CHAPTER 1504: DIVISION OF REAL ESTATE AND LAND MANAGEMENT

There is hereby created in the department of natural resources the division of real estate and land management, which shall be administered by the chief of the division of real estate and land management. Subject to the approval of the director of natural resources, the chief shall employ assistants and such other employees as are necessary to execute the duties of the division as prescribed by this chapter.

Effective Date: 10-20-1994

(A) The division of real estate and land management shall do all of the following:

(1) Except as otherwise provided in the Revised Code, coordinate and conduct all real estate functions for the department of natural resources, including at least acquisitions by purchase, lease, gift, devise, bequest, appropriation, or otherwise; grants through sales, leases, exchanges, easements, and licenses; inventories of land; and other related general management duties;

(2) Assist the department and its divisions by providing department-wide planning, including at least master planning, comprehensive planning, capital improvements planning, and special purpose planning such as trails coordination and planning under section 1519.03 of the Revised Code;

(3) Cooperate with the United States and agencies of it and with political subdivisions in administering federal recreation moneys under the “Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965,” 78 Stat. 897, 16 U.S.C.A. 4601-8, as amended; prepare and distribute the statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan; and administer the state recreational vehicle fund created in section 4519.11 of the Revised Code;

(4)(a) Support the geographic information system needs for the department as requested by the director, which shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(i) Assisting in the training and education of department resource managers, administrators, and other staff in the application and use of geographic information system technology;

(ii) Providing technical support to the department in the design, preparation of data, and use of appropriate geographic information system applications in order to help solve resource related problems and to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of department delivered services;

(iii) Creating, maintaining, and documenting spatial digital data bases for the division and for other divisions as assigned by the director.

(b) Provide information to and otherwise assist government officials, planners, and resource managers in understanding land use planning and resource management;

(c) Provide continuing assistance to local government officials and others in natural resource digital data base development and in applying and utilizing the geographic information system for land use planning, current agricultural use value assessment, development reviews, coastal management, and other resource management activities;

(d) Coordinate and administer the remote sensing needs of the department, including the collection and analysis of aerial photography, satellite data, and other data pertaining to land, water, and other resources of the state;

(e) Prepare and publish maps and digital data relating to the state’s land use and land cover over time on a local, regional, and statewide basis;

(f) Locate and distribute hard copy maps, digital data, aerial photography, and other resource data and information to government agencies and the public.

(5) Prepare special studies and execute any other duties, functions, and responsibilities requested by the director.

(B) The division may do any of the following:

(1) Coordinate such environmental matters concerning the department and the state as are necessary to comply with the “National Environmental Policy Act of 1969,” 83 Stat. 852, 42 U.S.C.A. 4321, as amended, the “Intergovernmental Cooperation Act of 1968,” 82 Stat. 1098, 31 U.S.C.A. 6506, and the “Federal Water Pollution Control Act,” 91 Stat. 1566 (1977), 33 U.S.C.A. 1251, as amended, and regulations adopted under those acts;

(2) With the approval of the director, coordinate and administer compensatory mitigation grant programs and other programs for streams and wetlands as approved in accordance with certifications and permits issued under sections 401 and 404 of the “Federal Water Pollution Control Act”, 91 Stat. 1566(1977), 33 U.S.C.A. 1251, as amended, by the environmental protection agency and the United States army corps of engineers;

(3) Administer any state or federally funded grant program that is related to natural resources and recreation as considered necessary by the director.

Effective Date: 03-18-1999; 04-06-2007; 2007 HB119 09-29-2007

With the approval of the director of natural resources, the chief of the division of real estate and land management may enter into contracts or agreements with any agency of the United States government, any other public agency, or any private agency or organization for the performance of the duties of the division specified in section 1504.02 of the Revised Code or for accomplishing cooperative projects within those duties.

Effective Date: 10-20-1994

The director of natural resources may enter into agreements with local government agencies for the purposes of land use inventories, Ohio capability analysis data layers, and other duties related to resource management.

Effective Date: 10-20-1994