[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 176 (Friday, September 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48754-48755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24431]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[COC-59828; CO-935-98-1430-00]


Colorado: Initial Classification of Public Lands for State 
Indemnity Selection

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior

ACTION: Notice of initial classification of public lands for state 
indemnity classification.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management is issuing a notice of initial 
classification of certain public lands located in Fremont, Park, Routt 
Counties, Colorado, as suitable for state indemnity selection by the 
State of Colorado. The proposed classification decision was published 
in the Federal Register, and no comments were received. The lands are 
therefore being classified as proposed.

DATES: Comments should be received on or before October 13, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted to the Secretary of the 
Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management, AD 350, 1000 L Street, 
Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew J. Senti, BLM, Colorado State 
Office, 303-239-1713.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Title 43 Code of Federal 
Regulations, Subpart 2400 and Section 7 of the Act of June 28, 1934; 
and the provisions granted to the State of Colorado by the Act of March 
3, 1875 (18 Stat. 474), the public lands described below are hereby 
classified for State Indemnity Selection. The State of Colorado has 
filed application to acquire the described lands in lieu of certain 
school lands that were encumbered by other rights or reservations 
before the State's title could attach. This application was assigned 
serial number Colorado 59828.
    The notice of proposed classification of these lands was published 
in the Federal Register on February 12, 1997, Volume 62, Number 29, 
pages 6554, 6555, and was widely publicized. No comments were received. 
The lands are being classified as proposed.
    The lands included in this classification are in Fremont, Park, and 
Routt Counties, Colorado and are described as follows:

Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado

T. 17 S., R. 68 W.,
    Sec. 11, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\ and SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 15, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\ and NW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 21, NW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 22, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 27, SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 28, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 34, W\1/2\ and SE\1/4\;
T. 18 S., R. 68 W.,
    Sec. 3 lots 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, S\1/2\NW\1/4\ and NW\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 4, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 10, N\1/2\NW\1/4\;
T. 11 S., R. 75 W.,
    Sec. 5, lots 1, 2, 3, 4, S\1/2\NE\1/4\ and SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 6, lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, S\1/2\NE\1/4\ and SE\1/4\NW\1/4\;
T. 7 N., R. 88 W.,
    Sec. 5, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\
    Sec. 8, N\1/2\NE\1/4\ and SW\1/4\NE\1/4\.

    The areas described aggregate 2,237.06 acres.

    This classification decision is based on the disposal criteria set 
forth in Title 43 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 2400. Transfer of 
the lands to the State will help fulfill the federal government's 
common school land grant to the state, which constitutes a public 
purpose use of the land. Lands found to be valuable for a public 
purpose use will be considered chiefly valuable for public purposes (43 
CFR 2430.2b).
    Certain of the lands in sections 27, 28 and 34, T. 17 S., R. 68 W., 
and sections 3 and 10, T. 18 S., R. 68 W., and the land in T. 7 N., R. 
78 W., are in grazing use authorizations. If these lands are 
clearlisted, this grazing use will be terminated at the time title to 
the land is transferred to the State.
    Threatened and endangered species and cultural resources 
evaluations have been performed and approved for the lands in this 
classification. Neither threatened and endangered species nor cultural 
resources were found on the

[[Page 48755]]

lands. A study made of each area indicates little potential for mineral 
exploration. There are no active mining claims recorded with the Bureau 
of Land Management for these lands, nor was any evidence of mining 
activity found on the land. An issued oil and gas lease on the lands in 
T. 11 S., R. 75 W., will remain in effect. A right-of-way on sections 3 
and 10, T. 18 S., R. 68 W., will transfer with the land to the State.
    If and when the selection is approved and certified to the State, 
the clearlist will contain the following reservations to the United 
States:
    1. A right-of-way thereon for ditches and canals constructed by the 
authority of the United States, Act of August 30, 1890, 26 Stat. 391 
(codified at 43 U.S.C. 945).
    2. All the oil and gas in the described lands in T. 11 S., R. 75 
W., and T. 7 N., R. 88 W. so clearlisted; and to it, or persons 
authorized by it, the right to prospect for, mine, and remove such 
deposits from the same upon compliance with the conditions and subject 
to the provisions and limitations of the Act of July 17, 1914, 38 Stat. 
509, as supplemented (codified at 30 U.S.C. 121-124).
    The clearlist will also be subject to those rights for reservoir 
and ditch purposes as have been granted to Beaver Water and Irrigation 
Company, its successors or assigns, by right-of-way Pueblo 07902 under 
the Act of March 3, 1891, as amended (formerly 43 U.S.C. 946-949).
    The public lands classified by this notice are shown on maps on 
file and available for inspection in the Colorado State Office of the 
Bureau of Land Management.
    For a period of 30 days from the date of publication in the Federal 
Register, this classification shall be subject to exercise of 
administrative review and modification by the Secretary of the Interior 
as provided for in 43 CFR 2461.3 and 2462.3. Interested parties may 
submit comments to the Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of 
Land Management, Assistant Director, Minerals Realty & Resource 
Protection, AD-350, 1000 L Street, Washington, D.C. 20240.

    Dated: August 28, 1998.
Jenny L. Saunders,
Realty Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-24431 Filed 9-10-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P