Proposed Exchange of Lands Within North Cascades National Park Service Complex, Chelan County, Washington

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Proposed Exchange of Lands Within North Cascades National Park

Service Complex, Chelan County, Washington

ACTION: Notice of realty action on proposed land exchange.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) is considering a land exchange

pursuant to the Act of July 15, 1968 (16 U.S.C. 460l-22(b)) and the Act

of October 2, 1968 (16 U.S.C. 90) as amended, which established North

Cascades National Park (NP) and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area

(NRA). Acquired Federal lands situated within the boundary of Lake

Chelan NRA would be conveyed to Mr. Clifford Courtney, a private party.

In exchange, the United States (U.S.) would acquire lands owned by Mr.

Courtney within the boundaries of North Cascades NP. This exchange is

being considered to consolidate future private development to a

suitable location but subject to land

[[Page 45515]]

use conditions in deed covenants and restrictions to assure

compatibility with the scenic and natural resource values of the NRA.

The lands to be acquired by the U.S. in this exchange will be afforded

NPS natural and cultural resource protection within the Stephen Mather

Wilderness. Resource, interpretive, scenic and administrative benefits

will be realized by the North Cascades National Park Service Complex,

which includes North Cascades NP and Lake Chelan NRA, as a result of

the exchange.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 1995 Lake Chelan NRA General Management

Plan (GMP) and accompanying Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

identified the selected Federal lands as being suitable for exchange

purposes. The proposed action is in compliance with the GMP and EIS,

along with the Record of Decision, and the subsequent Land Protection

Plan for the area. Subsequently, NPS prepared an Environmental

Assessment to evaluate potential environmental consequences

specifically associated with this proposed exchange, resulting in a

Finding of No Significant Impact.

The surface interests, including sand, rock and gravel, of the

following described Federal lands are being considered for exchange by

the United States:

All that certain parcel of land situated in Section 7, Township

33 North, Range 17 East, Willamette Meridian, Chelan County,

Washington, being further located within the boundary of that

certain Homestead Entry Survey Number 150, tract ``B,'' said parcel

being more particularly described as follows:

Commencing at the Southwest corner of said Homestead Entry

Survey No. 150, tract ``B,'' said point being identified also as

H.E.S. corner no. 16; thence

South 89 deg.15'00'' East, a distance of 1154.34 feet to a

point, said point being identified as H.E.S. corner no. 17; thence

South 50 deg.00'00'' East, a distance of 623.04 feet to a point

on the North Right-of-Way line of the Stehekin Valley Road, said

point being identified as H.E.S. corner no. 18; thence

South 80 deg.15'00'' East, a distance of 267.34 feet to a point,

said point being the POINT OF BEGINNING of the parcel herein

described; thence

North 24 deg.30'25'' East, a distance of 1095.94 feet to a point

on the North line of Homestead Entry Survey no. 150, Tract ``B;''

thence

South 00 deg.29'55'' West, a distance of 1073.76 feet to a point

on the North Right-of-Way line of the Stehekin Valley Road; thence

North 80 deg.15'00'' West, a distance of 451.78 feet along the

North Right-of-Way line of the Stehekin Valley Road to the Point of

Beginning and there ending.

Containing 5.50 acres, more or less.

In Exchange, the U.S. would acquire all surface and mineral

interests in the following described private lands:

Golden Gate Lode Mining Claim, designated by the Surveyor

General as Lot 408, located in Section 31 and 32, Township 35 North,

Range 14 East, Willamette Meridian, Chelan County, Washington, more

particularly described as follows:

Beginning at Corner No. 1 a granite stone 30x20x10 inches,

marked +1-408, bears North 40 deg.10'16'' West, 1462.4 feet distant;

thence first course South 41 deg.52' West, 1500 feet to Corner No.

2, a granite stone 24 x 12 x 12 inches, marked +2-408, with mound of

stone; thence second course, South 47 deg.49' East, 600 feet to

Corner No. 3, a granite stone 38 x 18 x 16 inches, marked +3-408,

with mound of stone; thence third course, North 41 deg.52' East,

1500 feet to Corner No. 4, a granite stone 26 x 12 x 10 inches,

marked +4-408, with mound of stone; thence fourth course, North

47 deg.49' West, 600 feet to Corner No. 1, the Place of Beginning.

Containing 20.66 acres, more or less.

The above Federal lands were identified in the GMP and EIS and were

determined to be suitable for ranching/agricultural, residential and

seasonal guest services in conjunction with the adjacent private land

ownership and operations. In addition to the U.S. reserving the mineral

estate, certain land use covenants, conditions and restrictions will be

imposed in the deed for assuring that future uses of the Federal lands

being considered for disposal will be compatible with the legislated

purposes of the NRA. There are no leases or permits to third parties

affecting the Federal lands. These lands have been surveyed for

cultural resources and threatened/endangered species and found suitable

for disposal.

Approved independent fair market value appraisals have been

performed to determine the fair market value of both properties to be

exchanged. The value difference shall be equalized by cash payment as a

part of the escrow and closing procedures for the exchange transaction.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND COMMENTS: More detailed information on this

proposed action may be obtained from the Superintendent, North Cascades

National Park Service Complex, 2105 Highway 20, Sedro Woolley,

Washington 98284. Public comments will be accepted for a period of 45

calendar days from the publication date of this notice. Comments should

be sent to the above address.

This realty action to proceed with the exchange will become the

final determination of the Department of the Interior, in the absence

of any subsequent action to modify or vacate the proposed exchange.

Dated: May 21, 1998.

William C. Walters,

Deputy Regional Director, Pacific West Region.

[FR Doc. 98-22850 Filed 8-25-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-70-P