H.130


Sec. 77c. 23 V.S.A. 004(j) is amended to read:

The commissioner of motor vehicles shall, …considerations.

Seventeenth: …

Eighteenth- In Sec. 88, in subdivision (5), by striking subparagraph (A) in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

(A) To the Vermont housing, and conservation board for Champion land
acquisition and affordable housing, $5,500,000

(i) Of this appropriation, $4,500,000 shall be used to purchase and ensure that the lands commonly referred to as the Champion lands in northeastern Vermont are conserved as a working forest for the sustainable production of wood products, for natural resources, including the maintenance of wildlife habitat and conservation of identified natural heritage sites, and for perpetual public access for traditional recreational uses. The Vermont housing and conservation board and its grantees shall seek to ensure through easements and through agreements with its state, federal, and private partners to protect the following uses:

(I) Camp leases. Renewal for the life of the leaseholder or, in the event of the leaseholder's death, renewal by immediate family members for not more than 20 years.

(II) Recreation. Use of land for traditional and lawful recreational uses, including boating, fishing, trapping, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, skiing, bird watching, hiking, biking, hunting including- training and using hunting dogs, equestrian uses, and other currently allowed forms of traditional recreational uses.

(III) Land Management. Maintaining working forest lands through a "working forest" easement that includes privately owned and managed lands for sustainable production and harvesting of timber and other forest products, and perpetual public access. These easements will be designed to meet the economic objectives of timber investors and allow harvesting net growth once the forest is restocked.

(ii) With respect to lands commonly referred to as the Champion lands, the agency of natural resources, in a manner consistent with other statutory obligations and authority, shall:

(I) Renew Camp Leases. Renew those leases located on state lands for the life of the leaseholder or, in the event of the leaseholder's death, allow renewal by immediate family members for not more than 20 years.

(II) Plan and Involve the Community. Involve Vermont citizens and municipalities in developing and updating every 10 years a long-term comprehensive plan for management of portions of the lands which are transferred to it.

(III) Collaborate with Federal Agencies. Work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department to ensure that management plans for all state and federally-owned portions of the lands are coordinated. The agency shall seek, through this collaboration, to include renewal of camp leases for the life of the leaseholder or, in the event of the leaseholder's death, to include renewal by immediate family members for not more than 20 years; and to assure the use of land for traditional and lawful recreational uses.

VTLEG 107475.1

including boating, fishing, trapping, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, skiing, bird watching, hiking, biking, hunting, including training and using hunting dogs, equestrian uses, and other currently allowed forms of traditional recreational uses.

(IV) Water Reclassification. Participate in water resource board proceedings with respect to the reclassification of waters and the designation of outstanding, resources waters to assure that logging practices consistent with acceptable management practices and traditional and lawful recreational uses are continued.

(iii) Consistent with this subdivision, the agency of natural resources and its departments are authorized to convey to the Vermont housing and conservation board and the Vermont Land Trust a conservation and public access easement protecting the natural resources on and assuring public access to that portion of land commonly referred to as the Champion lands, which the Conservation Fund intends to convey to the agency.

Nineteenth: …


Sec. 88a. 10 V.S.A. chapter 156 is added to read:

CHAPTER 156. CHAMPION LAND TRANSACTION CITIZEN ADVISORY
COUNCIL

S6407. COUNCIL CREATED

(a) A citizen advisory council is created to assist in implementing, the provisions of the Champion land transaction in the Northeastern region of Vermont authorized by the 1999 session of the general assembly.

S6408. FUNCTIONS

(a) The council shall function as a forum to hear and attempt to resolve concerns brought to the attention of the council regarding, ongoing, use and management of the properties constituting, the Champion land transaction. These matters may include, but are not limited to, public access, the recreation access plan, snowmobiling, motorized, mechanical and equestrian access, private roads, temporary restrictions, federal ownership, timber harvesting, land conservation, water classification, economic development and camp leases,

(b) The council shall also function as a source of information to persons interested in learning about the transaction including, its legal conditions, or about the ongoing use and management of the land.

S6408. MEMBERS, ORGANIZATION

(a) The council shall consist of eleven voting members appointed by the Governor as follows:

(1) six persons residing in the northeastern region of the state, made up of one representative each of the logging industry, another private business interest in Essex County, a local hunting and fishing group, the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, camp leaseholders of former Champion land, and an elected official of municipal government in Essex County, each with a three year term except that-initial terms shall be staggered, to be appointed by the governor from a list of three nominees for each position submitted. jointly by the members of the state legislative delegation of Essex County-,

(2) one person representing the new private ownership of a portion of the former Champion land, and

VTLEG 107475.1
(3) the secretary of the Vermont agency of natural resources or his or her designee from within the agency; and

(4) one person representing the Fish and Wildlife Service, and

(5) one person representing the Vermont Sportsmen Federation; and

(6) one person representing a natural resources conservation group.

(b) The representative of municipal government from Essex County shall serve as chair of the council and shall convene the first meeting of the council. Subsequent meetings will be held at the call of the chair or as scheduled by majority vote of the council.

(c) The chair of the council shall arrange for council meetings to be held at a municipal office or another location in Essex County. If requested by the council, the secretary of natural resources shall provide administrative and staff support to the council.

Twenty-eighth: By adding a new section to be numbered Sec. 88b to read as follows:

Sec. 88b. ALTERNATIVES TO REPLACE THE $6.2 MILLION FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CHAMPION

The Treasurer, with assistance and cooperation of the Legislative Joint Fiscal Office and the Commissioner of Finance and Management, shall prepare a report of financing alternatives to the $6.2 million federal purchase of Champion lands. Said alternatives should include the use of state funds or other financial arrangements that could result in ownership and control remaining in state, local or other non-federal hands. The report shall be presented to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations and Natural Resources by April 2, 1999. $10,000 in general funds is appropriated to the Office of the State Treasurer for the purpose of carrying out this study.