81 FR 37635 - Notice of Realty Action: Direct Sale of Reversionary Interest in San Bernardino County, California

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 112 (June 10, 2016)

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Needles Field Office, proposes to sell the United States' reversionary interest in 2.31 acres of land in San Bernardino County, California to the City of Needles (City) at not less than fair market value in the amount of $139,994. The land was conveyed out of Federal ownership in 1966 subject to a reversionary interest which is now proposed for sale under the authority of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 112 (Friday, June 10, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37635-37636]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13773]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCA930000.L14400000.EU0000.16XL1109AF; CACA 54031]


Notice of Realty Action: Direct Sale of Reversionary Interest in 
San Bernardino County, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Needles Field Office, 
proposes to sell the United States' reversionary interest in 2.31 acres 
of land in San Bernardino County, California to the City of Needles 
(City) at not less than fair market value in the amount of $139,994. 
The land was conveyed out of Federal ownership in 1966 subject to a 
reversionary interest which is now proposed for sale under the 
authority of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 
1976, as amended.

DATES: Comments regarding the proposed sale must be received by the BLM 
on or before July 25, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments concerning the proposed sale 
to the Field Manager, BLM, Needles Field Office, 1303 South Highway 95, 
Needles, California 92363.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Webster, Realty Specialist, 
BLM Needles Field Office, telephone 760-326-7006; address 1303 South 
Highway 95, Needles, California 92363. 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: The reversionary interest in the following 
land is proposed for direct sale in accordance with Section 203 of the 
FLPMA, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1713).

San Bernardino Meridian, California

T. 9 N., R. 23 E., sec. 31, lot 6.

    The area described contains 2.31 acres.
    The area described above is part of 50 acres conveyed in 1966 to 
the City in patent 04-67-0018 under the authority of the Recreation and 
Public Purposes Act (R&PP Act) of June 14, 1926, as amended. The land 
was conveyed for park and recreational purposes for $2.50 per acre. The 
United States (U.S.) retained an interest in the land in which title 
could revert back to the U.S. if the land is not used for purposes 
authorized under the R&PP Act or if the land is transferred to another 
party without the BLM's approval. In 1971, the BLM approved a change in 
use to allow the City to construct the Needles Municipal Hospital on 
2.31 acres of the land conveyed in patent 04-67-0018. In 2010, the 
voters of Needles approved Measure Q, which effectively required the 
City to sell the Needles Municipal Hospital to a qualified non-profit 
corporation. The sale has been complicated by the fact that the Needles 
Municipal Hospital is located on 2.31 acres owned by the City subject 
to the reversionary interest and approximately 3.36 acres owned by the 
City which is not subject to a reversionary interest. The City agreed 
to sell the land occupied by the Needles Municipal Hospital to 
Community Healthcare Partner, Inc., a non-profit corporation. The sale 
is contingent on the BLM selling the reversionary interest in the 2.31 
acres of land occupied by the Needles Municipal Hospital so the City 
can convey the land free of any reversionary interest. The sale would 
allow for possible future commercial use of the 2.31 acres, including a 
for-profit hospital, and allow for future transfers of the land without 
the BLM's approval.
    The reversionary interest in the 2.31 acres of land described above 
is proposed for sale to the City for $139,994, which represents the 
appraised fair market value of $140,000, less $6.00 paid to the BLM to 
purchase the land in 1966. The reversionary interest is difficult and 
uneconomic to manage as part of the public lands because it is 
surrounded by private land and is not contiguous to any public land 
administered by the BLM. The BLM has concluded that a competitive sale 
is not appropriate and that the public interest would best be served by 
a direct sale to the City, which currently owns the land subject to the 
reversionary interest. The reversionary interest was not identified for 
sale in the 1980 California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan. On 
January 14, 2015, the BLM approved an amendment to the 1980 CDCA Plan, 
which identified the reversionary interest in the 50 acres conveyed to 
the City in 1966 in patent 04-67-0018 as suitable for sale pursuant to 
section 203 of FLPMA.
    The reversionary interest would not be sold until at least August 
9, 2016. Any conveyance document issued would convey only the 
reversionary interest retained by the U.S. in patent 04-67-0018 and 
would contain the

[[Page 37636]]

following terms, conditions, and reservations:
    1. A condition that the conveyance be subject to all valid existing 
rights of record.
    2. A condition that the conveyance would be subject to all 
reservations, conditions and restrictions in patent 04-67-0018, except 
the reversionary interest which is being conveyed.
    3. An appropriate indemnification clause protecting the United 
States from claims arising out of the patentee's use, occupancy, or 
operations on the patented lands.
    4. Additional terms and conditions that the authorized officer 
deems appropriate.
    Detailed information concerning the proposed sale including the 
appraisal, planning and environmental document are available for review 
at the location identified in the ADDRESSES section above.
    Public comments regarding the proposed sale may be submitted in 
writing to the attention of the BLM Needles Field Manager (see 
ADDRESSES above) on or before July 25, 2016. Comments received in 
electronic form, such as email will not be considered. Any adverse 
comments regarding the proposed sale will be reviewed by the BLM State 
Director or other authorized official of the Department of the 
Interior, who may sustain, vacate, or modify this realty action in 
whole or in part. In the absence of timely filed objections, this 
realty action will become the final determination of the Department of 
the Interior.
    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.

    Authority: 43 CFR 2711.1-2(a) and (c).

Thomas Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director, Resources.
[FR Doc. 2016-13773 Filed 6-9-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-40-P