07-R409
2007 -- H 6546
Enacted 07/07/07
J O I N T
R E S O L U T I O N
RESPECTFULLY
REQUESTING GOVERNOR DONALD CARCIERI TO PRESERVE CAMP PASTORE AND PURSUE THE
SALE OF STATE LANDS TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FOR THE
PURPOSE OF EXPANDING THE JOHN H. CHAFEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Introduced By:
Representatives Walsh, Ginaitt, Lewiss, Lally, and Shanley
Date Introduced: June 19,
2007
WHEREAS,
Since the 1980’s, Rhode Island has been issuing Bonds to fund land
acquisition
to expand the state’s parks and management areas, and a priority of this
program has
been
to focus on acquiring properties that expand existing state parks and
management areas; and
WHEREAS,
The Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals has proposed
the
sale of a parcel of land known as Camp Pastore in the Town of Charlestown, that
was
purchased
by the State as part of Burlingame State Park; and
WHEREAS,
The State of Rhode Island has received a proposal from the United States
Department
of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service to purchase seventy acres of state
owned
land
in the vicinity of the Oliver Stedman Government Building in South Kingstown at
fair
market
value in exchange for the State of Rhode Island preserving the Camp Pastore
property by
incorporating
Camp Pastore into Burlingame Management Area or issuing a conservation
easement
to a conservation organization; and
WHEREAS,
The proposal from the U.S. Department of the Interior presents a unique and
one
time opportunity to preserve seventy additional acres of open space in South
Kingstown
while
retaining ownership of fifty acres in Charlestown, and also generating income
from the sale
of land
to the U.S. Department of Interior exclusively for conservation purposes; now,
therefore
be
it
RESOLVED,
That this General Assembly hereby affirms that the State of Rhode Island
should
continue to strive to protect and preserve the state’s heritage and quality of
life by
protecting
open spaces with high natural resource and recreation values; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That this General Assembly hereby finds that the State of Rhode Island
should
not sell land acquired for State Parks and Management Areas to fund operating
expenses;
and
be it further
RESOLVED,
That this General Assembly hereby urges Governor Donald Carcieri to do
everything
in his power to execute an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Interior
to sell
to
the U.S. Department of the Interior seventy acres of state owned land in the
vicinity of the
Oliver
Stedman Government Building in South Kingstown at fair market value for the
purposes
of
expanding the John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the General Assembly hereby urges Governor Donald Carcieri to
incorporate
Camp Pastore into the Burlingame Management Area or grant a qualified
conservation
organization a conservation easement on the property in order to preserve the
property
for future generations; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to
transmit
a duly certified copy of this resolution to Governor Donald Carcieri.
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LC03379
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