Public Purpose Land Exchange Authorization Act of 1937 (P.L. 5-33)

4 of FOR OFFICIAL of GOV. NMI SAIPAP 96950 TO: or 0 The Honorable S. Senate President Fifth Northern Marianas Saipan, 96950 Legislature and The Honorable Jose R. Speaker, House of Representatives Fifth Northern Marianas Saipan, 96950 Legislature Mr. President and Mr. S p e a k e r : June 1, 1987 to inform you that I have signed into law Senate Bill No. 5-44, S.D.3, H.D.2, JCDL, entitled, "To authorize the Marianas Public Land to enter into land exchanges to public to specify procedures and standards therefore, to the public purposes for and the conditions under which, such land exchanges are authorized, and for other purposes," which was passed by the Fifth Northern Marianas Legislature. " h i s bill is a major piece of legislation which is long Its approval will resolve m y of the land problems and will provide fair and equitable through land exchanges for of private lands in the Marianas for direly needed public projects such as public roads, drilling of waterwells, rights for public utilities, etc. fulfill the requirements of the Constitution of the of the Northern Mariana Islands for such land exchanges. It is also needed to The bill provides a to bring land exchanges in which private properties were already secured and are serving the public needs. It w i l l also provide the flexibility to those are awaiting execution of deed for title transfer, as well as other benefits. This bill Public Law No. 5-33. are forwarded to you for your ready reference. Copies my signature Sincerely, Special for Programs and Legislative Review A .. I ... .! f- • 0 0 0 0 £) ~ommonwealtb tbt Jlorthtrn ,fflariana Jlslanbs @ff ice tbe ~obernor 0 0 ~11ip11n, JH11ri11n11 l1ol1111dr, Julian Comronwealth 01 Calvo Lifoifoi Carmonwealth 01 Cear This is define Cori;oration puq::oses, which, Corrrronwealth encroachrrents easerrent Cormonwealth pending compensations Northern rrechanisro. into completion that CC: l::ecomes Assistant /:II.~ l::earing accomplish over-due. canplete CABLE ADDRESS REPLY DEP1'. AC1'IVI1 FIFTH NORTHERN MARIANAS COMMONWEALTH LEGISLATURE FIRST SPECIAL SESSION, 1987 authorize the Marianas Corporation i n t o land exchanges t o public purposes, t o specify procedures and standards therefore, t o define the i c purposes for which, and the conditions under which, such land exchanges a re authorized , arid f o r o ther purposes. Offered Senators Referred t o : Committee on Resources and Development Standing Report: SCR NO. 5-43 Jo in t Conference Draft: JCD 1 Second and Final Reading:. July 15, 1986 Second and Final Reading: May 06, 1987 Senate Clerk ; :,; ~'.' :'. . . PUBLIC I.AW NO. 5-33 S.B. NO. 5-441, S.D.3, H.D.2 JCD l To .., Publ 1 c Land accornpl ish to ':nser pub 1 --:.: - .:..:::-::.--:..-::.-:..- - -- - -===========----=------=--------------------========= · C011mi ttee =-----==============--====------:..-:.--:...-::..- - - -.:..,- - - - - :::::=================== \!Qg§ L~ITl~~ Referred to: Committee on Resources and Development Standing C011mittee Report: SCR No. 5-41 Joint Conference Draft: JCD 1 First and Final Reading: October 28, 1986 First and Final Reading: April 22, 1987 · PUBLIC NO. 5-33 FIFTH NORTHERN MARIANAS LEGISLATURE SENATE B I L L Joint Conference Draft SEVENTH SPECIAL SESSION , 1986 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 11 1 2 13 1 4 16 17 19 the Marianas t o in to land exchanges t o accomplish public purposes, t o specify procedures and standards therefore , t o define t h e pub! i c purposes f o r and the condit ions under which, such land exchanges a r e a n d for o the r purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE FIFTH NORTHERN : Section S h o r t T i t l e . This Act be c i ted a s the "Public Purpose Land Exchange Authorization Act of 1937." Section 2. Findings and Purpose. The purpose of t h i s Act i s t o f a c i l i t a t e the accomplishment of ce r t a in public purposes by authorizing the Marianas Public Land Corporation t o en te r i n t o b y which the obtains freehold i n t e r e s t i n pr iva te l a n d i n exchange f o r passing freehold i n t e r e s t i n public land t o the pr ivate Pursuant t o Ar t i c l e XI, Section of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (as by Consti tut ional No. such land exchanges a r e permitted only a s spec i f i ca l ly authorized by law. The Legislature f inds t h a t such l a n d exchanges a r e an e f fec t ive a n d economical means of obtaining pr ivate land essent ia l t o public projec ts and of resolving lawful claims agains t the government. The Legislature fur ther f inds t h a t land exchanges a r e often preferable, both social l y a n d t o monetary canpensation f o r pr ivate land acquired fo r public purposes. t h a t equitable land exchanges serve the public i n t e r e s t f a r b e t t e r t h a n expensive and d iv i s ive condemnation proceedings. finds the of Section 7 of the Schedule o n Transitional The Legislature also f i n d s The Legislature fu r the r , . ·',,. j ' .. 7 ' 9 15 l!3 COMMONWEAL TH LAI.:J NO. 5-44, S.D,3, H,D.2 ro authorize Pub1 ic Lar,d Corporation enter 1. governrrent which, authorized, 5(a) Amendr.rent 32), MARIANAS cmr10NWEALTH LEGISLATURE rna y agre811ents landowner. amended econoo1i cal ly, that requi renP.ot PUBLIC NO. 5-33 Senate Rill 5-44, exchange in Constitutional 32. T h i s Act 5 Section 3. As used in t h i s Act: 6 ( a ) "Corporation" means the Public Land 7 Corporation established by Article XI, Section o f the a Constitution o f the o f the Northern 9 Islands, or i t s successor, the 10 ( b ) "Wetlands" include wetlands a s defined in 11 Coastal Resources Management Act o f 1983, 2 C M C , Division 12 13 (c ) "Public purpose" means a n y of the following 14 s ingular ly or in 15 (1) Any public use or purpose declared or 16 17 j o i n t resolution; 18 ( 2 ) Any public use or purpose 19 20 (3 ) o f any claim wherein a court o f 2 1 has determined there was a 22 23 24 adequate 1, Chapter 5 a n d regulations promul thereunder. determined by the Legislature, e i t h e r by or by the Governor pursuant t o taking or deprivation of private land by the goverrrnent e i t h e r without canpensstion o r Page 2 LAW Mo. S.D.3, H.D.2, ,JCDl 1 Matters of the Constitution may he expeditiously accanplished through 2 1 and imp l erre nt i ng 4 cond'\tions unde·, ,,·,ich such exchanwis ciln be execuied. Marii as 4 Conrronwealth Mariana combination: Settlement co-npetent jurisdiction compensation; the gated deterinined by l CMC §IJ213(h); 1~ith in I PUBLIC 5-33 Senate Bi l l No. 5-44, 2 3 4 5 6 ' 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 2 1 22 23 24 25 (4) Provision o f r e l i e f t o persons or t o t h e i r he i r s or i n i n t e r e s t inadequately la tdkings o r encroachments qualifying as cause f o r compensation under the Homestead Compensation Act of 1984 (Ar t i c l e 5 of Chapter 3 of Division 4 of T i t l e 2 of the Commonwealth Code) ; (5) Sa t i s f ac t ion of any l a n d exchange agrement entered i n t o by the Government, by the Trust Terr i tory Covernent o r a pa r t thereof, o r by the United S ta t e s Naval Administration, and i n v o l v i n g land i n t he Northern Mariana Islands, i n which the fu l l a rea of public land agreed upon was n o t conveyed t o the landowner o r t o h i s or her he i rs or successors i n i n t e r e s t ; and a c t i v i t y f o r which public funds peen lawful l y appropriated, t t e d , located, o r expended, o r any o f f i c i a l ac t ion done by a p u b l i c o f f i c i a l o r pursuant t o h i s or her l ega l ly prescribed du t i e s and r e spons ib i l i t i e s . ( 7 ) The acquis i t ion of pr ivate ly owned beach, ine and h i s t o r i c property o r access t o such proper t ies , and the acquis i t ion of pr ivate ly owned wet lands and sens i t ive ecological a n d env i ronen ta l lands. S, D. 3, H. D. 2, J CD l · 1 ✓ V s ho rel ( 6) Any ccmpe ns a to ry succ es so rs compensat0d f;g id Conrnon\1-/ea l th canmi al ernp l o,yee Page 3 have PUBLIC NO. 5-33 Senate Bill No. 5-44, S.O.3, H.D.2, 1 ' 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 1 6 17 18 19 20 2 1 22 23 2 4 25 ( d ) "Public means 1 l a n d s as described i n Article XI, Section 1 of the Constitution i I "Land exchange" ( e ) use, c o n t r o l , occupancy o r possession o f p u b i i c the r i g h t or privilege t o derive p ro f i t s from such made in exchange f o r s imi lar r igh t s t o or i n t e r e s t s i n private lands o r made t o accomplish a public f o r uncanpensated or inadequately canpensated taking o f s imi lar r igh t s or i n t e r e s t in previous pr ivate ly owned lands. "Protected resources" means land encanpassing: a shoreline defined t o be a n area within 150 f e e t of the mean high water mark. ( 2 ) public parks a n d o ther lands used for public rpo se s . (3 ) h i s to r i c area a s defined by the Historic Preservation Off ice , ecologically sensi t ive areas, public purpose or lage homesteading. (5 ) public access right-of-ways. on 4. ( a ) Subject t o the res t r i c t ions imposed b y Subsection ( b ) of t h i s sec t ion , the Corporation i s hereby authorized t o t r a n s f e r a freehold i n t e r e s t in public lands pursuant t o land exchange agreements t o any public purpose Sect '!. ,,,. . LAW ,JC01 8 ( f) ( 1) pu (4) v il lands" al Ccmmon,-,,,:: a 1th or rnec>ns c1ny tr·,rnsfer, :1spositi-::·,1, lanris or lands, purpose Land Exchan~es: When Authorized. accomplish Page 4 V PUBLIC NO. 5-33 Senate No. 5-44, S.0.3, 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 1 6 17 18 19 2 0 2 1 22 23 24 25 spec i f i ca l ly in Section of t h i s Act. (b) public land shal l be fo r pr ivate o r , f o r la , exchange i s fo r the public purpose spec i f i ca l ly defined i n Section of this Act; and ( 2 ) The land t o be exchanged i s of comparable value based on independent appraisal made by a licensed appraiser a t approximately the same for a l l l a n d parcels t o be exchange. I n determining value, any monetary canpensation t o be included i n the transaction shal l be added t o the appraised value of the land held b y t he designated r ec ip ien t of such compensation, pr ior t o making the canparison; and (3) A public no t i ce has been published in a newspaper of general c i rcula t ion and broadcast on t he .local radio and/or t e l ev i s ion i n t he t h , b o t h in English and the vernacular, once each f o r a t l e a s t four consecutive weeks. Request concerned persons fo r the land exchange w i t h i n t he time frame allocated f o r the public notice, f o r a public hearing, shal l be heard as requested. ( c ) The aggregate land area of the public land transfered may be greater o r l e s s than the aggregate l a n d LAW f3 il 1 H.D.2, JC[)l enunerated No (l) Tnc can parable Page 5 3(c) exchanged ,, ' accomplishr'€nt °'1 " 3(c) time Com mo nwe a 1 frCXTl PUBLIC NO. 5-33 Senate Bi l l 5-44, 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 2 1 22 23 24 25 area of the pr ivate land obtained; provided, t h a t the exchange i s equitable and the requirements o f subsection Section 5 . ( a ) Land exchanges, r a the r t h a n monetary a r e hereby declared t o be the preferred means of pr ivate lands f o r public purposes and o f providing of public purposes speci f ied i n Section o f this Act, any judic ia l determination of compensation fo r the taking of o r upon private land by the t r ans fe r o f a freehold i n t e r e s t in public land o f comparable value shal l be deemed t o be a n equal l y i d means of a s monetary Provided t h a t nothing i n th is Act shal l be construed as precluding or prohibit ing monetary e i t h e r i n lieu of o r i n addit ion t o a land exchange. ( b ) The Corporation may, upon i t s own i n i t i a t i v e , propose execute land exchange fo r the accomplishment of public defined i n this Act i n which i t h a s j u r i sd ic t ion pursuant t o o ther law. ( c ) The Corporation shal l make avai lahle , o the r than protected resources, public lands necessary t o the purpose of t h i s Act. Provided, however, exchange o f public lands adjacent t o protected resources, the Corporation, i n consultat ion with appropriate agencies, sha l l Mo. s.n. 3, H.n. 2, ,1cr11 ~ I.and Exchanges: In Gener~ l. can pens at ion, 6 obta"ining cornpensat'ion 3 ( C) 9 and . in just encroachrrent governnent, val canpensation renumeration; canpe ns a tion, 16 and/9r agreements pu"rpo se s Ccxnroonweal th accomplish gove rrrne nt Page 6 PUBLIC NO. 5-33 Senate Bill No. 5-44, S.D.3, 1 del ineate by cadastral survey a n area adequate f o r preservation 2 of the protected resources. ( d ) IS 4 t h i s Act, l a n d shal l he made for land 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 located within the same Senatorial D i s t r i c t , as defined i n 1 CMC as the land for which a n exchange i s t o be Section 6 . The Corporation may rules a n d regulations t o carry o u t the purposes of t h i s Act. Section 7 . Any land exchange agrement entered in to by the Corporation prior t o the e f fec t ive date o f t h i s Act, which a public purpose a s defined in t h i s Act, i s hereby to be a lawful a n d binding in the same manner a n d t o the extent as i f entered in to a f t e r the e f fec t ive date of t h i s Act. Provided, however, t h i s Section shal l n o t a f f e c t agreements t o exchange a l l 15 futu 16 land 17 18 a r e e claims, pursuant t o Public Law 5-5, or exchanges t o ac t ion , unt i l such claims been completed. Section 8. I f the provisions o f t h i s Act n or inconsis tent w i t h the provisions of any other l a w , o r 19 20 2 1 22 23 24 25 follows: regulation or rule thereunder, then the provisions of t h i s Act sha l l control . Any law, regulation o r r u l e t h a t i s in c o n f l i c t o r inconsis tent with the provisions of t h i s Act i s hereby amended a n d superseded t o corifonn with t h e i n t e n t and purpose of t h i s Act. Section 9 . T i t l e 2 CMC, Division 4 , Chapter 3 , Ar t ic le 2, Section 4324 i s amended b,y adding a new subsection ( c ) t o read as .. <: ,',I" IAW H.D.2, JCDJ 6 c:xchanges only 1402(d), accanpl i shed r i COQflict R~ul a tions. Prior Exch an9.e s. agreeirent pending have Conflict With Other Laws. pranul gated Amendment. Page 7 o, U' cf made. pr011ul gate desned same relating 1944 PUBLIC LAW NO. 5-33 Senate Bi l l 5-44, 1 2 4 5 6 7 3 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 2 1 2 2 23 24 25 " ( c ) time l imi ta t ion shal l be imposed t h e Marianas Public Land Corporation for a period shor ter t h a n t w e l v e requests o r appl ica t ions f o r deeds and t o t h i s Art ic le . Section T i t l e 2 Division Chapter 3 , Article 3 Section 4335, subsection ( c ) i s amended by adding t o the l a s t sentence of the exis t ing subsection t o read as follows: "Provided, however, t h a t no time 1 imitation shal l be imposed by the Marianas Public Land Corporation for a period shor ter t h a n twelve years a f t e r the e f fec t ive date of t h i s Art ic le f o r submission of requests or applications for deeds and pursuant t o t h i s Art ic le ." Section 11. The Marianas i c Land Corporation shal l include in i t s annual budget a funding request necessary t o carry o u t the provisions of t h i s Act. 12 . I f any provision o f t h i s Act or r u l e , regulation or order promulgated hereunder, or the application o f any such provision, r u l e , regula t ion or order t o any person o r circumstance shal l be held invalid by a cour t o f competent j u r i s d i c t i o n , the remainder o f t h i s Act o r any rules , regulations or orders pranulgated pursuant there to or the application of such provisions, regula t ions , ru les or orders t o persons or other t h a n those t o which i t i s held inval id , shal l n o t be affected thereby. Page 8 no. S.0.3, H.fl.2, JCOJ No by years permits pu,s\10 nt 10. 6~ndrrent. CMC, 4' ( C) pe nni ts Publ Sect.i Ori Severabil i ty. any ci rcU11s tances PUBLIC NO. 5-33 S e n a t e No. S.D. 3, H.D. 2, S e n a t e ' C l e r k ATTEST : Page 9 . '. ~:\., .;4;; ·.~ \· :: ·~ 1,,.,•'f' r"-' . ' u,w Bill JCDl ~ 1 Section 13. sff~£!i~~-~~!~· This Act shall take effect uoon its 2 approval by the Governor or t1pon its becoming law without such approval. ~ / , H87 PEDRO-P Governo Comrronwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands