Notice of Realty Action; California

Under the Land Tenure Adjustment Element entitled ``Needs of Desert Communities'', the California Desert Conservation Area Plan of 1980 provides guidance allowing the Bureau of Land Management to consider the special needs of desert communities by the transfer of ownership of key public land parcels in and around these communities. The following public lands have been found suitable for competitive sale under Section 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to any party that meets the eligibility requirements for qualified bidders as described herein. The fair market value appraisal was completed in accordance with the Federal Uniform Appraisal Standards of 1992 and the United States Professional Practices of 1997.

Mount Diablo Meridian, California

T. 29 S., R. 40 E., Section 35

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30 percent Lot No. Size in Minimum deposit acres acceptable bid required ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24................................................................. 13.07 $6,353 $1,960.50 30................................................................. 12.21 6,105 1,831.50 31................................................................. 2.89 1,445 433.50 33................................................................. 0.04 500 150.00 40................................................................. 1.21 1,000 300.00 45................................................................. 6.23 3,115 934.50 103................................................................ 0.45 500 150.00 105................................................................ 8.03 4,015 1,204.50 106................................................................ 14.79 7,395 2,218.50 107................................................................ 1.39 695 208.50 E/2 NE/4 NW/4...................................................... 20.00 10,000 3,000.00

W/2 NE/4 NW/4...................................................... 20.00 10,000 3,000.00 Total.......................................................... 100.31 51,123 15,336.90 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bidder Qualifications

To become a qualified bidder, eligible to compete during the oral auction, the following applicable criteria must be met: (1) You must provide proof that you are a citizen of the United States who is at least 18 years of age; or (2) you must provide proof that you are a corporation subject to the laws of the State of California or of the United States; or (3) you must provide proof that you are a State or State instrumentality or political subdivision authorized to hold property; or (4) you must provide proof that you are an entity legally capable of conveying and holding lands or interests therein under the laws of the State of California; and (5) you must provide a sealed bid and deposit of no less than 30% of the minimum fair market value shown in the above table, or 30% of the amount of your bid greater than the minimum fair market value. This information must be provided to the Bureau of Land Management, Ridgecrest Resource Area, 300 S. Richmond Road, Ridgecrest, CA 93555 by 4:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on or before March 2, 1998. Failure to timely provide the appropriate proof of qualification and the deposit for the proper value will result in immediate disqualification. No exceptions will be permitted. The Bureau of Land Management will return all disqualified bids and deposits. Payments for the 30% deposit may be in the form of certified or cashiers check, money order, visa, mastercard, personal check or any combination thereof. Bids must include the bidder's name, as it would appear on the patent, address, telephone number and social security number. Bids must be submitted in a sealed legal-size envelope and marked on the front with the Lot Number and the printed name of the bidder. Sealed bids shall be considered only if received in accordance with the instructions of this Notice.

Procedures

Public Notice is provided that a competitive bid will be conducted on March 20, 1998, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time at the Bureau of Land Management Conference Room located at 300 S. Richmond Road, Ridgecrest, CA 93555. Bidder registration will open at 12:45 p.m. and close at 1:25 p.m. Any qualified bidder who fails to register timely for the oral auction will be disqualified. All deposits from disqualified bidders will be returned. Oral bids will only be conducted for those lots where two or more bids have been received. Bidding will begin at the highest bid greater than the minimum fair market value. Bidding will be in $50.00 increments. Bidding will be restricted to only qualified bidders identified by the Bureau of Land Management. Upon the conclusion of bidding for each lot, the successful bidder will be declared. That bidder will be required to immediately submit a minimum payment of not less than 20% of the final bid for the lot. Payment must be made in the form described above. The successful bidder has 180 days from the date of the sale to submit full payment for the lot. Failure to submit the full payment by the 180th day shall result in cancellation of the sale of the specific lot and all deposits made, to date, shall be forfeited and disposed of as other receipts of sale. The United States reserves the right to reject the highest qualified bid and release the bidder from his/her obligation and withdraw the lot from competitive sale if the Authorized Officer (AO) determines that consummation of the bidding process would be inconsistent with the provisions of any existing law, or collusive or other activities have hindered, or restrained free and open bidding. Bidders are WARNED that any violations of this statute, Title 18 U.S.C. 1860, could result in fine or imprisonment, or both. No harassing, intimidating, vulgar, or other abusive behavior will be tolerated. Any bidder or other person who engages in such activity will be disqualified and expelled from the oral auction.

Terms and Conditions Applicable to the Sale Are

1. The subsurface estate and all minerals are reserved to the United States, together with the right to prospect for, mine and remove the minerals. 2. A reservation for road rights-of-way will be incorporated into each affected patent in conjunction with the Kern County road network. 3. A right-of-way is reserved for ditches and canals constructed by the authority of the United States under the authority of the Act of August 30, 1890, 43 U.S.C. 945. 4. The patent will be subject to any rights-of-way for the purposes of utilities (Electric, Telephone, Water and Cable) as they affect the lots. 5. The purchaser, by accepting the land patent, will indemnify the United States against any current or future liability pertaining to Hazardous Materials and underlying mine shafts, tunnels or adits, known or unknown.

Grazing Issues

This land sale involves lands inside the Cantil Common Allotment. These lands are withdrawn under Section 3 of the Taylor Grazing Act. It has been determined that the lands contribute no forage for the Cantil Common Allotment and their sale will not result in the loss of grazing preference for any of the permittees. Detailed information concerning the sale, including the reservations, sale procedures and conditions, and planning and environmental documents, is available at the Bureau of Land Management, Ridgecrest Resource Area office, 300 S. Richmond Road, Ridgecrest, CA 93555. For a period of 45 days from the date of this Notice in the Federal Register, interested parties may submit comments to the Area Manager, at the above address. In the absence of timely objections, this proposal shall become the final determination of the Department of the Interior. Lee Delaney, Field Manager. [FR Doc. 97-33182 Filed 12-18-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-40-P