Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data by Congressional Research Service

The federal government owns roughly 635-640 million acres, 28% of the 2.27 billion acres of
land in the United States. Four agencies administer 609 million acres of this land: the Forest
Service (USFS) in the Department of Agriculture, and the National Park Service (NPS), Bureau
of Land Management (BLM), and Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), all in the Department of the
Interior (DOI). Most of these lands are in the West and Alaska. In addition, the Department of
Defense administers 19 million acres in military bases, training ranges, and more. Numerous
other agencies administer the remaining federal acreage.
The lands administered by the four land agencies are managed for many purposes, primarily
related to preservation, recreation, and development of natural resources. Yet each of these
agencies has distinct responsibilities. The BLM manages 248 million acres and is responsible for
700 million acres of subsurface mineral resources. The BLM has a multiple-use, sustained-yield
mandate that supports a variety of uses and programs, including energy development,  recreation, grazing, wild horses and burros, and conservation. The USFS manages 193 million acres also for multiple uses and sustained yields of various products and services, including timber harvesting, recreation, grazing, watershed protection, and fish and wildlife habitats. Most of the USFS lands are designated national forests. Wildfire protection is increasingly important for both agencies. See Full Report by clicking here.

Sacred Arizona Site Under Siege Pending House Vote

On Thursday, the House will vote on a bill that would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey more than 2,400 acres of U.S. Forest Service land in southeast Arizona to the Resolution Cooper Mining Co. Enactment of the bill would allow Resolution Cooper, dually owed by Rio Tinto Mining and BHP Billiton, to operate a large-scale cooper mine on Oak Flat disrupting sacred tribal grounds.

If passed, this bill referred to as the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange Act, could potentially destroy sacred tribal places of worship by allowing the foreign mining giants to extract one cubic mile of ore from beneath the surface of the earth. The mining companies would extract the ore through an ecologically destructive process called block cave mining.

In 2011, ICTMN reported that Resolution Copper would use controversial block-cave method, in which explosives are set off below the ore body, creating a space underneath and allowing the ore to collapse from its own weight, after which it’s extracted. Opponents fear the method could damage Native American sacred lands, among them the historical Apache Leap, where tribal warriors leaped to their deaths rather than surrender to Arizona soldiers, according to historical accounts like this one.

In a press release, Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) urged colleagues to vote “no” on the bill and said that Oak Flat has been a place where Native Americans have prayed, gathered medical herbs and plants, healed in holy perennial springs, and performed religious ceremonies for decades.

“The protection of places of worship is a fight for which we should all be united,” Moore wrote in a press release to her colleagues. “We must stand together to protect places of worship, including tribal sacred sites because these sites are part of the rich heritage and culture of our country and the essence of our moral identies.” She said the bills passage would jeopardize the cultural history of other sacred sites by setting a precedent with regard to federal protection of tribal sites.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) in February. Last month, Gosar invited the public to a town hall meeting to gage support of his efforts to bring thousands of jobs to Arizona’s Copper Corridor. He said this goal could be achieved if 678 is passed. “Getting this critical jobs bill across the finish line requires Arizonans to rise up and let their voices be heard. Nearly 4,000 jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity are at stake.”

The withdrawal of Resolution Cooper’s controversial block cave mining process is supported by the San Carlos Apache Tribes, local tribes, and some environmentalists.

Arizona Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ)Arizona Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ)
The project has also been opposed by Arizona Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) who wrote about his opposition to the bill saying that he was not opposed to mining, in principle, but said that they should not come at the expense of Native American rights.

ICTMN also reported that the bill would give around 2,400 acres of public land in southeastern Arizona to Resolution Cooper Co. in exchange for around 5,000 acres in several parcels around the state. As it stands, the bill has largely remained the same.

The federal government has acknowledged its obligation to protect sacred tribal grounds, but if the land swap bill passes, Moore said, Oak Bluff would be transferred to Resolution Copper for private ownership, and out of the domain of regulation by federal law.

“People who think money is first over water and land, such as some people in Washington, are destroying the earth and that’s where our argument is,” San Carlos Apache Tribe Chairman Wendsler Nosie, told ICTMN in 2010. “That’s wrong. You cannot do that, and that’s why I’m standing up for this.”

Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/09/17/sacred-az-site-under-siege-pending-house-vote-151326

Vote on Resolution land exchange delayed until Thursday

Washington, D.C. — The full vote of the House of Representatives on the Kirkpatrick/Gosar land exchange bill tentatively scheduled for last Friday didn’t happen.

Latest developments in the Washington, D.C. battle over the federal budget resulted in HR 687 being bumped and delayed for a floor vote of the House until this Thursday, Sept. 26. The legislation is needed to pave the way for the proposed $6 billion underground Resolution Copper mine just east of Superior, which would create thousand of jobs and have an expected operating life of 35 to 40 years.

Company officials said earlier that for their project to move forward, Resolution must first complete extensive studies and will invest more than $1 billion in exploratory activities. And they have determined that an exchange of lands, as described in the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and conservation Act (HR 687), would allow them to secure the access needed to develop the safe.

http://www.silverbelt.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=5567

State Farm Leases Land in Arizona

BLOOMINGTON – Big changes could be coming to State Farm Insurance.

According to a news report in Arizona the insurance giant will be leasing part of a $600 million facility just outside of Phoenix.

The land will be the largest office development in Arizona history, with more than 2 million square feet, constructed on more than 20 acres.

A company spokesperson says State Farm is working with Arizona State University and city leaders to create the complex in Marina Heights.

State Farm would be the building’s primary tenant, but there would also be room for dining and retail.

The facility would be staffed with a combination of new hires and existing State Farm employees.

It’s holding a career fair in Phoenix June 11th and 12th.

Earlier this year the company also secured 1.5 million square feet of office space in Dallas.

State Farm is assuring everyone its headquarters, which employs 15,000 people, will stay put in Bloomington. – See more at: Source

ArizonaParcels.com joins ArizonaLand.CO to form Syndicate

The recently launched ArizonaParcels.com has a bigger sister: ArizonaLand.CO

The two E-commerce websites are part of Homescape LLC, A Connecticut based Holding Company, network of websites.  The Holding company began buying real estate and land in Arizona in the middle of 2011 and has increased their land holdings since then.  The small entrepreneurial holding company also owns desertland.us which they plan to develop in the coming years.

Electronic commerce, commonly known as e-commerce, is a type of industry where buying and selling of product or service is conducted over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks. Electronic commerce draws on technologies such as mobile commerce, electronic funds transfer, supply chain management, Internet marketing, online transaction processing, electronic data interchange (EDI), inventory management systems, and automated data collection systems. Modern electronic commerce typically uses the World Wide Web at least at one point in the transaction’s life-cycle, although it may encompass a wider range of technologies such as e-mail, mobile devices social media, and telephones as well.

Electronic commerce is generally considered to be the sales aspect of e-business. It also consists of the exchange of data to facilitate the financing and payment aspects of business transactions. This is an effective and efficient way of communicating within an organization and one of the most effective and useful ways of conducting business.

The small holding company, which is making buying land in Arizona and other states easier, has vowed to become the #1 land seller online by 2020.  They do not expect to sell land just in Arizona or have one main website from which to buy land, instead they are looking to expand into several niche websites like this one and ArizonaLand.CO

More information on the holding company can be found at www.homescapellc.com

Board Discusses Federal Land Use in Arizona

KINGMAN — A federal agency gave a presentation Monday to the county supervisors on several projects on public lands in the Arizona Strip.

The Bureau of Land Management presented to the supervisors the Arizona Strip Travel Management Plan and the Uinkaret Vegetation Treatment Project. Gathering public input either at scheduled meetings or through its Web site, the BLM plans to provide access in the Arizona Strip for the public while protecting natural resources and minimize conflicts between land users. The BLM also proposes restoring the vegetation in the Uinkaret Mountains.

In other action, the board also voted to oppose further closing by the BLM of federal lands to grazing in the Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument. Grazing could help reduce the chance of a catastrophic wildfire in the area. Most fires are made by lightning strikes not by humans. The board drafted a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The letter also objected to acquiring private lands in the region by the BLM.

The board also voted for a resolution supporting the transfer of all federal public lands to the states to be managed by the state public lands for uses such as hunting, fishing, grazing, recreation and economic activity. The proposal would encourage elected officials from other western states, cities and counties to support the transfer. The federal lands that would not be transferred to states include national parks, tribal lands and federal lands that have pre-existing grazing and water rights.

The resolution argued that the Eastern states in the country have less than 5 percent of their lands controlled by the federal government while Western states have more than 50 percent of the lands federally controlled.

However, Arizonans overwhelming defeated Proposition 120 in the 2012 general election. That proposition would have changed the Arizona Constitution declaring state sovereignty over all public lands except tribal lands and military forts.

Source: Mohave Daily News

Tucson Arizona Real Estate Update by Arizona Daily Star

SALES

• Arizona Equity II LLC of Tucson bought two vacant parcels in Santa Rita Ranch, near Sahuarita and Houghton roads, from P.I. Holdings No. 4 Inc. of Phoenix for $850,000, cash; then sold one of the parcels to Santa Rita Ranch III LLC of New York for $1.7 million, cash.

• Vidin Metelov bought Oracle Village Plaza at 6251 and 6261 N. Oracle Road for $2.5 million. Rick Borane of Volk Company Commercial Real Estate represented the buyer. The seller was The Horvath Family Limited Partnership III LLP and ABT Inc.

• Capara LLC of Tucson bought commercial property at 10129 E. Speedway for $1.7 million, cash. The seller was Mise-en Scene Entertainment LLC of Tucson.

• First American Title Insurance Co. Trust No. 9106 of Scottsdale bought vacant land at Silverbell West, near Silverbell and Trico roads, for $1.6 million, cash. The seller was Title Security Agency of Arizona Trust No. 18376 of Tucson.

• IP Building LLC of Tucson bought vacant land at 12350 N. Vistoso Park Road from VWI Vistoso Development LLC of Tucson for $1.7 million.

• High Sierra Theatres LLC of Santa Fe bought commercial property at 70 W. Duval Mine Road for $1.3 million, cash. The seller was Storyteller Theaters Corp. of Newport Beach, Calif.

• Best Hat LLC bought a medical office at 4715 E. Camp Lowell from 4715 E. Camp Lowell LLC for $1 million. Rick Kleiner of Picor Commercial Real Estate Services represented the seller.

• Givingness LLC of Oro Valley bought commercial property at 1125 and 1119 E. Glenn St. for $1 million from The CEK LLC of Oro Valley.

• TMC Holdings Inc. of Tucson bought commercial property at 2380 N. Ferguson Ave. for $693,000, cash. The seller was Building K Properties LLC of Sedona.

• AAW Belvedere of Tucson bought commercial property at 5901 S. Belvedere Ave. from Unified Brands of Jackson, Miss., for $680,000, cash.

• Moria Homes II LLC of Tucson bought residential property at 1847 E. Buck Ridge Place for $668,000; at 6530 N. Finisterra Drive for $515,000; and at 5402 E. Camino Bosque for $490,000. All sales were cash, and the sellers were not listed.

LEASES

• AZ Air Time Tucson LLC has leased 25,815 square feet at 3931 W. Costco Drive. The tenant plans to open an indoor trampoline park. David Hammack of Volk Company Commercial Real Estate represented the landlord, D.D. Dunlap Trust and Dorothy Dunlap Trust. Jon Mirmelli of Realty One Group represented the tenant.

• Oasis Medical Aesthetics has leased 3,025 square feet at Wilmot Professional Plaza on Wilmot Road just south of Grant Road. It is scheduled to open in September. Andy Seleznov and Melissa Lal of Larsen Baker represented the landlord, Larsen Baker. Jeff Casper of CBRE represented the tenant.

Information compiled from records at the Pima County Recorder’s Office and from brokers. Send information to reporter Gabriela Rico at grico@azstarnet.com or 573-4232.

As Market for Pinetop, AZ Real Estate Stabilizes, Local Realtor Lists Reasons to Invest Here

The Show Low, Lakeside and Pinetop, AZ real estate market is showing definite signs of stabilizing, according to leading local realtor Christine McGinty, who details the many reasons people invest in second/vacation homes in the White Mountains.

arizonarealestate

The PRWeb Press Release released on February 27, 2013 reads:

With the markets for Show Low, Lakeside and Pinetop, AZ real estate showing heartening signs of stabilizing, leading local realtor Christine McGinty takes the opportunity to reflect on the myriad reasons for homebuyers continuing interest in investing in property in Arizona’s White Mountains.

“More and more people are discovering the unique natural beauty of our area,” says McGinty, who specializes primarily in residential Pinetop, Lakeside and Show Low, AZ real estate. “Up here in the White Mountains you’ll find tall stands of ponderosa pines, a variety of lakes and waterways, and a cool climate – all of this provides a perfect escape for those who long to get away from the heat of the desert as well as the hustle and bustle of city living.”

Located in the northeastern corner of the state, the White Mountains region is only approximately three hours away from the Phoenix metropolitan area and around a four-hour drive north from the heart of Tucson. Its relative proximity as well as cool temperatures makes it a particularly appealing vacation getaway for desert city dwellers, especially during the hot summer months.

“Summers are always cool here,” adds McGinty, “and you’ll never run out of things to do in the outdoors no matter the season. You can go camping, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, hunting and wildlife watching for most of the year. When winter comes along, you can hit the slopes – we even have our own ski park, the Sunrise Park Resort.”

McGinty urges those interested in Show Low, Lakeside and Pinetop houses for sale to seriously consider making a move soon. “As the market regains momentum, home prices are likely to go up in the near future,” she says, “especially in the spring and summer months.”

For more information on the region’s lifestyle options and real estate opportunities, visit Christine McGinty’s website at http://www.PinetopAZHomes.com or get in touch with her directly.

Find the original article on PRweb

ArizonaParcels.com

1st Quarter 2013 Arizona Land Parcel Deals by ArizonaParcels.com

Great opportunity to invest in or own a piece of Arizona! Look at this land for sale in Maricopa County. 1.25 Acre Lot near Buckeye

  • Status:   Sold
  • Sale Price:  $ 8000
  • State:  Arizona
  • County:  Maricopa
  • APN (Assessor’s Parcel Number):  506-42-027Y
  • Size:  1.25 AC
  • Short Legal:  S2 NE4 SW4 NW4 NW4 SEC 27 1N 6W
  • Zoning:  VACANT UNDETERMINED RURAL NON-SUBDIVI
  • Terrain:  Flat-No Trees
  • Road Access:  Unpaved Road – maintained
  • Electricity:  In Area (0-2 miles)
  • Water:  Please check with county
  • Sewer:  Please check with county
  • Current Annual Taxes:  $ 57.58

 Huge Lot For Sale! 80.0 Acres Of Real Estate For Sale In Navajo, Arizona – Close To Holbrook

  • Status:   Sold
  • Sale Price:  $ 19,700.00
  • State:  Arizona
  • County:  Navajo
  • APN (Assessor’s Parcel Number):  104-39-006
  • Size:  80.0 Acres
  • Short Legal:  SECTION 19, T19N, R19E: N2 NE4
  • Zoning:  Vacant Land
  • Terrain:  Mostly flat- few trees
  • Road Access:  Paved Road
  • Electricity:  In Area (0-2 miles)
  • Water:  Unknown
  • Sewer:  Unknown
  • Current Annual Taxes:  $ 82.82