Federal land sale in Teton County open for 30-day protest period

— June 10, 2013

(Press release) — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Pinedale Field Office is opening a 30 day protest period on the proposed amendment to the Snake River Resource Management Plan (RMP) to allow the sale of three parcels of public land in Teton County, Wyoming.

The proposed RMP amendment identifies and allows for the disposal of 2.01 acres of public land comprised of three parcels. To resolve unintentional unauthorized uses, 0.82 and 0.13 acres are proposed for direct sale at the appraised fair market value to Sewell Partners and Evans Land & Cattle Company. The two parcels are the minimum size possible to ensure that all improvements are included, but also ensure that the parcels cannot be resold or used as building sites unto themselves. The third parcel of 1.06 acres is proposed for direct sale at the fair market value to TSR Limited because its inaccessible location makes it difficult and uneconomical for the BLM or any other agency to manage.

Regulations under Section 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, require parcels proposed for disposal to be identified in the associated RMP. The Snake River RMP did not identify these parcels by legal description; thus, an RMP amendment is necessary. The RMP acknowledges that a direct sale of lands encumbered by structures is the most appropriate method the BLM has determined to resolve trespasses (43 CFR 2711.3-3 (a)(5)) and also allows for the disposal of lands difficult and uneconomic to manage (Sec. 203. [43 USC 1713]).

The Snake River RMP and the environmental assessment (EA) for the amendment are available online at www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/programs/Planning/rmps/SnakeRiver.html. The EA includes the proposed action and a no action alternative; its decision record will be signed after the protest period ends.

Instructions for filing a protest with the Director of the BLM regarding the proposed RMP amendment and associated environmental assessment may be found in the “Dear Reader” letter of the Snake River Final Environmental Impact Statement located at www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/programs/Planning/rmps/SnakeRiver/feis.html and at 43 CFR 1610.5-2.

Emailed and faxed protests will not be accepted as valid protests unless the protesting party also provides the original letter by either regular or overnight mail postmarked by the close of the protest period. Under these conditions, the BLM will consider the email or fax as an advance copy and it will receive full consideration. If you wish to provide the BLM with such advance notification, please direct faxed protests to the attention of the BLM protest coordinator at 202-245-0028, and emails to Brenda_Hudgens-Williams@blm.gov. All protests, including the follow-up letter to emails or faxes, must be in writing and mailed to the appropriate address below by July 12.

Regular Mail: 

BLM Director (210)                         
Attention:  Brenda Williams
P.O. Box 71383                         
Washington, D.C.  20024-1383

Overnight Mail:

BLM Director (210)
Attention:  Brenda Williams
20 M Street SE, Room 2134LM
Washington, D.C.  20003