Section 75-10-4 - Department; powers and duties. - New Mexico Statutes

75-10-4. Department; powers and duties.

A.     The department may:

(1)     after consultation with landowners, conservationists and other interested persons, adopt and promulgate rules to carry out the provisions of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act;

(2)     enter into contracts;

(3)     enter into joint powers agreements pursuant to the Joint Powers Agreements Act [11-1-1 NMSA 1978] to carry out the provisions of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act;

(4)     make grants to qualified entities for conservation projects;

(5)     apply for and receive in the name of the department, any public or private funds available to the department to carry out the purposes of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act;

(6)     acquire conservation or agricultural easements by itself or with a conservation entity or qualified entity; and

(7)     do all other things necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act.

B.     The department shall:

(1)     establish a competitive application process for grants from the fund; and

(2)     establish criteria and priorities for funding conservation projects.