Section 16-2-15.1 - Elephant Butte lake lease lot lands; release of lease with federal government. - New Mexico Statutes

16-2-15.1. Elephant Butte lake lease lot lands; release of lease with federal government.

The director of the state park and recreation division [state parks division] of the natural resources department shall execute a written release to the United States secretary of the interior of the state's lease of the Elephant Butte lake lease lot lands under contract No. 14-06-500-2087 between the state of New Mexico and the United States, in order that the federal government can sell such land to the private citizens presently leasing said land, who with their successors in interest are hereinafter referred to as landowners, provided that within three years after the effective date of this act the federal government sells such land to the private citizens leasing it; further provided that if this sale does not take place the written release provided in this act shall be null and void; and further provided that:   

A.     in exchange for release of legal obligation and rights under the contract, the state shall first be reimbursed a reasonable amount for its loss of revenue from the lease by the United States government;   

B.     in order to insure that the land is not used in an incompatible or conflicting manner with the surrounding park land and that access to the park is maintained, the following provisions shall be included in any agreement with the bureau of reclamation:   

(1)     a continuous easement on all current roadways and utility crossings shall be retained through the lease lot areas as shall all other existing easements at the time of the agreement;   

(2)     future use of the property shall be restricted to noncommercial, single-family residential use. Any use or activity that endangers the water or air quality of the park shall not be allowed;   

(3)     the state shall no longer have any responsibility to provide the lease lot area any of the services now provided by the state park and recreation division [state parks division] of the natural resources department; and   

(4)     the landowners and any successors in interest shall be obligated by these provisions and any noncompliance shall result in reversion of the property to the bureau of reclamation.