§ 136‑148.  Acquisition of existing junkyards where screening impractical.

(a) In the event that the Department of Transportation shall determine that screening of any existing junkyard designated in G.S. 136‑147 hereof would be inadequate to accomplish the purposes of this Article, the said Department of Transportation is authorized to secure the relocation, removal or disposal of such junkyard by acquiring the fee simple title, or such lesser interest in land as may be necessary, to the land upon which said junkyard is located, through purchase, gift, exchange or condemnation.

(b) The Department of Transportation is authorized to move and relocate junk located on lands within the provisions of this section, and is authorized to pay the costs of such moving or relocation.

(c) The Department of Transportation is authorized to acquire by purchase, gift, exchange or condemnation, fee simple title or any lesser interest in real property for the purpose of placing and relocating the junk required to be moved under this section or permitted by G.S. 136‑146 hereof to be removed. The Department of Transportation is authorized to convey in the manner provided by law for the conveyance of state‑owned property, the lands on which junk is to be relocated, to the owner of the junk with or without consideration, under such conditions and reservations as it deems to be in the public interest.

(d) The Department of Transportation is authorized to convey in the manner provided by law for the conveyance of state‑owned property any property acquired under the provisions of this section, under such conditions and reservations as it deems to be in the public interest.

(e) The Department of Transportation upon a determination that the same is necessary for the removal of any junkyard which is prohibited by G.S. 136‑144 may acquire by gift, exchange, purchase or condemnation, the junk located on any junkyard which is acquired under this section and may acquire by gift, exchange, purchase or condemnation the fee simple title or lesser interest in land for the purpose of storing said junk by the Department of Transportation and may dispose of said junk in any manner which is not inconsistent with this Article. (1967, c. 1198, s. 8; 1973, c. 507, s. 5; 1977, c. 464,  s. 7.1.)