BLM 2024 LETTER LEASE SAN TAN REGIONAL PARK.PDF

United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Lower Sonoran Field Office
Phoenix District
2020 East Bell Road

Phoenix, Arizona 85022 REC E IVE D

www.blm.gov/arizona

AUG 2 0 2024
AUG 1 3 2024
In Reply Refer to: MARICOPA COUNTY
2912 (AZP020) PARKS & RECREATION DEPT.

AZAZ106187134 (AZA-029177-02)
CERTIFIED RETURN MAIL: 7022 2410 0003 0205 1685

Mr. R.J. Cardin

Director Maricopa County Parks and Recreation
41835 N. Castle Hot Springs Road

Morristown, Arizona 85342

Mr. Cardin,

On June 1, 1999, a Recreation and Public Purpose Act (R&PP) lease application was filed by Maricopa
County Parks and Recreation Department (MCPR) with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The
application could not be processed until the Lower Sonoran Resource Management Plan was completed.
Due to jurisdiction, staffing issues, other MCPR priorities, and BLM workload and priorities, the status of
this application has remained in a pending status.

The proposed lease was originally analyzed in 2004 through a robust master plan and Environmental
Assessment (EA) process. The San Tan Mountain Regional Park Cooperative Recreation Management
Agreement, signed by both the MCPR and the BLM, is the instrument that allowed MCPR to manage the
San Tan Mountain Regional Park until September 9, 2013.

On November 25, 2013, the BLM accepted the MCPR offer of the "contribution of services" to manage the
San Tan Mountain Regional Park in accordance with the BLM approved park plan. BLM believed this was
an effective interim tool that both agencies could utilize until the R&PP application could be further
processed and concurrence could be reached with Pinal County. Section 307(c) of the Federal Land Policy
and Management Act of 1976 provided for the Secretary of Interior to accept the "contribution of services"
for the management and protection of public lands.

On September 15, 2021, MCPRD stated the intent to move forward with the R&PP Application process for
San Tan Mountain Regional Park. A Determination of NEPA Adequacy for analyzed based off the original
EA and was signed on June 12, 2024.

On July 15, 2024, the BLM received a letter from Pinal County concurring with the BLM potentially
entering an R&PP lease with Maricopa County for San Tan Regional Park.

INTERIOR REGION 8 e LOWER COLORADO BASIN

ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA‘, NEVADA"
“PARTIAL

2

The above referenced application dated June 1, 1999, for BLM administered public land is legally described
as follows:

Gila and Salt River Meridian, Arizona,
T.3S.,R.7E,,

sec. 4, S1/2SW1/4, W1/2SW1/4SE1/4;

sec. 8, El/2, El/2SwW1/4;

sec. 9, W1/2, SE1/4, S1/2NE1/4;

sec. 10, W1/2NE1/4, W1/2;

sec. 16, N1/2;

sec. 17, El/2, El/2NW1/4;

sec. 19, Lots 2 thru 4, El/2, SE1/4NW 1/4, E1/2SW1/4;

sec. 20, E1/2E1/2;

sec. 21, All;

sec. 22, SW1/4;

sec. 28, All;

sec. 29, All;

sec. 30, All;

sec. 31, All;

sec. 32, All.

The area described contains 6,908.61 acres.

The land has been classified suitable for use under the R&PP Act, and a 25-year lease is hereby offered.
This R&PP lease will be offered under the provisions of the Act of June 14, 1926, (44 Stat. 741; 43 U.S.C.
869) as amended.

The lease being offered contains a privilege of renewal. A request for renewal should be filed at least 180
days prior to the expiration of the offered lease.

If you concur, the enclosed lease forms are to be signed by an authorized official and returned to this office
within sixty (60) days from receipt of this offer. There is no advance rental required for this lease. A copy
of the executed lease will be returned to you. Failure to comply may result in the issuance of a decision
rejecting your application.

Sincerely,

homas
Phoenix District Manager