The Bureau of Land Management Eastern States (BLM ES) is seeking public comment on an application to convey federally owned phosphate mineral interests under lands in Lee County, Florida. Today, the BLM published a notice of realty action in the Federal Register which opens a 45-day public comment period.
The surface owner is seeking to obtain the federally owned phosphate mineral interests underlying approximately 160 acres of property. The surface owner will pay fair market value for the mineral interests, $4,000, and administrative costs related to the conveyance.
The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 established circumstances under which Federal mineral interests may be conveyed to the current surface owner if the use of the land may be more beneficial than mineral development. In this case, the surface owner seeks to use the land for residential and commercial development.
Mail or deliver written comments to: BLM, Eastern States Office, 20 M St., S.E., Suite 950, Washington, D.C. 20003. Comments will be accepted until Jan. 3, 2017.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
