[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 230 (Friday, November 29, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71641-71642]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28617]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[12X.LLAZG01000.L71220000.EU0000.LVTFA1258570 241A; AZA-35682]


Notice of Realty Action: Direct Sale of Public Land in Graham 
County, AZ

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of realty action.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Safford Field Office 
(SFO), is considering a noncompetitive direct sale of approximately 15 
acres of public land in Graham County, Arizona, to Gilligan and Blanca 
Bowman (proponents) for not less than the appraised fair market value 
(FMV).

DATES: In order to ensure consideration in the environmental analysis 
of the proposed sale, the BLM must receive comments by January 13, 
2014.

ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning the proposed direct sale should 
be sent to Scott Cooke, Field Manager, BLM Safford Field Office, 711 
14th Avenue, Safford, AZ 85546.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Peru, Realty Specialist, at the 
above address, or phone 928-348-4439. Persons who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above 
individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours 
a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above 
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following described parcel of public 
land in Graham County, Arizona, is being considered for direct sale 
under Sections 203 and 209 of the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended (43 U.S.C. 1713 and 1719) and the 
regulations at 43 CFR subparts 2710 and 2720:

Gila and Salt River Meridian, Arizona

     Township 7 South, Range 27 East, sec. 8, S1/2SW1/4NE1/4SW1/4 
and SE1/4NE1/4SW1/4,
    The area described contains approximately 15 acres.

    Consistent with Section 203 of FLPMA, a tract of public land may be 
sold where, as a result of land use planning, sale of the tract meets 
the disposal criteria of that section.
    The public lands described above were identified as suitable for 
disposal by the BLM Safford District Resource Management Plan in August 
1991. The parcel is not needed for any other Federal purpose and has 
become difficult and uneconomical to manage due to public lands in 
Sections 7 and 8 being encumbered on three sides by private land.
    The regulations found at 43 CFR 2710.0-3(a) and 43 CFR 2711.3-
3(a)(5) permit the BLM to make direct sales of public lands when a 
competitive sale is not appropriate and the public interest would be 
best served by a direct sale. The regulations at 43 CFR 2711.3-3(a)(5) 
permit direct sales to occur to resolve inadvertent unauthorized use or 
occupancy of the lands.
    With respect to the lands above, there is an inadvertent 
unauthorized occupancy on the land that consists of an access road and 
buildings associated with a residence.
    The unauthorized developments have been in place for approximately 
10 years. The proponents of the direct sale wish to purchase the parcel 
to resolve this inadvertent unauthorized occupancy, and the BLM has 
concluded that the public interest would be best served by a direct 
sale of those lands. No significant biological and cultural resource 
values have been identified on the lands in questions. As a result, 
there are no impacts to resource values that are expected from this 
action. The BLM prepared a mineral potential report, dated June 22, 
2012, and the lands identified for sale have no known mineral value. 
The BLM proposes that the conveyance of the Federal mineral interest 
occur simultaneously with the sale. The proponents will be required to 
pay a $50 non-refundable filing fee in conjunction with the final 
payment for processing of the conveyance of the mineral interests. The 
project is not expected to affect the San Carlos Indian Reservation 
located about 12 miles away. In addition to this Notice of Realty 
Action (NORA), notice of this sale will also be published once a week 
for 3 weeks in the Eastern Arizona Courier.
    Pursuant to the requirements of 43 CFR 2711.1-2(d), upon 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register, the lands 
identified above will be segregated from all appropriation under the 
public land laws, including the mining laws. Upon publication of this 
NORA, and until completion of the sale, the BLM will no longer accept 
land use applications affecting the identified public land, except 
applications for the amendment of previously filed right-of-way 
applications or existing authorizations to increase the term of the 
grants in accordance with 43 CFR 2807.15 and 43 CFR 2886.15. This 
segregation will terminate upon issuance of a patent, publication in 
the

[[Page 71642]]

Federal Register of a termination of the segregation, or November 30, 
2015, whichever comes first unless extended by the BLM Arizona State 
Director in accordance with 43 CFR 2711.1-2(d) prior to the termination 
date. The following terms and conditions would appear as reservations 
to the United States on the conveyance document for this parcel:
    1. A right-of-way thereon for ditches or canals constructed by the 
authority of the United States, Act of August 30, 1890 (43 U.S.C. 945);
    2. Right-of-way AZAR-02060 is reserved for a water pipeline granted 
to the City of Safford, its successors or assigns, pursuant to the Act 
of February 15, 1901 (43 U.S.C. 959);
    3. Right-of-way AZA-9015 is reserved for a transmission line 
granted to Southwest Transmission Cooperative, its successors or 
assigns, pursuant to the Act of October 21, 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1761); and
    4. Additional terms and conditions that the authorized officer 
deems appropriate.
    A map delineating the proposed direct sale parcel and Mineral 
Potential Report are available for public review at the BLM SFO, which 
is located at the address above. Upon receipt of an approved appraisal, 
publication of a subsequent NORA will include the FMV for the sale 
parcel and will be available for review 60 days prior to the sale date. 
An environmental assessment (EA) is being prepared for the proposed 
direct sale. When completed, the EA will be available for review at the 
address above.
    Public comments concerning the proposed direct sale may be 
submitted in writing to the attention of the BLM Safford Field Manager 
at the address above. Comments, including names and street addresses of 
respondents, will be available for public review at the BLM SFO during 
regular business hours. Before including your address, phone number, 
email address, or other personal identifying information in your 
comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your 
personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any 
time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold from public 
review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that 
we will be able to do so.
    Any comments regarding the proposed direct sale will be reviewed by 
the BLM Safford Field Manager or other authorized official of the 
Department of the Interior, who may sustain, vacate, or modify this 
realty action in whole or in part. In the absence of timely filed 
objections, this realty action will become the final determination of 
the Department of the Interior not less than 60 days from November 29, 
2013.

    Authority:  43 CFR 2711.1-2, 43 CFR 2720.1-1(b)

Scott C. Cooke,
BLM Safford Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 2013-28617 Filed 11-27-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-P