Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks State Land Exchange
In accordance with the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the New Mexico State Land Office (NMSLO) are cooperatively working together on a land exchange involving lands in Grant, Luna, Hidalgo and Doña Ana Counties in New Mexico.
The current proposal would exchange New Mexico State Trust lands and minerals in and around the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks (OMDP) National Monument to the BLM, for Federal lands and minerals located in the BLM Las Cruces District Office (LCDO) to the NMSLO. Land Exchanges are conducted on an equal market value for market value basis.
The Federal lands conveyed to the State of New Mexico through this land exchange would be available for higher intensity uses with the potential to generate increased revenue for New Mexico's public schools and other public beneficiaries. These acquisitions would assist, via NMSLO commercial leasing, the growth of development around the Las Cruces Industrial Park, the Las Cruces and Doña Ana (Santa Teresa) Airports, the Union Pacific Railroad facility in Santa Teresa, industrial parks in Santa Teresa, the Santa Teresa International Port of Entry (border crossing with Chihuahua, Mexico) and other growth engines in Southwest New Mexico. The lands also have exceptional potential to produce value from leasing related to renewable energy and rights-of-ways for powerline and other infrastructure. The NMSLO will also continue agricultural/grazing leasing on those exchanged with the BLM that have current leases.
By eliminating mixed BLM/NMSLO ownership, the proposed exchange would consolidate ownership of Federal lands, therefore increasing management efficiencies. The public would see benefits from the consolidation of public lands including increased recreational access opportunities.
Completion of this exchange will require preparation of an environmental assessment (EA) in conformance with the 1969 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The EA process will involve extensive collaboration with members of the public, Tribes, and local governments. Throughout the development of this EA, the BLM will provide several opportunities for public input.