North Carolina General Statutes 40A-82. Demonstration of no prudent and feasible alternative required in certain actions; judicial determination
(a) If a holder of a conservation easement contests an action to condemn property encumbered by a conservation easement on the basis that the condemnor failed to sufficiently consider alternatives to the action or that a prudent and feasible alternative exists to the action, the holder of the conservation easement may file an answer to the complaint within 30 days from the date of service of the complaint as to that issue. If the holder of the conservation easement does not assert that the condemnor failed to sufficiently consider alternatives to the action or that a prudent and feasible alternative exists to the action, the holder of the conservation easement may file an answer within 120 days from the date of service of the complaint.
(b) If the holder of a conservation easement contests an action pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the judge shall hear and determine whether or not a prudent and feasible alternative exists to condemnation of the property. The burden of persuasion on this issue is on the condemnor if the holder of the conservation easement, after discovery, has identified at least one alternative. If no alternative identified by the holder of the conservation easement is adjudged prudent and feasible, then the condemnation action shall proceed under the provisions of Article 3 of this Chapter, or Article 9 of Chapter 136 of the N.C. Gen. Stat., as applicable. If the judge determines that a prudent and feasible alternative does exist to condemnation of the property, the court shall dismiss the action and award the holder of the conservation easement costs, disbursements, and expenses in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 40A-8(b) or N.C. Gen. Stat. § 136-119, as applicable, except that attorneys’ fees may not be awarded. The procedure for this hearing shall be as set forth in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 40A-47 or N.C. Gen. Stat. § 136-108, as applicable.
(c) A determination as to whether a prudent or feasible alternative exists to condemnation of the property as set forth in subsection (b) of this section shall not be required for actions meeting all of the following criteria:
(1) The Department of Transportation or the North Carolina Turnpike Authority is the condemnor.
Terms Used In North Carolina General Statutes 40A-82
- Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Condemnation: means the procedure prescribed by law for exercising the power of eminent domain. See North Carolina General Statutes 40A-2
- Condemnor: means those listed in N. See North Carolina General Statutes 40A-2
- conservation easement: means a conservation or historic preservation easement that meets all of the following criteria, as each of the criteria are defined under 26 U. See North Carolina General Statutes 40A-80
- Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
- following: when used by way of reference to any section of a statute, shall be construed to mean the section next preceding or next following that in which such reference is made; unless when some other section is expressly designated in such reference. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
- Judge: means a resident judge of the superior court in the district where the cause is pending, or special judge residing in said district, or a judge of the superior court assigned to hold the courts of said district or an emergency or special judge holding court in the county where the cause is pending. See North Carolina General Statutes 40A-2
- Property: means any right, title, or interest in land, including leases and options to buy or sell. See North Carolina General Statutes 40A-2
- state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories, so called; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the said district and territories and all dependencies. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
(2) Prior to filing the condemnation action, a review of the project for which the property is being condemned was conducted that considered the alternatives to the condemnation of the property encumbered by the conservation easement and mitigation measures to minimize the impact. The condemnor shall, in the complaint filed with the court, identify the alternatives and mitigation measures considered with regard to condemnation of the property encumbered by the conservation easement.
(3) The review was conducted pursuant to any of the following:
a. The State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), N.C. Gen. Stat. § 113A-1, et seq.
b. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. § 4321, et seq.
c. 49 U.S.C. § 303. (2009-439, s. 1.)