§ 14-31-4-2 — Criteria for establishing submerged lands preserves; rulemaking

Indiana § 14-31-4-2

• Jurisdiction: Indiana
• Art. 31: NATURE PRESERVES
• Ch. 4: Submerged Lands Preserves

Text

(a) The department may establish a submerged
lands preserve for any area of submerged lands in Lake Michigan or the
Ohio River that:
(1) contains:
(A) a watercraft; or
(B) an aircraft;
of historical value;
(2) contains:
(A) a watercraft; or
(B) an aircraft;
constituting abandoned property; or
(3) contains other features of historical, archeological,
recreational, ecological, geological, environmental, educational,
scenic, or scientific value.
(b) When establishing a submerged lands preserve, the department
shall consider whether creating the preserve is necessary to:
(1) protect either abandoned property possessing historical or
recreational value; or
(2) protect significant underwater geological or environmental
features.
(c) Each submerged lands preserve established must encompass the
designated submerged land area and extend upward to include the
surface of the water.
(d) Within each submerged lands preserve established, the
department shall govern access to and use of the submerged lands
preserve, including regulating or prohibiting the alteration, destruction,
or removal of abandoned property, features, or formations within a
preserve.
(e) The department may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to implement
this chapter.

Legislative History

As added by P.L.125-2025, SEC.7.