New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 19 - NATURAL RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE
Chapter 1 - NATURAL RESOURCES GENERAL PROVISIONS
Part 2 - ADMINISTRATION OF THE NATURAL LANDS PROTECTION ACT
Section 19.1.2.8 - ADMINISTRATION

A. The secretary of EMNRD shall administer the NLPA and shall serve as chair of the committee.

B. The secretary shall call meetings as necessary and shall prepare, keep and distribute the committee's record of activities.

C. The secretary, by annual public notice and solicitation, beginning in 1990, shall request nominations for potential lands acquisition for as long as funding is available for the acquisition of lands under the NLPA.

D. The secretary shall develop and maintain a prioritized listing of lands qualified under the Act. The secretary shall review and deliver the list to the committee at least annually.

E. The secretary shall assist the committee with deposit, management and payment of funds for lands acquisition under the NLPA.

F. No lands shall be acquired except from a willing seller and until completion of necessary land purchase procedures including acquisition of land appraisals; title insurance; boundary surveys; requisite title insurance; boundary surveys; requisite investigative reports, clearances, adjunct rights and agreements and improvements needed to protect the property for the purposes defined in the NLPA are completed.

G. For all acquired lands, the secretary may adopt a management plan submitted by the corporation. The secretary may restrict access to the land by the general public to visits conducted under the direct supervision of an employee or designated representative of the managing corporation.

H. No land shall be acquired unless a corporation, as provided in the Act, jointly acquires at least ten percent interest in the land as a cotenant with the state of New Mexico. The secretary shall select a corporation to participate in land purchases under the NLPA. The secretary may assign responsibility for the completion of certain tasks defined in Sections 8.6 and 8.7 [now Subsections F and G of 19.1.2.8 NMAC] to said corporation. A participating corporation shall annually pay to the state and its political subdivisions a sum equal to an amount which would have been paid by a private landowner in taxes, levies and assessments.

I. In no event shall lands be acquired for greater than fair market value as determined by a qualified appraiser.