TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF NOVEMBER 1, 2012
COMMITTEE ON REAL ESTATE
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Authority to issue a 6-month permit to the Fulton County Lewistown Field Office of the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service to conduct soil boring investigations at the District's Fulton County Prairie Plan site. Consideration shall be $10.00
Body
Dear Sir:
The Fulton County Lewistown Field Office of the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service ("NRCS") has requested a 6-month permit to access the District's Fulton County Prairie Plan site to investigate and study the strip mine soil types and to evaluate the possibilities of using strip mine soil as a resource base for future row crop production on strip mine soils.
In October 1970, the District purchased approximately 7,156 acres of land in Fulton County, Illinois, which had been previously mined for coal. Most of the land purchased in 1970 by the District was surface strip mined but some underground mining was also performed on portions of the subject land.
NRCS advised that the District's Fulton County Prairie Plan land has been selected for the subject study because it represents a large area of research and contains a variety of strip mine soils therein.
The District's technical departments have no objections to the proposed access and testing. The permit will require NRCS to take any necessary steps and measures to protect District facilities and structures located upon or under any of the lands covered by the permit and not to interfere with any of the District's operations.
A nominal fee of $10.00 is being recommended as such fee is customary with the Federal government or other governmental entities that use District property for public purposes.
It is requested that the Executive Director recommend to the Board of Commissioners that it authorize the issuance of a 6-month permit to the Fulton County Lewistown Field Office of the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service to conduct soil boring investigations at the District's Fulton County Prairie Plan site.
It is further requested that the Executive Director recommend to the Board of Commissioners that it authorize the Chairman of the Committee on Finance and the Clerk to execute said permit agreement after it is approved by the General Counsel as to form and legality.
Requested, Ronald M. Hill, General Counsel, RMH:STM:MM:rg
Recommended, David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Respectfully Submitted, Terrence J. O'Brien, Chairman Committee on Real Estate Development
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for November 1, 2012
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