SF 1124

as introduced - 80th Legislature (1997 - 1998) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to natural resources; requiring the 
  1.3             commissioner of natural resources to negotiate to 
  1.4             prevent erosion and loss of old growth forest. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.] 
  1.7      The legislature finds that further modification of land and 
  1.8   land uses that threaten harm to the remaining old growth forest 
  1.9   in Township 49 North, Range 13 West, Sections 18 and 19, is 
  1.10  inconsistent with the state's express condition in conveying the 
  1.11  above described land, which states:  "Said conveyance shall be 
  1.12  made upon the condition that the city of Duluth shall use the 
  1.13  land for purposes of public recreation and public health and 
  1.14  that the facilities provided on said land shall be open upon 
  1.15  equal terms to all persons whether residents of the city of 
  1.16  Duluth or elsewhere, and that title to said land shall revert to 
  1.17  the state and the state shall be entitled to take possession 
  1.18  thereof upon breach of the aforesaid conditions."  (Deed 697, 
  1.19  page 181, 1939) 
  1.20     Sec. 2.  [PROTECTION OF OLD GROWTH AREA.] 
  1.21     The commissioner of natural resources shall negotiate with 
  1.22  the city of Duluth, the Duluth Airport Authority, and other 
  1.23  federal, state, and local parties to classify the land subject 
  1.24  to the 1939 conveyance to provide a level of protection 
  1.25  sufficient to ensure the continued ecological integrity of the 
  2.1   area and to prohibit further cutting of the old growth forest 
  2.2   area. 
  2.3      Sec. 3.  [PROTECTION OF EROSION-PRONE AREAS.] 
  2.4      The commissioner of natural resources is further directed 
  2.5   to negotiate with the city of Duluth, the United States Army 
  2.6   Corps of Engineers, and other federal, state, and local parties, 
  2.7   to protect Minnesota Point from serious erosion problems.