Current through Pa Acts 2024-53, 2024-56 through 2024-92
Section 175 - Procedure for transfer to State(a) Whenever the county commissioners shall desire to deed to the State for State forests any such seated or unseated lands acquired as provided in this act, they shall make application in writing to the Department of Forests and Waters , using an application form furnished by that department. Such lands shall not, however, be deemed to have been retained for the purpose of transfer to the State for State forests until the board of county commissioners shall first duly adopt a resolution expressing their desire to file an application with the Department of Forests and Waters to transfer such lands and spread the resolution upon its minutes.(b) In order to have its application accepted for the establishment of State forests in a county, the board of county commissioners must demonstrate to the Department of Forests and Waters--1. That it has in its possession a total of at least one thousand acres of such land which it offers to deed to the State for the establishment of State forests in the county, that no single piece of such land is less than one hundred acres in area, and that such one thousand acres is located within a radius of five miles.2. That it is willing to deed the necessary land free of any and all costs to the State for the purpose of assisting in the establishment of such State forests.3. That it is willing to convey to the Department of Forests and Waters all title, rights and control over the management of such lands when established as State forests; in return for which the State shall pay an annual charge of five cents (5¢) per acre for such lands as are included in the State forests for county, road and school purposes, in the same manner as in the case of State forest lands, and a share of not to exceed twenty-five per centum (25%) of the net income derived from the operation of such State forests in the county, if and when such net income eventuates, which shall be for the use of the county.(c) After the date of the filing of an application for the establishment of State forests in a county, if the application appears to fulfill the necessary conditions, the Department of Forests and Waters shall cause to be inspected the areas covered by the said application. If after inspection the department finds that the conditions on the ground are in accord with the application and that they fulfill the legal requirements, then the department shall notify the board of county commissioners that its application has been accepted and shall instruct them to proceed with the preparation of the necessary deeds and papers required for the transfer of title to the lands to the State for the establishment of a State forest. Upon the proper conveyance of the title to the lands, the Department of Forests and Waters shall proceed with the work of organizing the lands as State forests following the dictates of sound forest and land management.(d) Each year the Department of Forests and Waters shall file a report with the board of commissioners of the county, which shall include a financial statement of receipts and payments and net income, if any, covering the administration of the State forests.1933, April 13, P.L. 35, § 6.