Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 45, November 9, 2024
Section 138e.11 - General requirements(a) A county program shall demonstrate that the county has fair, equitable, objective, nondiscriminatory procedures for determining easement purchase priorities.(b) A county program shall contain written policies and procedures for determining easement purchase priorities and written procedures for purchasing easements. For example, a county program that would allow a farmland tract with a higher farmland ranking score (as described in § 138e.15 (relating to farmland ranking system)) to be bypassed in favor of making an offer to purchase an easement on a farmland tract with a relatively lower farmland ranking score shall set forth the priorities and procedures under which this determination is made.(c) A county program shall address and meet the standards, criteria and requirements in § § 138e.12-138e.21. A county program may propose additional standards, criteria and requirements for approval by the State Board. Additional provisions shall be designed to assure that selection of land for easement purchase is consistent with the purposes of the act.(d) A county program shall contain provisions for the participation of local government units in the preservation of farmland through the purchase of agricultural conservation easements. These provisions shall address the following: (1) Local government unit recommendations for joint county-local government unit purchases.(2) Local government unit recommendations for joint Commonwealth-local government unit purchases.(3) Local government unit recommendations for joint Commonwealth-county-local government unit purchases.(4) Local government unit agricultural conservation easement purchases authorized under section 14.1(b.1)(4) of the act (3 P. S. § 914.1(b.1)(4)).The provisions of this §138e.11 amended December 26, 1997, effective 12/27/1997, 27 Pa.B. 6782; amended April 30, 2004, effective 5/1/2004, 34 Pa.B. 2421. This section cited in 7 Pa. Code § 138e.42 (relating to review, certification and approval of a county program); and 7 Pa. Code § 138e.62 (relating to evaluation of application).