SECTION 1. Notwithstanding sections 32 to 37, inclusive, of chapter 7C of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance, in consultation with the commissioner of conservation and recreation, may convey a subsurface easement to the town of Ayer on a parcel of land containing 1,940 square feet, more or less, acquired by deed recorded with the Middlesex south registry of deeds in book 18528 and page 64, currently under the care and control of the department of conservation and recreation and held for conservation and recreation purposes. The easement area is shown as “20’ Wide Water Easement” on a plan of land entitled “Easement Plan of Land in Ayer, Mass,” dated September 13, 2017, prepared by GPR, Inc., on file in the Middlesex south registry of deeds as plan 886 of 2017. The easement shall be used only for the purposes of installing, constructing, repairing, reconstructing, operating, maintaining or improving subsurface water infrastructure, subject to the requirements of sections 2 through 4 and to such additional terms and conditions consistent with this act as the commissioner of  capital asset management and maintenance, in consultation with the commissioner of  conservation and recreation, may prescribe. Prior to making the conveyance authorized in this section, the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance may make minor modifications to the area and plan in order to carry out this act.

SECTION 2. The town of Ayer shall compensate the commonwealth for the easement described in section 1 through any 1 or a combination of the following: (i) the transfer of land or an interest in land to the commissioner of conservation and recreation, with a value equal to or greater than the full and fair market value of the easement, or the value of the easement in use as proposed, whichever is greater, as determined by independent appraisal; or (ii) a sum of money equal to the full and fair market value of the easement or the value of the easement in use as proposed, whichever is greater, as determined by independent appraisal. The commonwealth shall not be obligated to pay any consideration to the town if the appraised value of any parcels or interests conveyed under this section exceeds the value of the easement described in section 1.

SECTION 3. The value of the easement described in section 1 and the value of any property interests to be conveyed to the commonwealth pursuant to section 2 shall be determined by an independent appraisal prepared in accordance with the usual and customary professional appraisal practice by a qualified appraiser commissioned by the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance, in consultation with the commissioner of conservation and recreation. The commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance shall submit the appraisal to the inspector general for review and comment. The inspector general shall review and approve the appraisal and the review shall include an examination of the methodology utilized for the appraisal. The inspector general shall prepare a report of such review and file the report with the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance for submission by the commissioner to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on state administration and regulatory oversight. The commissioner shall submit copies of the appraisal and the inspector general’s report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on state administration and regulatory oversight not less than 15 days before the execution of the instrument effecting the grant of the easement described in section 1.  Any funds shall be deposited in the Conservation Trust established in section 1 of chapter 132A of the General Laws, and shall be expended by the commissioner of conservation and recreation, in the commissioner’s  discretion, towards acquiring lands or interests in land to be permanently held and managed for conservation and recreation purposes by the department.

SECTION 4. The town of Ayer shall assume any and all costs associated with engineering, surveys, appraisals, deed preparation and other expenses deemed necessary by the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance for the purpose of conveying the easement to the town of Ayer authorized by this act.