80 FR 62564 - Initial Classification of Public Lands and Minerals for State Indemnity Selection, Colorado

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 200 (October 16, 2015)

The Colorado State Board of Land Commissioners (State) has filed a petition for classification and application to obtain public lands and mineral estate in lieu of lands to which the State was entitled but did not receive under its Statehood Act. The State did not receive title because the lands had been included in an Indian Reservation, Forest Reserve, National Forest, or other encumbrance at the time of statehood. Under the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) may classify sufficient public lands and/or minerals in Colorado for title transfer to the State to satisfy this obligation.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 200 (Friday, October 16, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62564-62566]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26365]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCO923000 L14400000.FR0000]


Initial Classification of Public Lands and Minerals for State 
Indemnity Selection, Colorado

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Colorado State Board of Land Commissioners (State) has 
filed a petition for classification and application to obtain public 
lands and mineral estate in lieu of lands to which the State was 
entitled but did not receive under its Statehood Act. The State did not 
receive title because the lands had been included in an Indian 
Reservation, Forest Reserve, National Forest, or other encumbrance at 
the time of statehood. Under the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934, the Bureau 
of Land Management (BLM) may classify sufficient public lands and/or 
minerals in Colorado for title transfer to the State to satisfy this 
obligation.

DATES: Interested parties may submit written comments regarding the 
classification of lands and minerals on or before November 16, 2015. 
Persons asserting a claim to or interest in the lands or mineral estate 
described in this notice will find the requirements for filing such 
claims in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning this Notice should be addressed 
to: State Director, Bureau of Land Management, Colorado State Office, 
2850 Youngfield Street, Lakewood, CO 80215-7093.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John D. Beck, Chief, Branch of Lands 
and Realty; telephone 303-239-3882; email [email protected]. Persons who 
use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above 
individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours 
a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above 
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sections 2275 and 2276 of the Revised 
Statutes, as amended (43 U.S.C. 851 and 852), provide authority for 
Colorado to receive title to public lands in lieu of lands to which it 
was entitled under Section 7 of its statehood act of March 3, 1875, 
where it did not receive title because those lands had otherwise been 
encumbered.
    Section 7 of the Taylor Grazing Act of June 8, 1934, clarified by 
the Supreme Court in Andrus v. Utah, 446 U.S. 500 (1980), requires that 
such public lands and/or minerals identified for proposed transfers out 
of Federal ownership under this authority must first be classified. The 
BLM is classifying these lands and minerals pursuant to 43 CFR 2400 and 
Section 7 of the Act of June 8, 1934 (48 Stat. 1272, as amended), 43 
U.S.C. 315(f). The final acres conveyed will be determined after 
further environmental analysis is completed, will be based on a dollar 
value, and may be less than the aggregate acreage described in this 
notice.
    All persons who wish to submit comments on a motion of any 
protestant with this initial classification may present their views by 
any means shown under the ADDRESSES section above.
    The BLM Colorado State Director will evaluate any adverse comment 
and issue a notice of determination to proceed with, modify, or cancel 
the proposed action. In the absence of any action by the BLM State 
Director, this initial classification action will become the final 
determination of the Department of the Interior.
    The BLM will review any comments and may sustain, vacate, or modify 
this realty action. In the absence of any adverse comments, the 
classification of the land described in this notice will become 
effective on December 15, 2015.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so. As provided by 43 CFR 2462.1, the BLM Colorado State 
Director will schedule a public hearing. The BLM will announce the 
public hearing date 15 days prior to the hearing.
    The lands and minerals included within this initial classification 
are in Chaffee, Custer, Dolores, Eagle, El Paso, Garfield, Grand, 
Huerfano, Jackson, Kiowa, La Plata, Moffat, Montezuma, Ouray, Park, 
Pueblo, Routt, San Miguel and Weld counties, Colorado, and are 
described as follows:

New Mexico Principle Meridian, Colorado

T. 44 N., R. 8 W.,
    Sec. 11, lots 12 thru 14, excluding M.S. No. 9195;
    Sec. 13, lots 17, 28, 30, and 31;
    Sec. 14, E\1/2\SE\1/4\.
T. 42 N., R. 13 W.,
    Sec. 30, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\.

[[Page 62565]]

T. 40 N., R. 14 W.,
    Sec. 6, lot 13 and NE\1/4\SW\1/4\.
T. 41 N., R. 14 W.,
    Sec. 28, S\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 29, SW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 30, N\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 31 N\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 32, N\1/2\NW\1/4\ and SW\1/4\NW\1/4\.
T. 43 N., R. 14 W.,
    Sec. 2, lots 1 and 2, and S\1/2\NE\1/4\.
T. 40 N., R. 15 W.,
    Sec. 1, lots 1 thru 4;
    Sec. 3, lots 3 and 4;
    Sec. 4, lots 1 thru 4;
    Sec. 10, N\1/2\NE\1/4\ and E\1/2\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 11, N\1/2\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SW\1/4\SW\1/4\.
T. 50 N., R 8 E.,
    Sec. 7, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\.

Sixth Principle Meridian, Colorado

T. 19 S., R. 45 W.,
    Sec. 10, S\1/2\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 11, SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 14, N\1/2\ and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 15, NE\1/4\.
T. 20 S., R. 47 W.,
    Sec. 4, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\, and W\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 5;
    Sec. 8, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, W\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\, 
NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and NW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 9, NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and 
SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 10, SW\1/4\ and SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 15, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 22, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\ and E\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 23, S\1/2\NW\1/4\ and SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 26, W\1/2\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, and NW\1/4\SE\1/
4\;
    Sec. 27, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\.
T. 20 S., R. 48 W.,
    Sec. 10, W\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 13, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\, and W\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 14, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\ and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 15, W\1/2\NW\1/4\ and NW\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 22, E\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 23;
    Sec. 24, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SW\1/
4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 26, NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\, and W\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 27, E\1/2\NE\1/4\.
T. 18 S., R. 61 W.,
    Sec. 8, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 19, lots 3 and 4, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 30, lots 2 thru 4, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and W\1/
2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 32.
T. 19 S., R. 61 W.,
    Sec. 6;
    Sec. 7, E\1/2\NE\1/4\ and E\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 8, W\1/2\NW\1/4\ and W\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 18;
    Sec. 19, lots 1 thru 4, NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, and E\1/2\SW\1/
4\;
    Sec. 20;
    Sec. 28, E\1/2\;
    Sec. 29, W\1/2\;
    Sec. 32, E\1/2\;
    Sec. 33.
T. 20 S., R. 61 W.,
    Sec. 4;
    Sec. 5, lots 1 and 2, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 7, lots 2 and 3, and SE\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 9, E\1/2\;
    Sec. 18, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\.
T. 16 S., R. 62 W.,
    Sec. 24, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\.
T. 17 S., R. 62 W.,
    Sec.1, lot 1 and SE\1/4\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 9, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\.
T 29 S., R. 69 W.,
    Sec. 31, lots 3 and 4, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\NW\1/4\, E\1/
2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 32, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, W\1/2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and 
SE\1/4\SE\1/4\.
T. 29 S., R. 70 W.,
    Sec. 35, lot 1.
T. 22 S., R. 71 W.,
    Sec. 5, lots 20 thru 23;
    Sec. 6, lot 13;
    Sec. 8, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 17, lot 24.
T. 22 S., R. 72 W.,
    Sec. 4, lots 41, 42, and 47, and NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, and remaining 
public lands in SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, W\1/2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and 
SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 5, remaining public lands in S\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, 
E\1/2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\, and NW\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 8, remaining public lands in SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 9, remaining public lands in W\1/2\;
    Sec. 12, lot 3 and SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 16, lot 20, lots 23 thru 36, and lot 38;
    Sec. 17, remaining public lands in NW\1/4\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 22, N\1/2\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 26, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 28, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, W\1/2\SE\1/4\, and SE\1/
4\SE\1/4\.
T. 11 S., R. 74 W.,
    Sec. 20, NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 21, W\1/2\.
T. 12 S., R. 75 W.,
    Sec. 17, SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 18, lots 1 thru 4, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/
4\;
    Sec. 19, lots 1 and 2, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, and E\1/
2\NW\1/4\.
T. 12 S., R. 76 W.,
    Sec. 13, E\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 24, NE\1/4\.
T. 13 S., R. 76 W.,
    Sec. 4, lots 2 thru 4, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, and NW\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 5;
    Sec. 6, lots 6 and 7, and E\1/2\SW\1/4\.
T. 12 S., R. 77 W.,
    Sec. 23, N\1/2\SW\1/4\ and N\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 25, S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 34, NW\1/4\SW\1/4\.
T. 15 S., R. 78 W.,
    Sec. 17, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, including geothermal steam;
    Sec. 18, N\1/2\SE\1/4\ and SW\1/4\SE\1/4\, including geothermal 
steam.
T. 4 S., R. 83 W.,
    Sec. 17, lots 2 and 5, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and NW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 22, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 23, lots 6 thru 8, and W\1/2\SW\1/4\.
T. 7 S., R. 88 W.,
    Sec. 7, lots 12 and 13;
    Sec. 8, lot 7, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 17, lots 3 and 19.
T. 7 S., R. 89 W.,
    Sec. 3, lot 1, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, E\1/2\W\1/
2\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, and E\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 12, lot 22 and W\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 13, NW\1/4\;
T. 5 S., R. 92 W.,
    Sec. 30, W\1/2\SE\1/4\.
T. 5 S., R. 93 W.,
    Sec. 36, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\NW\1/4\, and NE\1/4\SW\1/4\.
T. 1 N, R. 76\1/2\ W.,
    Sec. 1, lots 15 and 16;
    Sec. 12, lots 1 thru 6, and lots 11 and 12.
T. 1 N., R 77 W.,
    Sec. 12, E\1/2\NE\1/4\ and NE\1/4\SE\1/4\.
T. 3 N., R. 77 W.,
    Sec. 25, S\1/2\SW\1/4\ and SW\1/4\SE\1/4\.
T. 4 N., R. 81 W.,
    Sec. 34, W\1/2\NW\1/4\ and NW\1/4\SW\1/4\.
T. 6 N., R. 81 W.,
    Sec. 18, lot 5.
T. 3 N., R. 82 W.,
    Sec. 26, lot 1.
T. 6 N., R. 82 W.,
    Sec. 13, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 23, N\1/2\NE\1/4\ and SE\1/4\NE\1/4\.
T. 6 N., R. 84 W.,
    Sec. 27, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\.
T. 7 N., R. 85 W.,
    Sec. 17, W\1/2\NE\1/4\.
T. 8 N., R. 85 W.,
    Sec. 16, lots 4 and 5.
T. 6 N., R. 86 W.,
    Sec. 33, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\.
T. 7 N., R. 88 W.,
    Sec. 2, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\.
T. 8 N., R. 88 W.,
    Sec. 34, lots 12 thru 15.
T. 7 N., R. 93 W.,
    Sec. 36.
    The areas described aggregate 23,077 acres.

    The State's application requests conveyance of title to Federal 
mineral estate under surface owned by the State, described as follows:

Sixth Principle Meridian, Colorado

T. 9 N., R. 56 W.,
    Sec. 24, SW\1/4\.
T. 12 N., R. 56 W.,
    Sec. 28, E\1/2\.
T. 11 N., R. 59 W.,
    Sec. 15, NE\1/4\.
T. 5 N., R. 61 W.,
    Sec. 33, SW\1/4\.
T. 3 N., R. 62 W.,
    Sec. 1, SE\1/4\.
T. 17 S., R. 48 W.,
    Sec. 18, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\.
T. 21 S., R. 51 W.,
    Sec. 35, NW\1/4\SW\1/4\ (oil and gas only).
T. 22 S., R. 52 W.,
    Sec. 15, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, and NW\1/4\SE\1/4\ (oil 
and gas only).
T. 28 S., R. 69 W.,
    Sec. 17, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 20, NE\1/4\ and NE\1/4\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 21, NE\1/4\, W\1/2\NW\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, and NE\1/
4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 22, W\1/2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 27, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\ and NE\1/4\NW\1/4\.
T. 6 N., R. 79 W.,
    Sec. 3, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 4, lots 3 and 4, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\, 
and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 5, lots 1 and 2, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 8, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, and E\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 9;
    Sec. 10, W\1/2\NW\1/4\ and W\1/2\SW\1/4\.
T. 7 N., R. 79 W.,
    Sec. 32, SE\1/4\;

[[Page 62566]]

    Sec. 33, W\1/2\SW\1/4\.
T. 5 N., R. 88 W.,
    Sec. 12, NW\1/4\ and SW\1/4\.
T. 7 N., R. 88 W.,
    Sec. 1, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, W\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and 
those portions of SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, 
and SW\1/4\SE\1/4\ lying west of Routt County Road 80A;
    Sec. 2, S\1/2\NE\1/4\ and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 10, NE\1/4\ and NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 11, N\1/2\ and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 12, those portions of W\1/2\ lying west of Routt County 
Road 80.
    The areas described aggregate 6,354 acres.

    If and when the selection is approved and certified to the State, 
the Clear List may either be subject to or reserve any rights-of-way 
granted by the BLM. Oil and gas, geothermal, or other leases issued 
under the authority of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C 181 et 
seq.) will remain in effect under the terms and conditions of the 
leases. Pursuant to 43 CFR 2462.2, publication of this notice of 
initial classification in the Federal Register segregates the above 
described lands from all forms of disposal under the public land laws, 
including the mining laws, except for the form of land disposal 
specified in this notice of initial classification. However, this 
notice does not alter the applicability of the public land laws 
governing the use of the lands under lease, license, or permit, or 
governing the disposal of their mineral and vegetative resources, other 
than under the mining laws.
    The segregative effect of a classification for this form of 
disposal will terminate in one of the following ways:
    (1) Disposal of the lands.
    (2) Publication in the Federal Register of a notice of termination 
of the classification.
    (3) An Act of Congress.

    Authority: 43 CFR 2400.

Ruth Welch,
BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-26365 Filed 10-15-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P