Notice of Land Exchange Proposal and Notice of Intent To Prepare BLM RMP Amendment; California

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA-930-1430-01; CACA 37718]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

[CACA 37717]

Notice of Land Exchange Proposal and Notice of Intent To Prepare

BLM RMP Amendment; California

AGENCIES: Bureau of Land Management, Interior, and Forest Service,

Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 23791]]

SUMMARY: This document contains information regarding a proposed land

exchange between the United States, the State of California, MAXXAM,

Inc. and Pacific Lumber Company, under which the governments would

acquire two of the most ecologically significant tracts of privately

owned old growth redwood trees. The tracts are commonly known as the

Headwaters Forest and Elk Head Springs. It also contains a notice of

intent to prepare an amendment to BLM's Caliente Resource Area's

Resource Management Plan.

DATES: Comments regarding either the proposed land exchange or the plan

amendment must be submitted on or before June 16, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments

concerning the proposed exchange, including advising as to any liens,

encumbrances, or other claims relating to the lands being considered

for exchange; and the proposed plan amendment. Comments must be

submitted in writing and must be sent to the following addresses: For

the Forest Service portions of the proposed land exchange, Forest

Service (ATTN: Headwaters), 630 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA

94111, and for the Bureau of Land Management portions of the proposed

land exchange and the proposed plan amendment, Bureau of Land

Management (ATTN: Headwaters), 2135 Butano Drive, Sacramento, CA 95825-

0451.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: More detailed information for the

Forest Service portions may be obtained from the Forest Service at the

above address or telephone 415-705-2772; or for the Bureau of Land

Management portions, from the Bureau of Land Management (ATTN:

Headwaters), 2135 Butano Drive, Sacramento CA 95825-0451; telephone

916-979-2800.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 28, 1996, the United States,

the State of California, MAXXAM, Inc. and Pacific Lumber Company signed

an agreement to complete a land exchange under which the governments

would acquire two of the most ecologically significant tracts of

privately owned old growth redwood trees. The tracts are commonly known

as the Headwaters Forest and Elk Head Springs. The agreement also

contemplated that the governments would acquire the timberlands to the

north of the Headwaters Forest from another landowner, the Elk River

Timber Company. It is intended that part of the Elk River property

would remain in government ownership as a northern buffer to the

Headwaters tract, and part would be transferred to Pacific Lumber in

partial compensation for its property.

Additionally, in exchange the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) would

convey to the Pacific Lumber Company Federal lands or interests in

lands for private lands of equal value. Federal assets to be exchanged

by BLM will include producing oil and gas interests in the public

lands. The exchange will also involve the State of California inasmuch

as they are part of the overall agreement and will be involved in the

transfer of state owned assets for a portion of the value of the

Headwaters Forest. As envisioned in the agreement the exchange will

require several federal actions:

(1) An exchange of Forest Service (FS) administered federal lands

for lands owned by Elk River Timber Company near the Headwaters Forest;

(2) From lands acquired from the Elk River Timber Company, the

United States will retain a habitat corridor along the South Fork of

Elk River and a buffer of timbered properties around the Headwaters

Forest;

(3) The remaining acquired Elk River Timber Company lands will be

exchanged to Pacific Lumber Company for an equal value of land in the

Headwaters Forest area;

(4) Producing federal oil and gas assets will be exchanged to

Pacific Lumber Company for an equal value of the Headwaters Forest and

Elk Head Springs property. The value of the oil and gas assets will be

determined by appraisal and competitive auction. The auction will be

conducted by the General Services Administration and a marketing plan

will be developed and advertised by them.

(5) BLM will amend the Caliente Resource Area's Resource Management

Plan (RMP), modifying the land tenure decisions of the approved RMP to

the extent necessary to ensure conformity of the proposed land exchange

with the RMP. An amendment is being proposed in order to allow for

appropriate public involvement.

Forest Service Exchange

Notice is hereby given that FS, United States Department of

Agriculture (USDA), is considering an exchange of land with Elk River

Timber Company under the authority of the General Exchange Act of March

20, 1922; the Weeks Law of March 1, 1911; the Act of August 3, 1956;

and the Act of October 21, 1976, as amended.

(1) The following described federal lands are being considered for

disposal by exchange by FS, USDA:

Mount Diablo Meridian

T. 22 N., R. 4 E.,

Sec. 12, lots 1-5, 8, 9, 11-14, and 16.

T. 23 N., R. 4 E.,

Sec. 2, lots 3 and 4, S\1/2\NW\1/4\ and SW\1/4\;

Sec. 26, S\1/2\S\1/2\;

Sec. 36, all.

T. 23 N., R. 11 E.,

Sec. 1, all.

T. 24 N., R. 11. E.,

Sec. 36, W\1/2\.

T. 19 N., R. 8 E.,

Sec. 21, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, and part

of the SE\1/4\.

T. 16 N., R. 10 E.,

Sec. 14, lot 4, NW\1/4\, W\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SW\1/4\.

T. 19 N., R. 11 E.,

Sec. 15, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\.

T. 20 N., R. 12 E.,

Sec. 25, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\NW\1/4\ and NW\1/4\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\.

T. 15 N., R. 12 E.,

Sec. 20, N\1/2\.

T. 4 N., R. 15 E.,

Sec. 11, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\.

T. 4 N., R. 16 E.,

Sec. 1, lots 3 and 4, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, and NE\1/

4\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 2, lots 1 and 2;

Sec. 4, lot 4;

Sec. 10, NE\1/4\NW\1/4\;

Sec. 12, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\, and E\1/2\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 13, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, W\1/2\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\NW\1/4\, SW\1/

4\NW\1/4\, and W\1/2\SW\1/4\;

Sec. 15, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\;

Sec. 17, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\.

T. 4 N., R. 17 E.,

Sec. 4, lot 1, S\1/2\NE\1/4\ and SE\1/4\;

Sec. 5, lots 1-4, S\1/2\N\1/2\, and N\1/2\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 6, lot 1, 2, 6, and 7, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, and N\1/2\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 7, lot 1;

Sec. 8, S\1/2\NE\1/4\;

Sec. 9, NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, and S\1/2\;

Sec. 18, SE\1/4\.

T. 5 N., R. 17 E.,

Sec. 17, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\, and

E\1/2\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 18, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 19, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\ and NE\1/4\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 20, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\N\1/2\, and S\1/2\;

Sec. 21, all;

Sec. 28, all;

Sec. 29, all;

Sec. 30, all;

Sec. 31, all;

Sec. 32, all;

Sec. 33, all.

T. 5 N., R. 16 E.,

Sec. 4, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\.

T. 12 N., R. 12 E.,

Sec. 6, lots 1-3, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;

Sec. 13, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\, and E\1/2\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 18, lots 1-3;

Sec. 23, E\1/2\NE\1/4\;

Sec. 24, N\1/2\N\1/2\, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, and W\1/

2\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 28, S\1/2\NW\1/4\ and SW\1/4\;

Sec. 29, E\1/2\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 30, Lots 1-4, E\1/2\W\1/2\, and W\1/2\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 32, NE\1/4\, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\, and SW\1/

4\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 33, NW\1/4\ and NW\1/4\SW\1/4\;

[[Page 23792]]

Sec. 34, S\1/2\;

Sec. 35, E\1/2\NE\1/4\ and S\1/2\;

Sec. 36, SW\1/4\, W\1/2\SE\1/4\, and E\1/2\SE\1/4\.

T. 12 N., R. 13 E.,

Sec. 2, W\1/2\ lot 1, W\1/2\ lot 7, E\1/2\ lot 8, and N\1/

2\SW\1/4\;

Sec. 8, S\1/2\N\1/2\ and NW\1/4\NW\1/4\;

Sec. 18, Lot 2:

Sec. 28, NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, and S\1/2\S\1/2\;

Sec. 29, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 31, lots 3 and 4, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\.

Sec. 32, E\1/2\ and SW\1/4\;

Sec. 33, all;

Sec. 34, all;

Sec. 35, all.

T. 12 N., R. 14 E.,

Sec. 6, lots 1 and 2, and S\1/2\NE\1/4\.

T. 13 N., R. 14 E.,

Sec. 31, S\1/2\NE\1/4\ and SE\1/4\.

Subject to valid existing rights, the federal lands identified

above have been segregated from appropriation under the public land

laws and mineral laws for a period of 5 years beginning February 10,

1997.

In exchange, FS, USDA, would acquire the following described lands

from Elk River Timber Company.

Humboldt Meridian

T. 3 N., R. 1 E.,

Sec. 3, SW\1/4\, NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 4, a portion;

Sec. 5, all;

Sec. 6, N\1/2\;

Sec. 8, N\1/2\, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SE\1/

4\;

Sec. 9, all;

Sec. 10, N\1/2\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\,

and SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 11, W\1/2\W\1/2\;

Sec. 15, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\.

T. 3 N., R. 1 W.,

Sec. 1, a portion;

Sec. 2, E\1/2\ and NW\1/4\;

Sec. 3, fractional NW\1/4\.

T. 4 N., R. 1 W.,

Sec. 25, a portion;

Sec. 26, a portion;

Sec. 27, a portion;

Sec. 34, all;

Sec. 35, a portion of the E\1/2\, and W\1/2\;

Sec. 36, all.

T. 4 N., R. 1 E.,

Sec. 31, all;

Sec. 32, all;

Sec. 33, S\1/2\NW\1/4\ and SW\1/4\.

(2) The United States will retain a wildlife habitat corridor along

the South Fork Elk River and the Little South Fork drainage from

Section 35, T. 4 N., R. 1 W., MDM, south easterly toward SW corner of

Section 11, T. 3 N., R. 1 E., MDM, and a buffer of timbered properties

around the Headwaters Forest parcel. The exact land description of

these lands will be developed as a result of further study.

(3) The remaining lands, that are not retained, will be exchanged

immediately to MAXXAM, Inc. for an equal value of MAXXAM, Inc.

controlled lands known as the Headwaters Forest parcel and described

below.

Humboldt Meridian

T. 3 N., R. 1 E.,

Sec. 8, W\1/2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 14, all;

Sec. 15, SW\1/4\;

Sec. 16, all;

Sec. 17, all;

Sec. 18, SE\1/4\;

Sec. 19, NE\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 20, all;

Sec. 21, all;

Sec. 22, all;

Sec. 23, all;

Sec. 24, W\1/2\;

Sec. 26, NW\1/4\;

Sec. 27, N\1/2\, N\1/2\S\1/2\; S\1/2\SW\1/4\;

Sec. 28, E\1/2\, N\1/2\NW\1/4\;

Sec. 29, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\.

BLM Exchange

In order to acquire the balance of the Headwaters Forest, BLM will

exchange the federal oil and gas mineral estate located under the

following legal descriptions, but the surface estate will remain with

the United States. The conveyance documents will be issued subject to

the existing oil and gas leases issued under the authority of the

Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended. Additional reservations will

be made to the United States for all other minerals and non-producing

oil and gas zones within the leases. In exchange for the value of the

above described lands and proposed exchanges, BLM will acquire those

certain properties by exchange, generally described locally as the

Headwaters Forest and the Elk Head Springs parcels, and described

specially under paragraph number 3 above.

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Lease Town Range Sec. Acres

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Mount Diablo Meridian

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CAS-019382............................ T. 31 S. R. 22 E. Sec. 22, 23, 25................. 850

T. 32 S. R. 23 E. Sec. 9.......................... .........

Sec. 10......................... .........

CAS-019392............................ T. 31 S. R. 22 E. Sec. 27......................... 160

CAS-019381A........................... T. 31 S. R. 22 E. Sec. 27......................... 280

CAS-021592............................ T. 31 S. R. 22 E. Sec. 21......................... 210

Sec. 29......................... .........

CAS-019357............................ T. 32 S. R. 23 E. Sec. 35......................... 230

CAS-023382B........................... T. 20 S. R. 16 E. Sec. 8.......................... .........

Sec. 18......................... .........

Sec. 28......................... .........

Sec. 30......................... .........

Sec. 34......................... 1047

CAS-021130............................ T. 32 S. R. 23 E. Sec. 35......................... 115

CACA-028423........................... T. 26 S. R. 21 E. Sec. 18......................... 318

CAS-019389A........................... T. 31 S. R. 22 E. Sec. 23......................... 30

CAS-021593............................ T. 31 S. R. 22 E. Sec. 21......................... 30

CAS-023382A........................... T. 20 S. R. 16 E. Sec.18.......................... 501

CAS-019349............................ T. 31 S. R. 22 E. Sec. 35......................... 160

CAS-019266A........................... T. 20 S. R. 16 E. Sec. 6.......................... 168

CAS-019266B........................... T. 20 S. R. 16 E. Sec. 6.......................... 360

CAS-019376............................ T. 26 S. R. 21 E. Sec. 30......................... .........

Sec. 32......................... 801

CAS-020995............................ T. 30 S. R. 22 E. Sec. 6.......................... 67

CAS-019636............................ T. 31 S. R. 22 E. Sec. 2.......................... 200

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San Bernardino Meridian

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CALA-076208........................... T. 11 N. R. 23 W. Sec. 24......................... 640

[[Page 23793]]

CALA-0149681.......................... T. 5 N. R. 9 W. Sec. 16......................... 880

Sec. 21......................... .........

Sec. 28......................... .........

Sec. 33......................... .........

Sec. 34......................... .........

CALA-033569........................... T. 11 N. R. 20 W. Sec. 28......................... 160

CALA-033068........................... T. 11 N. R. 23 W. Sec. 18......................... 200

T. 12 N. R. 23 W. Sec. 32......................... .........

CALA-0055052.......................... T. 3 N. R. 20 W. Sec. 19......................... 160

CACA-4969............................. T. 3 N. R. 16 W. Sec. 1.......................... 33

CACA-12855A........................... T. 11 N. R. 23 W. Sec. 10......................... 40

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Subject to valid existing rights, the federal lands identified

above have been segregated from appropriation under the public land

laws and mineral laws for a period of 5 years beginning March 24, 1997.

Caliente RMP Amendment

In the plan amendment, the federal oil and gas estate within the

Caliente Resource Area will be identified for conveyance by means of

exchange and the exchange value determined by appraisal and subsequent

auction. The environmental effects of the proposed exchange, as well as

the amendment to the Caliente RMP, will be addressed within the joint

Headwaters EIS/EIR. This additional scoping opportunity is presented

for the public to address the proposed amendment to the Caliente RMP.

Any additional scoping comments relating to the plan amendment must be

submitted on or before June 16, 1997 to BLM's office in Sacramento at

the address listed above.

A Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS/EIR for the Headwaters

exchange was published in the Federal Register on December 27, 1996 at

page 68285 (61 FR 68285) by U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A series

of six public meetings to solicit public comments were held in January

of 1997. The subsequent public scoping period was completed on February

18, 1997.

Dated: April 21, 1997.

David McIlnay,

Chief, Branch of Lands (CA-931), Bureau of Land Management.

Dated: April 21, 1997.

G. Lynn Sprague,

Regional Forester, Pacific Southwest Region (R-5), Forest Service.

[FR Doc. 97-11327 Filed 4-30-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-40-P