(a) If land acquired under §12.819 of this title
(relating to Land Eligible for Acquisition) is considered suitable
for industrial, commercial, residential, or recreational development,
this state may sell the land by public sale under a system of competitive
bidding at not less than fair market value and under any rules adopted
to ensure that the land is put to proper use consistent with local
plans, if any, as determined by the Commission.
(b) The land may be sold only when authorized by the
Secretary of the Interior if federal money was involved in the acquisition
of the land to be sold.
(c) The Commission may transfer administrative responsibility
for land acquired under this subchapter (relating to Texas Abandoned
Mine Land Reclamation Program) to any agency or political subdivision
of the state with or without cost to that agency. The agreement, including
amendments, under which a transfer is made shall specify:
(1) the purposes for which the land may be used consistent
with the authorization under which the land was acquired; and
(2) that the administrative responsibility for the
land shall revert to the Commission if, at any time in the future,
the land is not used for the purposes specified.
(d) The Commission, after appropriate public notice
and on request, shall hold a public hearing in the county or counties
in which land acquired under §12.819 of this title is located.
Prior to the disposition of any land acquired under this subchapter,
the Commission shall publish a notice of the proposed land disposition.
(e) The hearing shall be held at a time that gives
residents and local governments maximum opportunity to participate
in the decision about the use or disposition of the land after restoration,
reclamation, abatement, control, or prevention of the adverse effects
of past coal mining practices.
(f) All moneys received from disposal of land under
this title shall be returned to OSMRE pursuant to 30 CFR §879.15.
|