13:18A-50. Funds for land acquisition; "limited practical use" defined

1. a. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection, utilizing any monies that may be made available from any source for the purpose, may acquire on behalf of the State from willing sellers any land or interest therein that qualifies for acquisition pursuant to the limited practical use program for the pinelands area as set forth in section 502(k)(2)(C) of the "National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978," Pub.L.95-625 (16 U.S.C.471i(k)(2)(C)), and pay any necessary costs associated with those acquisitions. The commissioner may not expend more than $100,000 on any single acquisition pursuant to this subsection without the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor.

For the purposes of this act, "limited practical use" means the designation given to any land or interest therein that has limited practical use because it is located in the pinelands area and is held by a landowner who both owns less than 50 acres in the pinelands area and has exhausted existing remedies to secure relief, or has such meaning as may be otherwise provided by federal law.

b. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, if the commissioner determines that the costs for surveys, appraisals, or other technical or administrative processes, procedures, or matters associated with the proposed acquisition of any land or interest therein pursuant to subsection a. of this section are disproportionate to the estimated cost of the land or interest therein to be acquired, the commissioner may waive the surveys, appraisals, or other technical or administrative processes, procedures, or matters to the extent necessary to ensure that the transaction shall be cost effective; provided, however, that the current owner of record has marketable title to the land or interest therein at issue, as verified by a 60-year search.

L.1995,c.232,s.1.