Resolve, Authorizing Certain Land Transactions by the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1647
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: JACKSON, MARTIN, WHITE

Legislative Document
No. 1647
S.P. 604
In Senate, October 16, 2017
Resolve, Authorizing Certain Land Transactions by the Bureau of 
Parks and Lands within the Department of Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestry
(EMERGENCY)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on October 12, 2017.  Referred to the Committee 
on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator JACKSON of Aroostook.
Cosponsored by Representative MARTIN of Sinclair and
Representative: WHITE of Washburn.
Preamble.  The Constitution of Maine, Article IX, Section 23 requires that real 
estate held by the State for conservation or recreation purposes may not be reduced or its 
uses substantially altered except on the vote of 2/3 of all members elected to each House; 
and
Whereas, the real estate authorized for conveyance by this resolve is under the 
designations described in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 598-A; and
Whereas, the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the Department of 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may sell or exchange lands with the approval of 
the Legislature in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, sections 1837 
and 1851; and
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, this legislation is important to the immediate and long-term economic 
health of the Town of Washburn and of Aroostook County; and
Whereas, this legislation is important to the safety of the public that uses the 
multipurpose trail system in the Town of Washburn and to the safety of the public that 
uses the roadways near that trail system; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it
Sec. 1.  Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands authorized, but not 
directed, to exchange certain land in the Town of Washburn, Aroostook 
County.  Resolved:  That the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the 
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may by quitclaim deed convey to 
the Town of Washburn the property southwest of the intersection of Main Street, Route 
164, and Gardiner Creek Road constituting a segment of the Aroostook Valley Trail from 
where it joins the Bangor and Aroostook Trail, both being state-owned trails used for 
motorized recreation, in exchange for conveyance of the property west and north of the 
intersection of Main Street, Route 164, and Riverside Drive, now owned by the Town of 
Washburn, constituting a new stretch of trail corridor 60 feet wide, on which the Town of 
Washburn must have built a new trail making a connection between the 2 trails according 
to specifications provided by the Bureau of Parks and Lands prior to this conveyance.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This resolve authorizes the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, 
Bureau of Parks and Lands to exchange land along Main Street, Route 164, in the Town 
of Washburn for a nearby piece of land in order to improve the safety of recreational 
travel on certain state-owned trails used for motorized recreation and allow the town to 
sell a parcel of land it owns to a national business for development.