OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 20, 2000

Stephanie Hanna (O) 202/501-4633
John Wright (O) 202/208-6416

Secretary of the Interior and Arizona Governor Agree on Statewide Land Exchange

Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt and Arizona Governor Jane Hull today announced they have reached an agreement aimed at implementing a major exchange of state and federal lands in Arizona.

The agreement, the culmination of several months of discussions, paves the way for the eventual transfer of approximately 150,000 acres of State trust land to the federal government. Many of these lands are scattered inholdings within several National Parks, Monuments, Wilderness Areas and Wildlife Refuges within the State of Arizona. The proposal also includes tracts of state trust lands in the southern Bradshaw Mountains in the Lake Pleasant area, and state lands near Holbrook which could be added to Petrified Forest National Park.

In return, the State will receive acreage of approximately equivalent value from federal lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Among other things, the exchange will allow the federal government to satisfy its last remaining obligation arising from the federal land grant to the State in the 1910 Statehood Enabling Act.

"This is another very important step in our continuing effort to serve important national conservation purposes, help provide welcome open space in rapidly expanding urban areas, and make sure states realize value from their State school trust lands," Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt said. "These are truly 'win-win' situations." He added, "We reached a similar agreement in Utah a few years ago, which Congress promptly approved. I am delighted that we are on the same path in my home State. I hope Congress is paying attention and will put itself in a position to move forward swiftly once the details are worked out."

The agreement includes a map which identifies the state and federal land that may be transferred pursuant to the agreement. The specific details and parcels of land to be transferred to the State remain to be determined following a valuation process to ensure that both parties receive approximately equal value. "Once the specifics are settled, actual implementation and transfer of the lands may happen relatively quickly, if Congress ratifies the deal, as it did in Utah."Babbitt said.

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