Title 11, Natural Areas and Recreation

(1) There shall be two (2) classes of areas within the meaning of this part:(1) Class I, scenic-recreational areas, which are areas associated with and containing waterfalls, natural bridges, natural lakes, small but scenic brooks or streams, gorges, coves, woodlands, caverns or …

(a) The following development shall be permitted in the two (2) classes of areas:(1) (A) Class I areas may be developed with foot trails, foot bridges, overlooks, primitive campgrounds and small picnic areas with associated sanitary facilities;(B) Class II areas may be developed …

The department shall submit annually to each succeeding general assembly proposals for additions and alterations to Class I or Class II areas, or for improvements to this program. Each proposal shall specify the category of the proposed addition and shall be accompanied by a repo…

(a) The general assembly may designate Class I or Class II areas proposed by the commissioner to become parts of the system. However, designation by the general assembly need not necessarily be restricted to areas proposed by the department. (b) The following areas are designated…

The commissioner shall, within two (2) years after an area has been made a part of this system, have completed a comprehensive plan of development and protection, and shall have begun the process of acquisition.

Within the boundaries of any Class I or Class II area included within the system, except those belonging to local governments, the commissioner may acquire, on behalf of the state of Tennessee, lands in fee title, or if applicable, and preferably, interest in land in the form of …

The commissioner, with the assistance of the other concerned state agencies, shall seek the cooperation of federal, county, and municipal agencies for the purposes of planning, development, and administration of the areas included within this program, and for the wise utilization…

The department shall maintain a registry of scenic or natural-scientific areas that are not in state ownership and whose owners have agreed to maintain them in a natural state, in accordance with such rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner. Owners of such areas sha…

Any component of the system that is or shall become a part of any state park, wildlife refuge, or similar area shall be subject to this part and the laws under which the other areas may be administered and, in the case of conflict between these laws, the more restrictive provisio…

All state agencies shall, as areas are placed in this system, inform the commissioner of any proceedings, studies, or other activities within their jurisdiction and regardless of by whom requested which are then in progress and which affect or may affect any of the areas specifie…

(a) Whoever violates, fails, neglects or refuses to obey this part or rule or regulation promulgated hereunder may be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) for each day of such violation. (b) In addition to the foregoing criminal penalty, the general asse…

(a) Notwithstanding any of this part to the contrary, this section is applicable to the Reelfoot Lake natural area, an area designated as a natural area under § 11-14-108 and described therein. (b) The responsibility for the administration of the Reelfoot Lake natural area under …

The commissioner may initiate proceedings in the chancery court of Davidson County or the county in which the activities occurred against any person who is alleged to have violated or is about to violate this part or the rules promulgated hereunder. In such action the commissione…

Public funds may be expended or advanced by the state or any municipality or county in the state to acquire by purchase, gift, grant, bequest, devise, or lease, the fee or any lesser interest in land, development right, easement, covenant or other contractual right necessary to a…

The state or any county or municipality may also acquire the fee to any property for the purpose of conveying or leasing the property back to its original owner or other person under such covenants or other contractual arrangements as will limit the future use of the property in …

(a) No private property shall be acquired by any county or municipality under this part until the planning commission having jurisdiction over the land involved, shall have, by resolution, declared such acquisition to be in the public interest. (b) Where no such planning commissi…

This part shall be known and may be cited as the “Natural Resources Trust Fund Act of 1985.”

(1) As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:(1) “Mineral” means all forms of minerals including, but not limited to, oil, gas, and coal; and(2) “Trust fund” means the natural resources trust fund created by this part. (1) “Mineral” means all forms of minerals …

(a) The general assembly recognizes the need to protect the endowment represented by the land and minerals owned by the state. (b) These nonrenewable resources are held by the state in trust for the benefit of future generations. (c) In recognition of the responsibilities of this…

The state treasurer is authorized and directed to establish the natural resources trust fund, as a restricted account in the state treasury.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), the state treasurer shall deposit and hold all revenues from the following sources in the trust fund:(1) Royalties, lease payments, or other revenues collected under leases or other agreements for the extraction of, or right to …

(a) Funds in the natural resources trust fund established by this part shall be invested by the state treasurer pursuant to policy guidelines, established by resolution of the funding board, created by § 9-9-101. The funding board shall establish the policy guidelines for investm…

(a) All revenues deposited to the trust fund pursuant to § 11-14-305, other than investment income, shall constitute the corpus of the trust fund. The corpus of the trust fund shall not be expended for any purpose. (b) (1) The balance of the yearly interest and earnings of the tr…

(a) The commissioner of environment and conservation, in consultation with the commissioner of finance and administration, shall develop procedures for the purpose of reviewing and evaluating projects for possible funding, pursuant to § 11-14-307(b)(1) of the natural resources tr…

(a) This part, as well as § 67-4-409(g), shall be known and may be cited as the “U.A. Moore Wetlands Acquisition Act.” (b) The general assembly finds and declares that it is in the general interest of the people of Tennessee:(1) To preserve certain wetlands and bottomland hardwoo…

Priorities for wetland and bottomland hardwood forest acquisition shall be directed jointly by the director of the wildlife resources agency and the commissioner of agriculture, or their designees. The two (2) shall meet periodically as needed to set the priorities for wetland an…

The director of the wildlife resources agency, with the approval of the state building commission, may identify appropriate private, nonprofit corporations to assist with acquisition of wetlands and bottomland hardwood forests on behalf of the state. The director is authorized, w…

The director is authorized to maintain an inventory of rare and significant biological and geological wetlands and bottomland hardwood forests worthy of protection under the terms and conditions of this part. Such inventory shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, locati…

Wetlands and bottomland hardwood forests acquired by the state of Tennessee shall be exempt from all state and local property taxes.

(a) There is hereby created a special agency account in the state general fund to be known as the compensation fund. Expenditures from such fund shall only be made to implement and effectuate the purposes of this part. Funds deposited in such fund shall not revert at the end of a…

No property shall be acquired under this part through condemnation or the use of eminent domain under title 29, chapters 16 and 17, with the exception that condemnation or the use of eminent domain may be used to acquire, under this part, certain property in Scott and Campbell co…