BLM Transfers Land to NPS

Date: July 27, 2007
Contact: Lyn Carranza, [phone] ext. 245

Bureau of Land Management Transfers Land to the National Park Service

Petrified Forest National Park, AZ – On May 18, 2007, the Secretary of the Interior directed the Bureau of Land Management to transfer administrative jurisdiction of approximately 15,228 acres of public lands to the National Park Service. “These lands are located within the administrative boundary of Petrified Forest National Park established by the Petrified Forest National Park Expansion Act of 2004,” stated Acting Superintendent Brad Traver.

On December 3, 2004 President George W. Bush signed a bill that authorized expanded boundaries for Petrified Forest National Park. The expansion could potentially increase park acreage from 93,533 acres to approximately 218,533 acres, an increase of 125,000 acres.  This could more than double the size of Petrified Forest National Park.

The area included in the expansion is a checkerboard of federal, state, and private lands. Several private land owners in the area have indicated their desire to sell their land. The Bureau of Land Management and the State of Arizona are also supportive of the park expansion.

In accordance with the Expansion Act, the Secretary shall permit the continuation of grazing on land transferred to the National Park Service.  The Bureau of Land Management will continue to administer the grazing on the transferred lands through the end of February, 2008 at which time the leases will be transferred to the Park Service for their management.

Public access will continue to be restricted until land management issues, including land use considerations, and legal public access routes, are addressed

Public Land Order No. 7675 which directed the transfer was published in the Federal Register Volume 72 No. 9.

For information call [phone] weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time; or write to the Superintendent, Petrified Forest National Park, P.O. Box 2217, Petrified Forest, AZ 86028; or e-mail the park.