§ 113A-164.4. Powers and duties of the Secretary.
§ 113A‑164.4. Powers and duties of the Secretary.
The Secretary shall:
(1) Establish by rule the criteria for selection, registration,and dedication of natural areas and nature preserves.
(2) Cooperate or contract with any federal, State, or localgovernment agency, private conservation organization, or person in carrying outthe purposes of this Article.
(3) Maintain a Natural Heritage Program to provide assistance inthe selection and nomination for registration or dedication of natural areas.The Program shall include classification of natural heritage resources, aninventory of their locations, and a data bank for that information. The Programshall cooperate with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in theselection and nomination of areas that contain habitats for endangered and rareplant species, and shall cooperate with the Wildlife Resources Commission inthe selection and nomination of areas that contain habitats for endangered andrare animal species. Information from the natural heritage data bank may bemade available to public agencies and private persons for environmentalassessment and land management purposes. Use of the inventory data for anypurpose inconsistent with the Natural Heritage Program may not be authorized.The Program shall include other functions as may be assigned for registration,dedication, and protection of natural areas and nature preserves.
(4) Prepare a Natural Heritage Plan that shall govern theNatural Heritage Program in the creation of a system of registered anddedicated natural areas.
(5) Publish and disseminate information pertaining to naturalareas and nature preserves within the State.
(6) Appoint advisory committees composed of representatives offederal, State, and local governmental agencies, scientific and academicinstitutions, conservation organizations, and private business, to advise himon the identification, selection, registration, dedication, and protection ofnatural areas and nature preserves.
(7) Submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a biennialreport on or before February 15, 1987, and on or before February 15 ofsubsequent odd‑numbered years describing the activities of the pastbiennium and plans for the coming biennium, and detailing specificrecommendations for action that the Secretary deems necessary for theimprovement of the Program. (1985, c. 216, s. 1; 1987, c. 827, s. 152; 1997‑261, s. 82.)