Acquisition of lands, servitudes and rights-of-way

There is expressly conferred upon said authority, the right to acquire lands, servitudes and rights-of-way, for any of the purposes of this Chapter, by purchase, exchange, expropriation or otherwise. Should the authority acquire the ownership of any timber it may sell the same in the following manner: The authority shall offer the timber for sale at public auction after having first given public notice of such sale in the manner provided by law. If no satisfactory bid is received, the authority may sell the timber at private sale to any purchaser for any amount greater than the amount offered by the highest bidder at the public auction. The authority, its authorized agents and employees shall have the privilege of entering upon any lands, waters and premises in the state for the purpose of making surveys, soundings, drillings, examinations and appraisals, as it may deem necessary or convenient for the purposes of this Chapter and such entry shall not be deemed a trespass nor shall such entry for such purpose be deemed an entry under any expropriation proceedings which may be pending, provided that five days registered notice in the case of resident owners and fifteen days registered notice in the case of non-resident owners be given to the owner of record as reflected by the parish assessment rolls, which notice shall be mailed to the last known address of said owner, as shown on said assessment records. The authority shall make reimbursement for any actual damages resulting to such lands, water or premises, as a result of such activities.