Bill Text: NJ A5034 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Authorizes sale and conveyance of certain State-owned real property in Stafford Township, Ocean County to US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-05-10 - Approved P.L.2019, c.119. [A5034 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-A5034-Chaptered.html
T&E
An Act concerning the sale and conveyance of certain real property owned by the State in the Township of Stafford, Ocean County.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. the approximately 619-acre parcel designated as Block 296, Lots 33 and 34 on the tax map of Stafford Township, Ocean County, known as the Humus Tract, is surrounded on three sides by the United State Fish and Wildlife Service's 48,000-acre Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge;
b. at the time the Department of Environmental Protection acquired the parcel for recreation and conservation purposes, the department intended to hold title until the United States Fish and Wildlife Service obtained sufficient acquisition funding to purchase the property;
c. due to its proximity to the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, the parcel is currently managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the refuge under a management agreement with the Department of Environmental Protection; and
d. it is appropriate and in the public interest for the Department of Environmental Protection to sell and convey the parcel to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in fee and free of all encumbrances to become part of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.
2. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the Department of Environmental Protection is authorized to sell and convey all of the State's interest in the approximately 619-acre parcel designated as Block 296, Lots 33 and 34 on the tax map of the Township of Stafford, Ocean County, also known as the Humus Tract, to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in fee simple and free of all encumbrances for $867,600.
b. The consideration to be paid by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service pursuant to subsection a. of this section may be adjusted on a per-acre basis, as necessary, if a survey reveals differing acreage impacting the appraised value of the parcel.
c. The provisions of P.L.1993, c.38 (C. 13:1D-51 et seq.) shall not apply to the sale and conveyance authorized pursuant to this section, except for the requirement set forth in section 7 of P.L.1993, c.38 (C.13:1D-57) that the proceeds of the sale and conveyance be returned to the appropriate Green Acres fund for use by the department for the acquisition of lands by the State for recreation and conservation purposes.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill authorizes the sale and conveyance by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) of an approximately 619-acre parcel, known as the "Humus Tract," in the Township of Stafford, Ocean Country to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). This property is surrounded on three sides by the USFWS's 48,000-acre Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge (refuge), and is currently managed by the USFWS as part of the refuge under a management agreement with the DEP. At the time the DEP acquired the parcel, it intended to hold title until the USFWS obtained sufficient acquisition funding to purchase the parcel for inclusion in the refuge, and that funding is now available.
This bill provides the necessary authorization for the DEP to sell and convey the parcel to the USFWS, in fee simple and free of all encumbrances for $867,600. The bill provides that this amount may be adjusted on a per-acre basis, as necessary, if a survey reveals differing acreage impacting the appraised value of the parcel. Lastly, the bill specifies that that proceeds of the sale and conveyance of this parcel would be returned to the appropriate Green Acres fund for use by the DEP for the acquisition of lands by the State for recreation and conservation purposes.
Authorizes sale and conveyance of certain State-owned real property in Stafford Township, Ocean County to US Fish and Wildlife Service.
