Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. The town of Middleton may grant by grant of location and easement agreement to Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, a permanent easement not more than 50 feet wide over a parcel of land located in the town and under the management and control of the conservation commission of the town, together with temporary work space for construction purposes, 25 feet wide, immediately adjacent to the area of the proposed permanent easement, as shown on the plan of land described below. The right to use the temporary workspace shall expire 12 months after completion of construction. The land, presently being used for conservation purposes, is described on a plan of land entitled "Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline, Middleton, Essex County, Massachusetts, Dwg. No. ME-P-9167" on file with the town, which shall be recorded with the southern district registry of deeds in Essex county.

The easement shall be used for the installation and maintenance of an interstate natural gas transmission line, which shall be installed underground, together with appliances and appurtenances necessary thereto.

SECTION 2. The town of Middleton may grant by grant of location and easement agreement to Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, a 50 foot-wide permanent easement over a parcel of land located in the town and under the management and control of the conservation commission of the town, together with temporary work space for construction purposes, 25 feet wide, immediately adjacent to the area of the proposed permanent easement, all as more particularly shown on the plan of land described below. The rights to use the temporary workspace and additional temporary workspace shall expire 12 months after completion of construction. The land, presently being used for conservation purposes, is described on a plan of land entitled, "Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, Middleton, Essex County, Massachusetts, Dwg. No. ME-P-9168", on file with the town, which shall be recorded with the southern district of the registry of deeds in Essex county.

The easement shall be used for the installation and maintenance of an interstate natural gas transmission line which shall be installed underground, together with appliances and appurtenances necessary thereto.

SECTION 3. In consideration for the easements authorized in sections 1 and 2, Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C., shall pay or have paid to the town of Middleton, in the aggregate, $60,507.44, which amount is equivalent to or in excess of the fair market value of the easements granted. The $60,507.44 received in exchange for the easements shall be appropriated by the town of Middleton consistent with section 63 of chapter 44 of the General Laws.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage.