[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 119 (Tuesday, June 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33316-33317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15784]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[Docket No. OR-050-1430-00; GP9-0197]


Notice of Intent To Amend Land Use Plan and Notice Of Realty 
Action: Classification for Direct Sale Of Public Land in Oregon

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice to amend Resource Management Plan to permit direct sale 
to Deschutes County.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with 43 CFR 1610.2 and 1610.3 the Bureau of Land

[[Page 33317]]

Management (BLM) in the State of Oregon, Prineville District, intends 
to analyze an amendment to the Brothers/La Pine Resource Management 
Plan (RMP). The purpose of the amendment is to make available for 
direct sale the following public lands in Deschutes County, Oregon, 
under Section 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 
(90 Stat. 2760, 43 U.S.C. 1713), at not less than the estimated fair 
market value:

Williamette Meridian

T. 22 S., R. 10 E.,
    Tract 38.

    Containing 518.8 acres, more or less

    The RMP amendment would facilitate the completion of a land sale 
that is a key component in a program developed by Deschutes County to 
protect groundwater. The need by the county to acquire this parcel was 
identified during the Regional Problem Solving Project, which is a 
State or Oregon sponsored process to evaluate community problems 
stemming from unregulated development prior to the implementation of 
state land use planning laws. The Secretary of the Interior may make 
this parcel available for sale pursuant to Section 7 of the Oregon 
Public Lands Transfer and Protection Act of 1998.
    The patent, if issued, may contain certain reservations to the 
United States and will be subject to valid and existing rights. 
Acceptance of the direct sale offer will qualify the purchaser to make 
application for conveyance of mineral interests.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Brothers/La Pine RMP (1989) assigns all 
lands administered by the Prineville District to one of three Land 
Tenure Zones. Those lands in Zone 1 are identified for retention and 
may not be transferred out of Federal ownership. While those in Zone 2 
may be considered for exchange and those in Zone 3 may be considered 
for sale or exchange. The regulations at 43 CFR 2711.1-1(a) require 
that no parcel of public land may be offered for sale until it has been 
specifically identified in an approved land use plan (i.e. assigned to 
Land Tenure Zone 3). The parcel proposed for sale is Land Tenure Zone 
2, but would be assigned to Land Tenure Zone 3 by this amendment.
    The plan amendment and proposed sale will be analyzed in an 
environmental assessment. The sale is pending until the appropriate 
environmental analyses and public and interagency reviews are 
completed.
    The plan amendment is anticipated for completion in the summer of 
1999. A 45 day comment period will be provided to allow for additional 
public involvement. The comment period will be announced through the 
local media. The need for a public meeting will be evaluated based on 
the level of public input as a result of public notification 
procedures. Any public meeting will be announced at least 15 days in 
advance.

ADDRESSES: Detailed information concerning the plan amendment and the 
direct sale of public lands is available for review at the office of 
the Bureau of Land Management, Prineville District, 3050 NE Third, 
Prineville, 97754.
    Upon publication of this notice in the Federal Register, the lands 
will be segregated from all other forms of appropriation under the 
public land laws, including the general mining laws, pending 
disposition of this action. For a period of 45 days from the date of 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register, interested persons 
may submit comments regarding the classification or proposed sale of 
the lands to the District Manager, Prineville District Office, P.O. Box 
550, Prineville, Oregon 97754. In the absence of timely objections, 
this proposal shall become the final determination of the Department of 
the Interior.
    Interested parties may submit comments regarding the specific use 
proposed in the application and plan of development, whether the BLM 
followed proper administrative procedures in reaching the decision, or 
any other factors not directly related to the suitability of the land 
for a sale.
    Any adverse comments will be reviewed by the State Director. In the 
absence of any adverse comments, the classification will become 
effective 60 days from the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register.

    Dated: June 9, 1999.
Donald L. Smith,
Assistant District Manager.
[FR Doc. 99-15784 Filed 6-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-M