BILL DRAFT 2003-RI2-10 [v.3] (4/28) 

 Lower Haw River State Natural Area 



1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 



2 AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE ADDITION OF THE LOWER HAW RIVER STATE 



3 NATURAL AREA TO THE STATE PARKS SYSTEM, AS RECOMMENDED BY 



4 THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMMISSION. 

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6 Whereas, Section 5 of Article XIV of the Constitution of North Carolina 



7 states that it shall be a proper function of the State of North Carolina to acquire and 



8 preserve park, recreational, and scenic areas, and in every other appropriate way to 



9 preserve as a part of the common heritage of this State, its open lands and places of 



10 beauty; and 



11 Whereas, the 1987 General Assembly enacted the State Parks Act, which 



12 declares that the State of North Carolina offers unique archaeological, geologic, 



13 biological, scenic, and recreational resources, and that these resources are part of the 



14 heritage of the people of the State, which should be preserved and managed by the 



15 people for their use and for the use of their visitors and descendants; and 



16 Whereas, the Lower Haw River in Chatham County is considered nationally 



17 significant for its biological resources including several rare species and possesses 



18 biological, scenic, and recreational resources of statewide significance; Now, therefore, 



19 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 



20 SECTION 1. The General Assembly authorizes the Department of 



21 Environment and Natural Resources to add the Lower Haw River State Natural Area to 



22 the State Parks System as provided by G.S. 1 1 3-44. 14(b). 



23 SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law. 



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