HF 2978

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; authorizing a land exchange in the sustainable
forest incentive program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin SUSTAINABLE FOREST INCENTIVE ACT; LAND EXCHANGE.
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new text begin new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Authorization; requirements. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of revenue
shall allow a claimant under the Sustainable Forest Incentive Act to remove parcels from
the sustainable forest incentive program without penalty and enroll replacement parcels
according to the following conditions and procedures:
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new text begin (1) the claimant has at least 50,000 acres currently enrolled in the program;
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new text begin (2) the claimant agrees to have at least 5,000 acres but not more than 8,000 acres
removed from the program for use in connection with a proposed steel mill in Itasca
County referenced in Laws 1999, chapter 240, article 1, section 8, subdivision 3; and
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new text begin (3) the claimant makes application on or before December 31, 2010, under this
section and the Sustainable Forest Incentive Act to remove from the program and to
simultaneously add to the program parcels of like value.
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new text begin (b) The application must be accompanied by a cover letter that makes reference to
this section and identifies the parcels to be removed. For purposes of incentive payments
and subsequent removals from the program, the parcels added to the program under the
exchange will be treated as if they were included on the claimant's original application for
the parcels removed from the program under the exchange. Within 90 days of approving
the application under this section, the commissioner shall execute and mail to the claimant
a document in recordable form that releases the removed parcels from the covenant
required for parcels enrolled under the Sustainable Forest Incentive Act.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Exchange of tax-forfeited land; Itasca County. new text end

new text begin (a) Title examination
and approval of the land described in paragraph (b) shall be undertaken as a condition
of exchange of the land for class B land and shall be governed by this subdivision and
Minnesota Statutes, section 94.344, subdivisions 9 and 10. Notwithstanding the evidence
of title requirements in Minnesota Statutes, section 94.344, subdivisions 9 and 10, the
county attorney shall examine one or more title reports or title insurance commitments
prepared or underwritten by a title insurer licensed to conduct title insurance business in
this state, regardless of whether abstracts were created or updated in the preparation of
the title reports or commitments. The opinion of the county attorney and approval by the
attorney general shall be based on those title reports or commitments.
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new text begin (b) The land subject to this subdivision is located in Itasca County and is described
as:
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new text begin (1) Sections 3, 4, 7, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 28, and 29, Township
56 North, Range 22 West;
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new text begin (2) Sections 3, 4, 9, 10, 13, and 14, Township 56 North, Range 23 West;
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new text begin (3) Section 30, Township 57 North, Range 22 West; and
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new text begin (4) Sections 25, 26, 34, 35, and 36, Township 57 North, Range 23 West.
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Sec. 2. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
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new text begin Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.
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