Section 77-15-4 - Payment of cost of rodent pest repression. - New Mexico Statutes

77-15-4. [Payment of cost of rodent pest repression.]

On lands which are a part of any national forest, Indian reservation or other national reserve, rodent pest repression is to be carried on at the expense of the federal government. On state lands leased or sold under contract for which the purchaser has not yet obtained the title, rodent pest repression is to be prosecuted on a cooperative basis with such lessee or purchaser on such terms as may be agreed upon. All leases hereafter issued for state lands, and all contracts hereafter made for the sale of the state lands, shall provide that the lessee or purchaser shall be obligated to destroy the rodent pests upon such lands and upon failure to do so to pay the cost of rodent pest repression upon such lands by the state rodent force or the cooperative force provided for by this act [77-15-1 to 77-15-5 NMSA 1978], which cost shall not exceed ten cents [($.10)] per acre for the infested areas of such lands.   

Upon public lands of the United States or of the state, not included in reservations or covered by lease or contract, rodent pest repression shall be carried on and paid for out of the state and federal cooperative funds available as hereinbefore mentioned.   

Upon privately owned lands rodent pest repression under this act shall be based on voluntary cooperation of owners, lessees or occupants; poison materials or prepared poison grain to be supplied to such cooperators at actual cost, payable to the state of New Mexico, and the moneys so received shall revert and be added to the said rodent pest fund.   

Landowners may arrange with the state rodent inspector or assistant of the biological survey in charge of rodent pest repression in any part of the state for the destruction of rodents on their lands, under written agreement; provided, that the state shall be reimbursed for the actual cost of such treatment to be paid into the state treasury within thirty days after the presentation of the itemized account therefor by the foreman or person in charge of such work; and if not so paid such amount shall be a lien upon the said land. Provided, the amount of such lien shall not exceed ten cents [($.10)] per acre for the infested areas treated.