Sponsors (2)
The bill transfers specified federal land quickly to La Paz County—protecting tribal artifacts and returning sale proceeds to a federal land-disposal account—while reducing some federal planning and oversight and shifting certain conservation risks and conveyance costs to local stakeholders.
La Paz County and nearby rural communities gain prompt ownership and local control of the specified federal land after requesting conveyance, enabling local planning, development, or land-use decisions.
Colorado River Indian Tribes and tribal communities are protected because the county and future owners must avoid disturbing cultural artifacts, coordinate with the Tribes' THPO, and allow reburial near discovery sites.
Conservation priorities and public‑lands programs benefit because proceeds from the sale are deposited into the Federal Land Disposal Account to fund land transactions and related conservation under the FLTFA.
Rural communities and the public lose opportunities for formal federal land planning and environmental review because the conveyance proceeds notwithstanding FLPMA planning requirements (sections 202–203), limiting broader public input and landscape-level planning.
Conservation organizations and nearby communities face greater risk of fragmented protections because excluding parcels with significant cultural, environmental, wildlife, or recreational resources could complicate landscape‑scale conservation.
Utilities, energy companies and local stakeholders may see reduced federal oversight of resource extraction because the conveyed land is withdrawn from mining and mineral leasing laws, changing regulatory options and protections.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Introduced March 10, 2025 by Ruben Gallego · Last progress March 10, 2025
Transfers about 3,400 acres of specified federal land in La Paz County, Arizona, from the Bureau of Land Management to La Paz County at fair market value and subject to conditions. The conveyance excludes lands with significant cultural, environmental, wildlife, or recreational resources, withdraws the land from mining and mineral leasing laws, requires the county to pay appraisal/survey/administrative costs, and imposes protections and coordination requirements for Tribal cultural artifacts. Proceeds from the sale are deposited into the Federal Land Disposal Account and used under the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act; a map of the conveyed land must be kept on file and minor boundary corrections can be mutually agreed by the Secretary and the county.