1. Definitions. For purposes of this section: a. "eligible project" means a public health or safety-related project necessary where no viable alternative exists, limited to the following:

1. (i) address bridge hazards to improve public safety on county highways and town highways;
2. (ii) elimination of the hazards of dangerous curves and grades on county and town highways to improve public safety;
3. (iii) relocation, maintenance, and reconstruction of county highways and town highways, including associated culverts, for the purpose of addressing public safety provided that no relocation of any single relocated portion shall exceed one mile in length;
4. (iv) water wells and necessary appurtenances when such wells are necessary to meet drinking water quality standards and are located within five hundred thirty feet of state highways, county highways and town highways; and
5. (v) stabilization devices for an existing utility pole adjacent to, or no more than the minimum distance from the width of highway necessary to comply with standard safety practices. Eligible projects shall not include the use of chemicals/herbicides for clearing state land; the removal of trees and vegetation shall be minimized and the area shall promptly be restored to pre-project conditions to the maximum extent practicable. b. "county highway" shall have the same meaning as defined in subdivision four of section three of the highway law. c. "forest preserve expansion fund" shall mean the fund established pursuant to section ninety-seven-e of the state finance law. d. "project sponsor" means a town, village, or county located in the counties of Clinton, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Oneida, Saratoga, Saint Lawrence, Sullivan, Ulster, Warren and Washington. e. "no viable alternative" means that no other option exists for the eligible project to address ongoing public health or safety concerns other than through the use of state lands. f. "state highway" means a state highway as defined in subdivisions one, two and three of section three of the highway law. g. "state lands" means lands owned by the state in forest preserve counties that are under the jurisdiction of the department. h. "town highway" means a town highway, as defined in subdivision five of section three of the highway law, in existence as of January first, two thousand fifteen, listed on the local highway inventory maintained by the department of transportation, and annually plowed and regularly maintained. i. "width of the highway" shall have the same meaning as paragraph k of subdivision one of section 9-2103 of this title.

3. A project sponsor with an eligible project may apply to the health and safety land account to receive fractional or whole acreage for an eligible project. Such application shall include: a. a resolution from the governing body of the project sponsor that includes:

1. (i) attestation that the project is necessary to address public health or safety and no viable alternatives exist;
2. (ii) attestation that such lands will only be used for eligible purposes and that any real property acquired shall not be sold, leased, exchanged, donated or otherwise disposed of or used for other than the eligible purposes for which it was approved without the express authority of an act of the legislature. b. a detailed summary of the proposed eligible project, including the whole action and all related activities, a detailed summary of the alternatives the project sponsor explored prior to arriving at the conclusion there were no viable alternatives; c. specific metes and bounds, including total proposed acreage; d. a narrative about the project, including a justification that the size of the fractional or whole acreage sought for such eligible project from the health and safety land account is the minimum amount required; e. monies at least equivalent to the fair market value of the state land proposed to be conveyed; f. any necessary permits and authorizations; and, g. an accurate survey.