[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 45 (Friday, March 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 10577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4976]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[AZ-040-7122-00-5514; AZA 28789]


Availabiltiy of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Morenci Land 
Exchange Final Environmental Impact Statement, Case Number AZA 28789, 
Safford Field Office, Greenlee County, AZ

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the 
Morenci Land Exchange Final Environmental Impact Statement, Case Number 
AZA 28789, Safford Field Office, Greenlee County, Arizona.

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SUMMARY: The Safford Field Office, United States Department of the 
Interior, Bureau of Land Management has prepared a Record of Decision 
for the Morenci Land Exchange Final Environmental Impact Statement. The 
Record of Decision was signed by the Arizona BLM State director on 
February 7, 1997, and approves a land exchange between the United 
States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Safford 
Field Office and Phelps Dodge Morenci, Inc.
    The approved exchange involves trading 3,604.79 acres of Bureau of 
Land Management administered public land located in Greenlee County, 
Arizona for 1,040.00 acres of private lands owned by Phelps Dodge 
Morenci, Inc., located in Graham, Greenlee, Cochise and Pima Counties. 
The public and private lands involved in this trade have been 
appraised, by methods approved by the Federal Government, and are 
substantially equal in dollar value. The appraised value of the offered 
lands and the selected lands are within 3 percent of each other.
    Approval of the land exchange will bring lands with important 
resource and public land management values into public ownership, and 
transfer BLM managed public lands to private ownership. Resource values 
of the private lands, transferred to Federal ownership, include an 
important riparian area as well as critical, occupied, and potential 
habitat for threatened and endangered species. The public lands, 
transferred to Phelps Dodge Morenci, Inc., ownership, are expected to 
be used for mining purposes that will enable Phelps Dodge to expand and 
continue operation of some features of the Morenci copper mine.
    This ROD was prepared to comply with the Council on Environmental 
Quality's regulations (40 CFR Part 1500-1508) for implementing the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 43 U.S.C. at 1701.

DATES: February 21, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Safford Field Office, 711 14th Avenue, Safford, Arizona 
85546.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Phelps Dodge Morenci, Inc., will acquire 
title to 26 parcels (3,604.79 acres) of public lands located in 
Greenlee County, adjacent to the existing Morenci mine. Fourteen of 
these parcels are less than 1 acre in size and are surrounded by 
private land. The remaining 11 parcels range in size from 5 acres to 
about 2,560 acres. The value of these lands has been appraised, using a 
federally-approved methodology, at $450,598.75.
    The Bureau of Land Management will acquire title to 4 parcels of 
private land (1,040.00 acres) located in Greenlee, Graham, Cochise, and 
Pima Counties. These properties consist of: the 280 acre Eagle Creek 
parcel located in Greenlee/Graham Counties; the 360 acre Stewart Trust 
property located in Cochise County; the 320 acre Peterson parcel 
located in Cochise County; and 80 acres of the 240 acre Clyne parcel 
located in Pima County. The value of these lands has been appraised, 
using a federal approved methodology, at $464,000.00.
    Since the appraised value of the selected (public) lands is 
$13,401.25 less than the appraised value of the offered (private) 
lands, the Bureau of Land Management must either pay Phelps Dodge 
Morenci, Inc., the difference or receive a waiver of payment. The 
Bureau of Land Management has requested a waiver, and Phelps Dodge 
Morenci, Inc., has agreed to waive the balancing payment of $13,401.25 
pursuant to 43 CFR 2201.6.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Evans, Project Manager, or Mike 
McQueen, Environmental Coordinator, at the Bureau of Land Management, 
Safford Field Office, 711 14th Avenue, Safford, Arizona 85546; 
telephone number (520) 428-4040. Internet address [email protected] or 
[email protected].

    Dated: February 21, 1997.
Frank L. Rowley,
Acting Field Office Manger.
[FR Doc. 97-4976 Filed 3-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-M