisitions of 640 acres or more proposed pursuant to 87-1-209, the department shall:

(a) conduct a public scoping process to identify issues and concerns as the initial phase of an environmental review pursuant to Title 75, chapter 1, part 2;

(b) provide the public with sufficient notice of the proposed acquisition and an opportunity to provide input on reasonable alternatives, mitigation alternatives, mitigation measures, issues, and potential impacts to be addressed in the environmental review; and

(c) respond to comments received during the public scoping process as part of the environmental review document.

History: En. Sec. 7, Ch. 485, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 28, Ch. 235, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 326, L. 2015.