Carlsbad, NM-The Bureau of Land Management is eyeing a possible land exchange and/or sale with Intrepid Potash Inc., according to a recent Federal Register notice appearing in FR Today. BLM’s Carlsbad field office intends to prepare a resource management plan amendment and associated environmental assessment to analyze the possible disposal, by either exchange and/or sale, of up to 3,566.88 acres of BLM-administered public land in Eddy and Lea Counties in southeastern New Mexico. The public lands proposed for disposal contain mine tailings and other industrial waste. The private lands offered for exchange include 1,837 acres, consisting of riparian habitat and native rangeland. Recent appraisals have necessitated acreage adjustments to reach equal land values, and as a result, Intrepid had to eliminate lands they would still like to acquire. Without any more lands to offer the BLM for exchange, Intrepid has proposed to purchase some BLM lands to continue mining operations and hazardous material mitigation. The current amendment under consideration is to consider land disposal by either exchange or sale. An Intrepid spokesman said the land exchange is almost totally unrelated to potash mining or reserves; basically, some land the BLM wants and the resolution of some old issues. Written comments about the proposal may be mailed to Field Manager, BLM, Carlsbad Field Office, 620 East Greene, Carlsbad, NM 88220 or faxed to 505-885-9264. For more information about FR Today, see http://www.pf.com/frTodayFertPD.asp.
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