§5B-2G-1. Short Title
This article shall be known as the Voluntary Rural and Outdoor Heritage Conservation Act.
§5B-2G-2. Legislative Findings and Purpose
Legislative findings and purpose: (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that: (1) The State of West Virginia's rural character, natural wonders, scenic beauty and recreational opportunities combine to create an exceptional quality of life for its citizens;
§5B-2G-3. West Virginia Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund – Established
The West Virginia Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund is established within the Department of Commerce. The fund has the powers and duties provided in this article.
§5B-2G-4. West Virginia Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund – Board of Trustees
(a) Composition; chairman; quorum; qualifications. — The fund shall be governed and administered by a board of trustees composed of the Director of the Division of Natural Resources and the Director of the Division of Forestry, who shall serve as voting ex officio members, and nine voting members to be appointed by the Governor, by […]
§5B-2G-5. West Virginia Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund – Powers
The board has the following general powers on behalf of the fund: (a) Power to sue. — To sue and be sued in contractual matters in its own name. (b) Power to contract. — To enter into contracts generally and to execute all instruments necessary or appropriate to carry out its purposes. (c) Power to […]
§5B-2G-6. West Virginia Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund – Duties
The board shall, on behalf of the fund: (a) Disseminate information regarding land conservation and promote the conservation of land. (b) Develop and implement additional guidelines and procedures, consistent with the purposes of this chapter, as necessary to implement this chapter. (c) Seek and apply for funds from federal, state and private sources to carry […]
§5B-2G-7. Definitions
For purposes of this article, the following terms have the meanings set forth in this section. (a) “Board” means the board of trustees established in section three of this article. (b) “Conservation easement” means a nonpossessory interest in real property as defined in section three, article twelve, chapter twenty of this code, except that a […]
§5B-2G-8. Funding of Land Conservation; Issuance of Revenue Bonds
(a) Fund. — (1) Created. — The West Virginia Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund is created for the purposes specified in this article.
§5B-2G-9. Grants for Land Conservation; Application; Criteria
(a) An eligible grant recipient may apply for a grant from the fund to acquire interests in real property for conservation purposes or for stewardship. An application may not be submitted to the fund without the written consent of the owner of the interest in real property identified in the application. (b) Before applying for […]