Title 12, Title 12

The director may designate ecological reserves on parcels of land under the jurisdiction of the bureau. The director may designate ecological reserves or remove the designation of a parcel of land as an ecological reserve only in conjunction with the adoption of a management plan…

The director may designate a deer wintering area on a parcel of land under the jurisdiction of the bureau. The designated area must contain high-quality deer wintering habitat with a documented history of significant use by deer. The bureau shall manage the designated area with d…

The bureau may coordinate and exercise law enforcement power over the land and water within the bureau's jurisdiction. The provisions in this section apply to law enforcement within the jurisdiction of the bureau. [PL 2001, c. 604, §6 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2…

Except as provided in this section, timber harvesting on public reserved lands and nonreserved public lands may not exceed in total an average of 160,000 cords per year over any 3-year period. If an independent timber inventory conducted after July 1, 2015 establishes a different…

The department shall conduct a detailed forest inventory of the State's public reserved lands and nonreserved public lands by March 15, 2021 and every 5 years thereafter.

The bureau shall establish wilderness or natural areas, or both, from among lands classified as state parks and shall manage those areas primarily to preserve their natural character and features, and any use or development that threatens the character and features of those wilde…

With the consent of the Governor and the commissioner, the director may acquire on behalf of the State land or any interests in land within this State, with or without improvements, by purchase, gift or eminent domain for purposes of holding and managing the same as parks or hist…

For the purpose of establishing, preserving or enhancing corridors for use for open space or recreation, the director may acquire with the consent of the Governor and the commissioner, by license, lease, purchase, gift or eminent domain, railroad rights-of-way upon which rail ser…

1. Generally. Consistent with section 598‑A, the bureau may sell and convey lands under this subchapter and improvements on those lands. With the consent of the Governor and the commissioner and subject to the provisions of section 598‑A, the bureau may convey interests in lands …

To the extent permitted by the deed or other instrument of ownership, the director, with the consent of the Governor and the commissioner, may sell or otherwise convey a right of access by easement across a rail trail as provided in this section. For the purposes of this section,…

Consistent with section 598‑A, the bureau may transfer the responsibility for the management of lands under this subchapter to any other state agency upon conditions and for periods the bureau specifies when such a transfer is pursuant to a management plan and the transfer has re…

Consistent with section 598-A, with the consent of the Governor and the commissioner, the bureau, by revocable license or agreement, may grant to any person, firm or corporation exclusive rights and privileges to the use and enjoyment of portions of lands acquired or managed unde…

The bureau shall study and ascertain as nearly as possible and report to the Governor from time to time: [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV).] 1. Outdoor recreation status. The State's actual and potential outdoor recre…

The bureau may furnish accommodations and render services to the public at state parks, historic sites and parks under state control.

With the consent of the Governor and the commissioner, the bureau may charge reasonable fees for services, accommodations and use. [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV).] Unless otherwise provided by law, and after paymen…

Notwithstanding section 1819, the commissioner shall enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management for the issuance of a free day use pass to state parks and historic sites to each veteran determined by the Department of De…

Notwithstanding section 1819, the commissioner shall enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management for the issuance of a free day use pass to state parks and historic sites to each active duty military member determined by …

Seven percent of all day use and camping fees derived from any lands classified by the director as parks or historic sites under jurisdiction of the bureau must be apportioned and paid to the municipalities having those lands within their boundaries. In determining the payment to…

The bureau may cooperate with federal agencies in the planning, development, maintenance and use of recreation areas.

The bureau may assist state, county and municipal agencies in studying and planning for their recreation areas and programs.

The bureau may accept and receive funds from the Federal Government for all purposes relating to parks, recreation trails, recreation areas and property included in the National Register of Historic Places as defined in 16 United States Code, Section 470 a. (a)(1)(P. L. 89-665). …

The bureau shall administer funds relating to state parks and historic sites, municipal recreation and recreation management on lands classified as state parks or historic sites pursuant to this chapter. These funds include but are not limited to the following: [PL 1997, c. 678, …

The bureau shall manage forested areas within state parks and historic sites to preserve to the maximum practicable extent their natural, recreational and scenic qualities. The director may authorize wood harvesting on state park and historic site lands when the wood is to be use…

The bureau shall establish and maintain a state park reservation system as provided in this section. The system must be administered by the bureau. [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV).] 1. Reservation system for overnig…

The bureau and its authorized agents and employees may enter upon any lands and waters in the State for the purpose of making surveys and examinations the bureau considers necessary or convenient in the discharge of its duties under this subchapter, and such entry is not consider…

The powers and duties of the bureau as set forth in this subchapter may not be so construed as to interfere or conflict in any way with the powers and duties of the United States and its national park areas under national control, Baxter State Park or the Department of Inland Fis…

As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).] 1. Multiple use. "Multiple use" means: A. The management of all of the various renewable surface resources of the nonreserved public …

1. Legislative policy. The Legislature declares that it is the policy of the State that full and free public access to the nonreserved public lands to the extent permitted by law, together with the rights to reasonable use of those lands, is the privilege of every citizen of the …

1. Purpose. The bureau shall manage nonreserved public lands in a manner consistent with the principles of multiple use and shall produce a sustained yield of products and services in accordance with both prudent and fair business practices and the principles of sound planning. 2…

1. Sale of resources. The bureau may sell severed timber and other products, including, but not limited to, wood and timber necessary for use in the operation of a mine, severed grass and other wild foods, maple sap and syrup, crops and sand and gravel for use in the construction…

1. Revenue sources. Except as provided in paragraph A, the bureau must receive all money, securities and other things of value accruing to the State: from the sale of nonreserved public lands, timber and grass and other rights and things of value from the nonreserved public lands…

1. Authority to acquire lands. The bureau with the consent of the Governor and the commissioner may acquire lands or interests in lands on behalf of the State to be managed as nonreserved public lands. When acquiring land or interest in land, the bureau shall examine options for …

1. Authority to sell land. With the consent of the commissioner, the director may execute deeds on behalf of the State for nonreserved public lands under the director's management and control, conveying lands that have been authorized to be conveyed by the Legislature or sold by …

1. Transfer of management responsibility to other state agencies. The bureau may transfer the responsibility for the management of particular portions of nonreserved public land within its jurisdiction to any other state agency upon conditions and for periods the bureau specifies…

1. Annual report. The bureau shall submit a written report on or before March 1st of each year to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over nonreserved public lands. The report must include the following information: A. A complete account of the inc…

Twenty-five percent of the net revenue from any nonreserved public land, excluding proceeds from the sale of land, located in municipalities and managed by the bureau must be returned by the Treasurer of State to the municipality where the land generating the income is located to…

1. Director to prosecute trespass cases. The director shall prosecute cases of trespass on nonreserved public lands under the care, custody, control or management of the bureau. 2. Liability of trespassers. If any person unlawfully enters or trespasses upon nonreserved public lan…

As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).] 1. Multiple use. "Multiple use" means: A. The management of all of the various renewable surface resources of the public reserved lan…

1. Legislative policy. The Legislature declares that it is the policy of the State to keep the public reserved lands as a public trust and that full and free public access to the public reserved lands to the extent permitted by law, together with the right to reasonable use of th…

1. Purpose. The Legislature declares that it is in the public interest and for the general benefit of the people of this State that title, possession and the responsibility for the management of the public reserved lands be vested and established in the bureau acting on behalf of…

1. Sale of resources. The bureau may sell severed timber and other products, including, but not limited to, wood and timber necessary for use in the operation of a mine, severed grass and other wild foods, maple sap and syrup, crops and sand and gravel for use in the construction…

1. Revenue sources. Except as provided in paragraph A, the bureau must receive all money, securities and other things of value accruing to the State: from the sale of timber and grass and other rights and things of value from the public reserved lands under the care, custody, con…

1. Authority to acquire lands. With the consent of the Governor and the commissioner, the bureau may acquire lands or interests in lands on behalf of the State to be managed as public reserved lands. When acquiring land or interest in land, the bureau shall examine options for ob…

1. Authority to sell land. With the consent of the commissioner, the director may execute deeds on behalf of the State for public reserved land under the director's management and control, conveying lands that have been authorized to be conveyed by the Legislature or sold by lawf…

1. Transfer of management responsibility to other state agencies. Whenever a particular portion of the public reserved lands is to be used, under the management plan under section 1847, subsection 2, for a dominant use that is within the particular expertise of another agency of …

1. Annual report. The bureau shall submit a written report on or before March 1st of each year to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over public reserved lands. The report must include the following information: A. A complete account of the income…