A.  For the purposes of this Chapter, an authority may acquire private or public property and property rights, including rights of access, air, view, and light, by gift, devise, purchase, or condemnation by eminent domain proceedings, as the authority may deem necessary for any of the purposes of this Chapter, including but not limited to any lands reasonably necessary for securing applicable permits, areas necessary for management of access, borrow pits, drainage ditches, water retention areas, rest areas, placement access  for landowners whose access is impaired due to the construction of a project, and replacement rights-of-way for relocated rail and utility facilities for existing, proposed, or anticipated transportation facilities in the transportation corridor designated by the authority.

B.  In the acquisition of land and property, an authority may acquire an entire lot, block, or tract of land, if, by so doing, the acquisition costs to the authority will be equal to or less than the cost of acquiring only that portion of the property thereof necessary for the project.  This Subsection is a specific recognition that this means of limiting the rising costs of such property acquisition is a public purpose and that, without this limitation, the viability of many public projects will be threatened.  To that end, the provisions of La. Rev. Stat. 48:2029(20) regarding reconveyance of such excess portion shall not apply except in the case of the exercise of an authority of its right of eminent domain.

C.  An authority may sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of all or any portion of a project, provided that the sale, lease, or other disposition of a state-designated project shall require department approval.  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any surplus property may be sold in accordance with procedures adopted by the authority that maximize the price received for such property.

D.  The right of eminent domain conferred by this Chapter must be exercised by each authority in the manner provided by state law.

E.  When an authority acquires property for a project, it is not subject to any liability imposed by pre-existing conditions.  This Subsection does not, however, affect the rights or liabilities of any past or future owners of the acquired property, nor does it affect the liability of any governmental entity for the results of its actions which create or exacerbate a pollution source.  An authority and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality may enter into interagency agreements for the performance, funding, and reimbursement of the investigative and remedial acts necessary for property acquired by the authority.

Acts 1997, No. 1017, §1, eff. July 11, 1997.