Notice2026-07397
Notice of Realty Action: Recreation and Public Purposes Act Classification; Rapides and LaSalle Parishes, Louisiana
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 16, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentLand Management Bureau
Abstract
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Southeastern States District Office proposes to classify approximately 158.41 acres of public land for lease and/or subsequent conveyance in accordance with the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, as amended (R&PP) to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). The LDWF has filed an application to develop and manage the lands for recreational activities such as hunting, trapping, boating, camping, and bird watching. The BLM is seeking public comments as to the suitability of the lands for lease or conveyance under the R&PP Act. This notice segregates the land from all other forms of appropriation under the public land laws, including the general mining laws, except for lease/ conveyance under the R&PP Act, and leasing under the mineral and geothermal leasing laws, and initiates a period for the public to comment on or protest the proposed classification of the parcel for lease or conveyance.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 73 (Thursday, April 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 73 (Thursday, April 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20478-20479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07397]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[A2407-014-004-065516; #O2412-014-004-047181.1; LLESJ00000]
Notice of Realty Action: Recreation and Public Purposes Act
Classification; Rapides and LaSalle Parishes, Louisiana
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of realty action.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Southeastern States
District Office proposes to classify approximately 158.41 acres of
public land for lease and/or subsequent conveyance in accordance with
the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, as amended (R&PP) to the
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). The LDWF has
filed an application to develop and manage the lands for recreational
activities such as hunting, trapping, boating, camping, and bird
watching. The BLM is seeking public comments as to the suitability of
the lands for lease or conveyance under the R&PP Act. This notice
segregates the land from all other forms of appropriation under the
public land laws, including the general mining laws, except for lease/
conveyance under the R&PP Act, and leasing under the mineral and
geothermal leasing laws, and initiates a period for the public to
comment on or protest the proposed classification of the parcel for
lease or conveyance.
DATES: Interested parties may submit written statements with their
comments regarding the proposal to classify the lands for lease or
conveyance for development by the LDWF, on or before June 1, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Mail written statements to the BLM Southeastern States
District Office, Will Harris, Realty Specialist, 273 Market Street,
Flowood, Mississippi 39232.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Will Harris, Realty Specialist, by
telephone at 601-919-4685, or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8dfaeae5ecffffe4fecdefe1e0a3eae2fb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7d0a1a151c0f0f140e3d1f1110531a120b">[email protected]</span></a>. Individuals
in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have
a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United
States should use the relay services offered within their country to
make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed R&PP classification and lease/
sale is consistent with the BLM's Louisiana Approved Land Use Plan,
dated September 2002. The subject tract is located within the Rapides
and LaSalle Parishes and are legally described as:
Louisiana Meridian, Louisiana
T. 5 N., R. 3 E.,
Sec. 26, NW\1/4\.
The area described contains 158.41 acres.
Publication of this notice segregates the lands described above
from all other forms of appropriation under the public land laws,
including the general mining laws, except for lease/conveyance under
the R&PP Act, and leasing under the mineral and geothermal leasing
laws.
The LDWF proposes to develop and manage the lands for recreational
activities such as hunting, trapping, boating, camping, and bird
watching. The subject lands are located within the Dewey W. Wills
Wildlife Management Area. The proposed realty action would increase
oversight potential of the tract by state government personnel
resulting in a reduction of unauthorized trespass issues, improved
management of invasive plant species, regained soil stability, and
expanded public recreation experiences. Plans for the R&PP project
include construction of a parking lot and boat launch, property
boundary identification, entrance gate painting and invasive species
reduction and control.
The lease, when issued, would be subject to specific terms and
conditions identified as mitigation provisions, or otherwise as
identified in the related EA. The conveyance document, if and when
issued, would be subject to the provisions of the R&PP Act, to all
applicable regulations of the Secretary of the Interior, and the
following terms and conditions:
1. Valid existing rights.
2. Any other rights or reservations that the authorized officer
deems appropriate to ensure public access and proper management of
Federal land and interests.
3. A reservation of all mineral deposits in the lands so patented,
and the right of the United States, or persons authorized by the United
States, to prospect for, mine and remove such deposits from the same
under applicable laws and regulations as the Secretary of the Interior
may prescribe.
4. The following covenants:
a. The lessee/patentee, its successors or assigns, by accepting a
lease/patent, agrees to indemnify, defend, or hold the United States,
its officers, agents, representatives, and employees (hereinafter
``United States'') harmless from any costs, damages, claims, causes of
action, penalties, fines, liabilities, and judgments of any kind or
nature arising out of, or in connection with the lessee's/patentee's
use, occupancy, or operations on the leased/patented real property.
b. If any cultural resources are encountered during project ground-
disturbing activities, work would cease, and the applicant shall
contact the BLM immediately. Work shall not resume until written
authorization to proceed was issued by both regulatory agencies.
c. A licensed archeologist shall be present during the initial
ground disturbance activities. In addition, prior to the start of any
excavation of the project site, the BLM shall be notified.
[[Page 20479]]
All vehicles and construction equipment shall be properly maintained to
minimize exhaust emissions and shall be properly muffled to minimize
noise.
d. Any equipment or materials transported onto BLM managed lands
for maintenance or repair of the proposed facilities to be constructed
on the site shall be promptly removed upon completion of the project.
e. Project construction shall not entail negative impacts to native
vegetations components or potential habitat for any Endangered Species
Act listed species.
f. Any vehicles that are brought in from outside of the area shall
be power washed, including the undercarriage, to prevent introduction
and spread of noxious weeds and/or invasive species.
5. The patentee, by acceptance of this patent, agrees for itself
and its successors in interest that a declaration of termination is
whole or in part of this grant shall, at the option of the Secretary or
his delegate, operate to revest in the United States full title to the
land involved in the declaration.
6. Provided, the above-described property, along with the rights,
title and interest, shall immediately revert to the United States,
after notice and opportunity for a hearing, upon a finding that:
a. The patentee, or its successor in interest, attempts to transfer
title to or control over the property to another.
b. The property is devoted to a use other than that for which it
was conveyed without the consent of the BLM.
c. The property has not been used for the purpose for which it was
conveyed for a 5-year period.
d. The patentee, or its successor in interest, has failed to follow
the approved development plan or management plan.
e. The property ceases to be maintained in a manner consistent with
the provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.).
f. The patentee, or its successor in interest, shall not undertake,
nor be permitted to undertake any construction alteration, or
remodeling activity or any other thing on the property which would
affect the structural integrity or appearance of the property without
the express prior written permission of the State Historic Preservation
Officer.
g. The patentee, or its successor in interest, has failed to
preserve and maintain the property in accordance with the recommended
approaches in the most recent version of the Secretary of the
Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for
Rehabilitating Historic Buildings (National Park Service, 1990) in
order to preserve and enhance those qualities that make the property
eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
Pursuant to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as amended,
the BLM completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) that evaluated the
proposed action and alternatives. The EA and Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI) were made available for public review, and comments were
received March 1 through March 16, 2024. Notifications were also sent
to holders of rights-of-ways in the Big Saline Bayou tract and other
interested parties, including adjacent landowners and local government
officials. The EA and FONSI can be found at: <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2025738/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2025738/510</a>.
Interested parties may submit comments to this Notice of Realty
Action (NORA) regarding the classification of lands as being suitable
for development and management for recreational activities such as
hunting, trapping, boating, camping, and bird watching, whether the
land is physically suited for the proposal, whether the use will
maximize the future use or uses of the land, whether the use is
consistent with local planning and zoning, or if the use is consistent
with State and Federal programs, and whether the BLM followed proper
administrative procedures regarding this realty action. Comments on
this NORA must be submitted in writing and sent to the BLM Southeastern
States District Office (see ADDRESSES section above) on or before the
date listed under the DATES section above.
Any adverse comments received will be considered protests and will
be reviewed by the BLM Eastern State Director, who may sustain, vacate,
or modify this realty action decision. In the absence of any adverse
comments to the NORA, the classification of lands will become effective
60 days from the date of publication of this notice in the Federal
Register.
Before including your address, phone number, email, address, or
other personal identifying information, 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
statement to withhold your personal identifying information from public
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Authority: 43 CFR 2741.5.
Shayne Banks,
Acting District Manager, BLM Southeastern States District Office.
[FR Doc. 2026-07397 Filed 4-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-18-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on April 16, 2026.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.