[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 45 (Friday, March 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10577-10578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5523]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[AZ-040-7122-00-5514; AZA 28789]


Notice of Decision of Exchange of Lands in Greenlee, Graham, 
Cochise and Pima Counties, AZ

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that on February 7, 1997 Denise 
Meridith, Arizona State Director, Bureau of Land Management, approved 
the proposed land exchange between the Safford Field Office and Phelps 
Dodge Morenci, Inc. The Record of Decision describes the selected 
alternative and other alternatives considered.
    The Record of Decision is available for public review at the 
Safford Field Office, 711 14th Avenue, Safford, Arizona 85546. Copies 
can also be obtained by calling Scott Evans, Project Manager, or Mike 
McQueen, Environmental Coordinator, at (520) 428-4040.

[[Page 10578]]

    The following described public land has been determined to be 
suitable for disposal by exchange pursuant to Section 206 of the 
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716), as 
amended:

Gila and Salt River Meridian, Arizona

T. 4 S., 28 E.,
    Sec. 12, lot 15.
T. 3 S., R., 29 E.,
    Sec. 15, all;
    Sec. 21, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 22, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\;
    Sec. 23, S\1/2\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 26, lots 1, 2, 3 and 5, W\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, 
NW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 27, lots 1 to 5, inclusive, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, 
NW\1/4\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 27, lots 1 to 6, inclusive, lots 10 and 11, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, 
SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 31, lots 1, 4, 5, and 8, W\1/2\E\1/2\;
    Sec. 32, lots 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26;
    Sec. 35, lots 9 to 12, inclusive, lots 17 and 18.
T. 4 S., R. 29 E.,
    Sec. 1, lots 7 and 8;
    Sec. 5, lots 11 and 14;
    Sec. 6, lots 2, 11, 21, 24 and 25;
    Sec. 7, lots 19, 20, 22, 23, 25 and 26;
    Sec. 8, lots 13, 14, 16 and 17;
    Sec. 11, lots 8 and 9;
    Sec. 12, lots 16 to 19, inclusive;
    Sec. 17, lot 15;
    Sec. 18, lots 22, 25 and 26;
    Sec. 20, lots 3, 9, and 14 to 19, inclusive, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\.
T. 5 S., R. 29 E.,
    Sec. 12, lots 19, 21, 22, 23 and 24.

    The areas described aggregate 3,604.79 acres.

    In exchange the United States will acquired the following described 
land from Phelps Dodge Morenci, Inc.

Gila and Salt River Meridian, Arizona

T. 19 S., R. 18 E.,
    Sec. 9, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 10, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\.
T. 14 S., R. 28 E.,
    Sec. 3, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 7, E\1/2\E\1/2\, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, W\1/2\,SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 8, S\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 10, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\.
T. 5 S., R. 29 E.,
    Sec. 30, SW\1/4\, W\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 31, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\.

    The areas described aggregate 1,040 acres.

    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., 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. The public 
interest will be well-served by consummating the exchange. Interested 
parties may submit comments concerning the Decision for the exchange to 
the Field Manager, Safford Field Office, 711 14th Avenue, Safford, 
Arizona 85546. Comments must be in writing to the field Office Manager, 
and be postmarked within 45 days from the publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register.

    Dated: February 27, 1997.
Frank L. Rowley,
Field Office Manager.
[FR Doc. 97-5523 Filed 3-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-M