BLM issues Public Land Order for 5-year withdrawal adjacent to Barry M. Goldwater Range
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PHOENIX — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is publishing a public land order establishing a five-year mineral withdrawal on 2,365.89 acres of public lands adjacent to the Barry M. Goldwater Range, known as the “Gila Bend Addition.” The public land order establishing the withdrawal will publish in the Federal Register on Monday.
The U.S. Air Force has requested the lands be incorporated into the military training range. This five-year withdrawal will maintain the environmental baseline of the lands while the BLM and the U.S. Air Force conduct a land management evaluation. This evaluation will inform future Congressional consideration of the U.S. Air Force’s request.
The public land order withdraws the Gila Bend Addition from potential uses under the public land laws, including location and entry under the United States mining laws, and from leasing under the mineral and geothermal leasing laws, subject to valid existing rights. The land will remain open for permitted recreation and licensed hunting during the land management evaluation. The withdrawal does not grant any land use rights to the military during the five-year term.
The BLM and the U.S. Air Force will conduct the land management evaluation of the Gila Bend Addition, and then Congress will determine whether to add these acres to the Barry M. Goldwater Range.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.