Resolve, Authorizing the Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands To Convey Certain Lands

Preamble. The Constitution of Maine, Article IX, Section 23 requires that real estate held by the State for conservation or recreation purposes may not be reduced or its uses substantially altered except on the vote of 2/3 of all members elected to each House.

Whereas,  certain real estate authorized for conveyance by this resolve is under the designations described in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 598-A; and

Whereas,  the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the Department of Conservation may sell or exchange lands with the approval of the Legislature in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, sections 1814, 1837 and 1851; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Director of Bureau of Parks and Lands authorized, but not directed, to convey certain land in Wyman Township, Franklin County. Resolved: That the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the Department of Conservation may by quitclaim deed without covenant convey on such other terms and conditions as the director may direct, including maintenance and safety obligations and responsibilities, a nonexclusive linear easement for forest management purposes to benefit GMO Renewable Resources, LLC, and its successors and assigns, in the Wyman Township, Franklin County. The easement must be located entirely along the existing forest management road located on state-owned land running south from State Route 27; and be it further

Sec. 2. Director of Bureau of Parks and Lands authorized, but not directed, to convey certain land in Moosehead Junction Township, Piscataquis County. Resolved: That the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the Department of Conservation may by quitclaim deed without covenant convey on such other terms and conditions as the director may direct, including maintenance and safety obligations and responsibilities, a nonexclusive linear easement for forest management purposes to benefit GMO Renewable Resources, LLC, and its successors and assigns, in the Moosehead Junction Township, Piscataquis County. The easement must be located entirely along the existing forest management road on state-owned land running southwest from State Route 15; and be it further

Sec. 3. Director of Bureau of Parks and Lands authorized, but not directed, to convey certain land in Moosehead Junction Township, Piscataquis County. Resolved: That the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the Department of Conservation may by quitclaim deed without covenant convey on such other terms and conditions as the director may direct, including maintenance and safety obligations and responsibilities, a nonexclusive linear easement for forest management purposes to benefit GMO Renewable Resources, LLC, and its successors and assigns, in the Moosehead Junction Township, Piscataquis County. The easement must be located entirely along the existing forest management road on state-owned land as conveyed in a deed from Oliver L. Rowe and Lawrence O. Rowe to International Paper Company recorded in the Piscataquis County Registry of Deeds in Book 521, Page 354, extending northerly from the intersection of the so-called Dyer Road and Depot Street extension to the southerly line of the most southern lot as described in said deed; and be it further

Sec. 4. Director of Bureau of Parks and Lands authorized, but not directed, to convey certain land in Coplin Plantation, Franklin County. Resolved: That the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the Department of Conservation may by quitclaim deed without covenant convey on such other terms and conditions as the director may direct, including maintenance and safety obligations and responsibilities, a nonexclusive linear easement for forest management purposes to benefit GMO Renewable Resources, LLC, and its successors and assigns, in Coplin Plantation, Franklin County. The easement must be located entirely along the existing forest management roads on state-owned land; and be it further

Sec. 5. Director of Bureau of Parks and Lands authorized, but not directed, to convey certain land in Chain of Ponds Township, Franklin County. Resolved: That the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the Department of Conservation may by quitclaim deed without covenant convey on such other terms and conditions as the director may direct, including maintenance and safety obligations and responsibilities, 4 nonexclusive linear easements with multiple branches for forest management purposes to benefit GMO Renewable Resources, LLC, and its successors and assigns, in Chain of Ponds Township, Franklin County. The easements must be located entirely along the existing forest management roads on state-owned land running in various directions from State Route 27; and be it further

Sec. 6. Director of Bureau of Parks and Lands authorized, but not directed, to convey certain land in the Town of Newport, Penobscot County. Resolved: That the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the Department of Conservation may by quitclaim deed without covenant convey, for negotiated value, and on such other terms and conditions as the director may direct, including maintenance and safety obligations and responsibilities, a trail-crossing easement in the Town of Newport, Penobscot County to benefit the properties of Maureen M. Greene, and Paul A. Greene, Jr. and Joel S. Burrill and Christine A. Burrill; and be it further

Sec. 7. Director of Bureau of Parks and Lands authorized, but not directed, to convey certain land in the City of Augusta, Kennebec County. Resolved: That the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the Department of Conservation may by quitclaim deed without covenant convey, for negotiated value not less than the assessed value, and on such other terms and conditions as the director may direct, the land and buildings at 157 Hospital Street leased to Bread of Life Ministries pursuant to a Bureau of Parks and Lands lease. Said land and buildings consisting of approximately 0.82 acres of land, one building and one garage in the City of Augusta, Kennebec County are to be conveyed to Bread of Life Ministries.

summary

This resolve allows the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the Department of Conservation to convey several nonexclusive easements to GMO Renewable Resources, LLC, in various townships in Franklin County and Piscataquis County, crossing various parcels of public reserved lands. The easements are all for forest management purposes. The resolve does not specify the value of the transfer to allow the bureau to swap these easements for other easements or other consideration.

The resolve also allows the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands to convey a trail-crossing easement in Newport to benefit abutting properties. The resolve requires that the easement be granted for negotiated value.

The resolve also allows the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands to convey land and buildings on Hospital Street in Augusta to Bread of Life Ministries, which operates a homeless shelter on the abutting property and currently leases the state property for administrative and program support needs of the homeless shelter. The resolve requires that the land be transferred for negotiated value not less than the assessed value.