SECTION 1. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, on behalf of the Department of Fish and Game, may convey, amend, assign or otherwise transfer to Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC a fifty foot wide permanent right-of-way and easement for the purpose of constructing, maintaining, and operating a pipeline or pipelines, together with any and all necessary or useful appurtenances thereto, for the transmission of natural gas and all by-products thereof, and easements for permanent access roads necessary to access such facilities, all of which fall outside of existing Eversource easements and rights of ways under and through portions of the properties described in Section 1.(b) currently held for fish and wildlife conservation, natural habitat protection, and associated public recreation consistent with and subject to the purposes and protections of Article 97 of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 (b) The easements and properties on which the portion of easements referenced in Section 1.(a) may be granted are located within: Joint Base Cape Cod, Tax Parcel Number 44.0_50_0 and Tax Parcel Number 17.0_3_0, owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, such easements and permanent access roads totaling 5.272 acres, as more particularly shown on Sheets 1-5, and 17 of 17 of the plans entitled, “Area of Permanent Easement & Temporary Workspace Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” Tracts G-31-MA-BA-023 and G-32-MA-BA-001, prepared by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. and dated August 1, 2025; and shown on Sheets 2, 3, 6, and 7 of 7 of the plans entitled, “Area of Permanent Easement & Temporary Workspace Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” Tracts G-31-MA-BA-025 and G-32-MA-BA-001.001, prepared by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. and dated August 1, 2025.

 SECTION 2. In consideration for the conveyance authorized in Section 1, and to ensure no net loss of Article 97 land, the Department of Fish and Game is authorized to dedicate a parcel of land of equal or greater natural resource value and acreage for fish and wildlife conservation, natural habitat protection, and associated public recreation consistent with and subject to the purposes and protections of Article 97 of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The replacement land shall be conveyed by Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC to the Department of Fish and Game and shall consist of an approximate 7.00 acres portion of the land as shown on a plan entitled “Plan of Land Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, LLC Bourne MA” dated May 20, 2026, prepared by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.

 SECTION 3. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, on behalf of the Department of Fish and Game, may convey, amend, assign or otherwise transfer to Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC a fifty foot wide permanent right-of-way and easement for the purpose of constructing, maintaining, and operating a pipeline or pipelines, together with any and all necessary or useful appurtenances thereto, for the transmission of natural gas and all by-products thereof, and easements for permanent access roads necessary to access such facilities, and temporary workspaces necessary for the construction of such facilities, under and through portions of the properties all of which fall within the existing Eversource easements and rights of ways under and through portions of the properties described in Section 2.(b) currently held for fish and wildlife conservation, natural habitat protection, and associated public recreation consistent with and subject to the purposes and protections of Article 97 of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 (b) The easements and properties on which the portion of easements referenced in Section 2.(a) may be granted are located within: (i) Joint Base Cape Cod, Tax Parcel Number 44.0_50_0, and Tax Parcel Number 17.0_3_0, owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, such easements, permanent access roads, and temporary workspace as more particularly shown on the plans entitled, “Area of Permanent Easement & Temporary Workspace Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” Tracts G-31-MA-BA-023 and G-32-MA-BA-001, prepared by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. and dated August 1, 2025; and shown on the plans entitled, “Area of Permanent Easement & Temporary Workspace Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” Tracts G-31-MA-BA-025 and G-32-MA-BA-001.001, prepared by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. and dated August 1, 2025; and (ii) Tax Parcel Number 10.0_7_0, owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, such easements, permanent access roads, and temporary workspace as more particularly shown on the plan entitled, “Area of Permanent Easement & Temporary Workspace Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” Tract G-31-MA-BA-007, prepared by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. and dated August 1, 2025.

 SECTION 4. There shall be an independent appraisal, or appraisals, of the easements described in Section 3 to be conveyed as authorized by this act to determine the full and fair market value, or the value in use as proposed, based upon one or more professional appraisals as commissioned by the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance. In order to expedite the conveyances authorized by this act, the commissioner may, in consultation with the Department of Fish and Game, accept any appraisal or appraisals of these easements which may have been conducted before the effective date of this act and which may have been accepted and agreed to by the department. Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC shall compensate the Commonwealth in an amount greater than, or equal to, the full and fair market value, or the value in use of these easements as proposed, whichever is greater, as determined by these independent appraisals. Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC shall assume all costs associated with any engineering, surveys, appraisals, deed preparation and other expenses deemed necessary by the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance to execute the conveyances authorized by this act. All money paid to the Commonwealth by Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC as a result of the conveyance of the easements authorized by this act shall be deposited in the general fund of the Commonwealth.

 The commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance shall submit these appraisals and a report thereon to the inspector general for his review and comment. The inspector general shall review and approve the appraisal or appraisals, and the review shall include an examination of the methodology used for the appraisal or appraisals. The inspector general shall prepare a report of his review and file the report with the commissioner for submission by the commissioner to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the chairmen of the joint committee on bonding, capital expenditures and state assets. The commissioner shall submit copies of the appraisals, his report, and the inspector general review and approval, and comments, if any, to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the chairmen of the joint committee on bonding, capital expenditures and state assets before the execution of the conveyances.

 SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon its passage.