This bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to convey approximately 3,400 acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land to La Paz County, Arizona. The land is identified on a map dated June 29, 2023. The conveyance can occur notwithstanding the planning requirements in sections 202 and 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA).
The conveyance must be subject to valid existing rights and any terms the Secretary finds necessary. The Secretary must exclude any Federal land that contains significant cultural, environmental, wildlife, or recreational resources. The land will be withdrawn from the operation of the mining and mineral leasing laws.
The county must pay fair market value for the land based on an appraisal that follows Federal appraisal standards. The county must also pay all costs related to the conveyance, such as surveys, appraisals, and administrative costs. Proceeds from the sale will be deposited in the Federal Land Disposal Account and used under the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act.
As a condition of the conveyance, the county and any later owner must try to avoid disturbing Tribal artifacts, minimize impacts if artifacts are disturbed, coordinate with the Colorado River Indian Tribes Tribal Historic Preservation Office, and allow Tribal representatives to rebury unearthed artifacts at or near where they were found. The official map will be on file for public inspection, and the Secretary and the county may mutually agree to minor boundary adjustments or corrections.
The bill lets La Paz County acquire about 3,400 acres of BLM land if the county requests it and pays required costs. The title names solar energy and job creation, but the statutory text focuses on transferring land and setting conditions for that transfer. If you live or work near the land, the county could become the landowner and would be responsible for protecting tribal artifacts and paying for conveyance-related costs.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.