AN ACT DESIGNATING CERTAIN LANDS IN THE TOWNS OF PHILLIPSTON, ROYALSTON AND TEMPLETON FOR CONSERVATION AND PUBLIC RECREATIONAL PURPOSES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT.
Whereas , The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is forthwith to preserve open space and ensure preservation of wildlife, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. The parcels of land of the commonwealth, identified in section 2 and under the care, custody and control of the department of mental retardation are hereby dedicated in consultation with the division of capital asset management and maintenance to the purposes and uses of forest and open space protection, management and conservation, environmental education, environmental research and public access for passive recreation and enjoyment and shall be held solely for these purposes and uses. Expressly exempted from this act shall be that certain portion of the land currently used by the department of mental retardation for operation of the Templeton Development Center, its buildings, agricultural fields and associated amenities as shown on a certain plan to be developed jointly by the department of environmental management and the department of mental retardation; to be kept on file by both departments. The department of mental retardation, in consultation with the department of environmental management, may develop reasonable rules or promulgate regulations for the appropriate conduct and manner of public access under this act consistent with the terms and conditions of a certain memorandum of understanding executed by both the department of environmental management and the department of mental retardation on April 8, 2002.
SECTION 2. The parcels are hereby identified as follows:
(a) all of the lands, including lands under water, in the towns of Phillipston, Royalston and Templeton as described in certain deeds recorded in the Worcester District Registry of Deeds in book 1658, page 632; book 1658, page 639; book 1600, page 295; book 1658, page 636; book 1658, page 631; book 1658, page 628; book 1600, page 313; book 1600, page 292; book 1600, page 299; book 1658, page 632; book 1600, page 312; book 1915, page 98; book 1600, page 297; book 1600, page 310; book 1600, page 308; book 1600, page 302; book 1600, page 303; book 1600, page 293; book 1600, page 315; book 1600, page 300; book 1600, page 304; book 1658, page 637; book 2000, page 355; book 1600, page 305; book 1600, page 307; book 1600, page 298; book 1608, page 632; book 1600, page 300; book 1145, page 479; book 1019, page 539; book 2487, page 59; book 1600, page 313; book 2503, page 2; book 2596, page 493; book 4952, page 389; book 2499, page 61; book 2764, page 399; book 2487, page 188; book 2289, page 336 and book 2289, page 337.