This bill authorizes the release or exclusion of a specific portion of land from conservation restrictions in Deerfield, Massachusetts, to facilitate the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's rehabilitation of Upper Road over the Deerfield River. The commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance, in consultation with the commissioner of conservation and recreation, is empowered to execute a certificate of release for approximately 15,977 square feet of land currently under a conservation restriction. This land is identified in detail within the bill and is owned by Great River Hydro, LLC. The bill also mandates that all parcels used for the construction project be restored to their original condition as much as possible to protect the surrounding conservation values.

In exchange for the land release, the town of Deerfield is required to convey a conservation restriction over approximately 5.5 acres of undevelopable land along the Deerfield River to the commonwealth, which will be managed by the department of conservation and recreation. Additionally, the town must provide access to this land and may need to compensate the commonwealth if the appraised value of the conveyed land is less than that of the released land. The bill outlines the process for appraising the property and requires the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to cover all associated costs for the necessary engineering and legal work. The existing conservation restriction will remain in effect except for the portions amended by this act.