BLM approves small parcel of land sale to Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway

California
California Desert DO
Media Contact
Michelle Van Der Linden
A rail line runs through a large canyon

BARSTOW, CA. – The Bureau of Land Management today announced approval of a noncompetitive sale of approximately 30 acres of public lands in San Bernardino County to Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, which will use the land for the Barstow International Gateway project, an approximately 4,500-acre, $1.5-billion integrated rail facility that would transfer goods from international to domestic containers and create roughly 20,000 new jobs while helping to address logistics and supply chain issues. The project is also expected to help reduce freeway congestion around the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

BLM Barstow Field Office identified the public land, valued at $98,000, as suitable for private sale. It is isolated, surrounded by private lands, and difficult for the BLM to provide public access. Private land sales are subject to provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and BLM land sale regulations.

The decision record, environmental assessment, and related documents are available at the BLM National NEPA Register and the BLM Barstow Field Office, located at 2601 Barstow Road in Barstow, CA 92311, during business hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., five days a week, excluding federal holidays. The public may contact the office at 760-252-6000 to make visitation arrangements.


The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.