LAS VEGAS – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Las Vegas Field Office is seeking public comments on a proposal in compliance with the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) to sell 61 parcels totaling 893.35 acres of public lands in the Las Vegas Valley. The modified competitive land sale will be by sealed and oral bidding in accordance with SNPLMA, as amended, the BLM sale regulations, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, as amended. A Notice of Realty Action published today in the Federal Register, opening a 45-day comment period which will close on Aug. 12, 2019.

In accordance with the SNPLMA, 85 percent of the funds generated by this sale will be used throughout Nevada for projects such as the development of parks, trails, and natural areas, capital improvements on Federal lands, acquisition of environmentally sensitive land, hazardous fuels reduction, and landscape restoration projects. Additionally, 5 percent of the revenue goes to the State of Nevada General Education Fund and 10 percent of the revenue goes to the Southern Nevada Water Authority.

Almost all of the parcels included in this sale are surrounded by private land and none of the parcels are used for public recreational access, thus the BLM has determined there is no anticipated impact to public recreational access from this proposed sale.

Secretary’s Order 3373 (SO 3373), titled “Evaluating Public Access in BLM Land Disposals and Exchanges,” was one of the very first Secretary’s Orders signed by U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt. This proposal follows the guidelines of SO 3373, which directs BLM to adequately weigh public access for outdoor recreation – including hunting and fishing – when determining the appropriateness of the disposal or exchange of public lands. Identifying lands as available for disposal or exchange is required under federal law. The sale parcels are located throughout the Las Vegas Valley. Sale of these parcels does not affect public access to outdoor recreational opportunities on public land.

The parcels will be offered at not less than the fair market value as determined by an appraisal. The sale by sealed-bid and oral public auction will be held on Aug. 29, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., Pacific Time at City of North Las Vegas Council Chambers, 2250 Las Vegas Boulevard North, North Las Vegas, Nevada 89030. The fair market value for the parcels will be announced in local and online media at least 30 days prior to the sale.

To participate in the sale, all registered bidders must submit a bid guarantee deposit of $10,000 in the form of a certified check, bank draft, cashier’s check, or postal money order made payable, in U.S. dollars, to Department of the Interior – Bureau of Land Management on the day of the sale or submit the bid guarantee deposit along with the sealed bids.

Personal or company checks will not be accepted. Sealed bids must include a deposit of at least 20 percent of the bid amount and the bid guarantee deposit.

Written comments about this sale and the BLM’s Determination of National Environmental Policy Act should be mailed to: BLM Las Vegas Field Office, Assistant Field Manager, Division of Lands, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130 or faxed to (702) 515-5023.

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail 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 the public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

For more information about modified competitive sales, please contact Jayangi Ayesha Gamage, BLM Realty Specialist, at (702) 515-5189 or jgamage@blm.gov.