AUSTIN— The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopted a policy Thursday limiting its use of eminent domain.
The policy, adopted during the commission’s August meeting, limits the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) from taking private property for park sites except under exceptional and unusual circumstances, mainly property previously dedicated to public use as a park.
“Given its significant potential impact on private landowners, our commissioners chose to limit TPWD’s use of eminent domain to ensure it will be used exceedingly sparingly and only under specified circumstances,” said Commission Chairman Arch “Beaver” Aplin III. “The policy is clear – TPWD will not use eminent domain to condemn residences, farms or ranches.”
Parks and Wildlife Code (section 21.103) authorizes TPWD to acquire park sites through condemnation with payment of fair market value compensation to the landowner.
TPWD receives funds from the DHS and USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin (including Limited English Proficiency), disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please visit www.tpwd.texas.gov/nondiscrimination or call 512-389-4800 for information on where you can file a complaint.
To obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you speak a language other than English, and need assistance, please email lep@tpwd.texas.gov. You can also contact Department of the Interior Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Civil Rights, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240 and/or U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), Mail Stop #0190, Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., SE, Washington, D.C. 20528
