Resolve, Authorizing the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry To Convey Certain Land in Aroostook County and Penobscot County
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1756
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: MARTIN, SKOLFIELD

Legislative Document
No. 1756
H.P. 1307
House of Representatives, December 2, 2021
Resolve, Authorizing the Department of Agriculture, Conservation 
and Forestry To Convey Certain Land in Aroostook County and 
Penobscot County
Submitted by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry pursuant to Joint 
Rule 203.
Received by the Clerk of the House on November 30, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed 
pursuant to Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MARTIN of Eagle Lake.
Cosponsored by Representative: SKOLFIELD of Weld.
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.
Whereas, certain 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 Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Parks 
and Lands may sell, lease or exchange lands with the approval of the Legislature in 
accordance with Title 12, sections 1814, 1837 and 1851; and 
Whereas, the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Parks 
and Lands holds an approximately 23.83% common and undivided interest in an 
approximately 20,222.5-acre parcel of land in T. 12, R. 13 in Aroostook County, which 
constitutes approximately 4,819 acres of state ownership, a minority of the parcel; and
Whereas, the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Parks 
and Lands holds a common and undivided interest in 2 adjacent sections totaling an 
approximately 2,043-acre parcel of land in T. 4, R. 8 in Penobscot County, which 
constitutes approximately 1,624 acres of state ownership, a majority of both sections; and
Whereas, due to lack of management control in T. 12, R. 13 and lack of good public 
access in T. 4, R. 8, it will benefit the people of Maine to sell interest in the 2 parcels for 
cash to purchase alternative lands within Aroostook County and Penobscot County, 
respectively, which can be managed for public benefits such as recreational access, wildlife 
habitat and sustainable timber harvest; and
Whereas, the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Parks 
and Lands requests legislative approval to negotiate the sale of lands in a timely fashion 
with willing buyers; now, therefore, be it
Sec. 1.  Director of Bureau of Parks and Lands authorized, but not directed, 
to convey interest in certain land in T. 12, R. 13 in 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 without covenant for 
appraised fair market value as determined by an independent assessment of the timber and 
other values, convey interest in a parcel of land totaling approximately 4,819 acres based 
on an approximate 23.83% share held in common and undivided interest of the 
approximately 20,222.5-acre parcel in T. 12, R. 13 in Aroostook County, together with all 
appurtenant rights and easements located on that property, to any willing buyer including 
the holder of the majority interest.
Sec. 2.  Director of Bureau of Parks and Lands authorized, but not directed, 
to convey interest in certain land in T. 4, R. 8 in Penobscot County. Resolved: 
That the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the Department of Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestry may, by quitclaim deed without covenant, convey in accordance 
with this section interest in a parcel of land totaling approximately 2,043 acres based on 
shares held in common and undivided interest in T. 4, R. 8 in Penobscot County, the total 
being held in 2 sections, with the first constituting an approximate amount of 1,868 acres 
based on an approximate 79% share and the 2nd based on an approximate 85% share of an 
approximate 175-acre parcel, together with all appurtenant rights and easements located on 
that property. The director may partition the parcels prior to conveyance. The director may 
convey interest in the parcels for appraised fair market value as determined by an 
independent assessment of the timber and other values to any holder of common and 
undivided interest in either section of land or to a 3rd-party intermediary that is required to 
immediately convey the property to Baxter State Park. The director may convey interest in 
the parcels to Baxter State Park for an amount determined by the director and the park to 
be in the public interest.
SUMMARY
This resolve authorizes the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the 
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to sell interest in specific parcels of 
land held in common and undivided interest in T. 12, R. 13 in Aroostook County and T. 4, 
R. 8 in Penobscot County. Both parcels have limited utility to the State due to lack of access 
and management control.