Presenter: Mike Herring

Commission Agenda Item No. 8
Action
Fiber Optic Conduit Easement
Lake Houston and Village Creek State Parks
Harris and Hardin Counties
November 1997

I. DISCUSSION: Vyvx, Inc. has requested an easement to lay a fiber optic conduit and cable within an existing Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company (Transco) easement across Lake Houston and Village Creek Parks.

The proposed easement would be 319 rods long in Lake Houston and 377 rods long in Village Creek, for a total of 696 rods. The conduit would parallel a Transco pipeline within an existing easement corridor for the line's entire length within the Parks.

Headquarters and Area staff have examined the application and have concluded that there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use of the easement and that the project includes all reasonable planning to minimize harm to the land as parks. Installation of this fibre optic cable will have minimal impact to park lands or resources.

The staff recommends the Commission continue its policy of charging $10 per rod per annum for easements.

The staff further recommends the easement be granted subject to the conditions shown in Exhibit A.

II. RECOMMENDATION: The staff recommends the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:

"The Executive Director is authorized to recommend to the Board for Lease for Parks and Wildlife Lands the granting of an easement to Applicant as requested, incorporating the terms and conditions shown at Exhibit A, for $10 per rod per annum for a term of ten years."

Attachments - 2

1. Exhibit A - Conditions
2. Exhibit B - Fiscal Note

(Exhibits A and B are available upon request.)