1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to iron range resources and rehabilitation; 
  1.3             authorizing the commissioner to acquire certain 
  1.4             discontinued mining property; amending Minnesota 
  1.5             Statutes 2000, section 298.22, subdivision 3.  
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 298.22, 
  1.8   subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  1.9      Subd. 3.  [COMMISSIONER MAY ACQUIRE PROPERTY.] Whenever the 
  1.10  commissioner of iron range resources and rehabilitation has made 
  1.11  determinations required by subdivision 1 and has determined that 
  1.12  distress and unemployment exists or may exist in the future in 
  1.13  any county by reason of the removal of the natural resources or 
  1.14  a possible limited use thereof in the future and the decrease in 
  1.15  employment resulting therefrom and deems that the acquirement of 
  1.16  real estate or personal property is necessary and proper in the 
  1.17  development of the remaining resources, the commissioner may 
  1.18  acquire such property or interests therein by gift, purchase, or 
  1.19  lease.  The commissioner may purchase insurance to protect any 
  1.20  property acquired from loss or damage by fire, or to protect the 
  1.21  commissioner from any liability the commissioner may incur by 
  1.22  reason of ownership of the property, or both.  If after such 
  1.23  property is acquired it is necessary in the judgment of the 
  1.24  commissioner to acquire a right-of-way for access to projects 
  1.25  operated on property acquired, by gift, purchase, or lease, said 
  2.1   right-of-way may be acquired by condemnation in the manner 
  2.2   provided by law.  If the owner or operator of an iron mine or 
  2.3   related production or beneficiation facilities discontinues the 
  2.4   operation of the mine or facilities for any reason, the 
  2.5   legislature declares it to be for a public purpose to acquire 
  2.6   public ownership of any or all of the mine lands and related 
  2.7   facilities, and the commissioner may acquire them by gift, 
  2.8   purchase, lease, or condemnation in the manner provided in 
  2.9   chapter 117. 
  2.10     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.11     Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.