Subdivision 1. Acquisition; designation.
The commissioner of natural resources may acquire by gift, lease, easement, exchange, or purchase, in the manner prescribed under chapter 117, in the name of the state, lands or any interest in lands suitable and desirable for establishing and maintaining scientific and natural areas. The commissioner shall designate any land so acquired as a scientific and natural area by written order published in the State Register and shall administer any land so acquired and designated as provided by section 86A.05 . Designations of scientific and natural areas are exempt from the rulemaking provisions of chapter 14, and section 14.386 does not apply.
Subd. 2.
[Repealed, 2005 c 161 s 26 ]
Subd. 3. County approval.
The commissioner must follow the procedures under section 97A.145, subdivision 2 , when acquiring land for designation as a scientific and natural area under this section located outside the seven-county metropolitan area.