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TUCSON, Ariz. – In a move that will expand recreation and hunting access while allowing for responsible mineral development, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today published a Record of Decision (ROD) approving the proposed land exchange between the BLM and ASARCO. Three Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendments facilitating the exchange have also been approved. 

The exchange supports Secretarial Order 3347, which directs the BLM to enhance conservation stewardship, increase recreation and conservation opportunities for all Americans, and improve the management of game species and their habitats. 

“The Department is pleased with the BLM’s efforts to finalize its analysis and get one step closer to the completion of the Ray Land Exchange,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Casey Hammond. “The land exchange will allow for the responsible development of copper for numerous uses and support local economic development, while also improving big game migration habitat and expanding access into existing public lands in Arizona for recreational and hunting opportunities.” 

A Notice of Decision (NOD) will follow which will initiate a 45-day protest period for the land exchange decisions. The BLM will implement the land exchange at the end of the land exchange protest period and the resolution of any protests.

Under the approved land exchange, the BLM transfers 9,339 acres of public land adjacent to ASARCO’s Ray Mine Complex and Copper Butte properties near Kearny, for mine expansion. This includes 7,196 acres of full estate and 2,143 acres of subsurface mineral estate, the surface of which is already owned by ASARCO. 

In exchange, the BLM acquires 7,298 acres ASARCO-owned land in Pinal and Mohave Counties, consolidating checkerboard land ownership in those areas, allowing better management of wildlife migration corridors, and improving access to existing public lands for hunting and other family recreation. 

The Final SEIS analyzed potential environmental impacts related to the proposed land exchange. Originally, up to 10,976 acres of public lands were proposed for exchange. However, updated appraisals in 2018 revealed that the value of the public lands had increased since the exchange was originally proposed. Federal law requires that the lands exchanged be equal in value, with no more than a 25% cash equalization payment included. In order to equalize the exchange, the BLM’s decision involves exchanging less public lands than originally proposed. ASARCO will make up the remaining difference in value with a cash equalization payment.

The BLM decision amends three RMPs in order to facilitate the transfer of the lands identified in the exchange. Public input was an important part of developing the Final SEIS and Proposed RMP Amendments. The BLM conducted four public meetings in Arizona, among other outreach activities. 

The original environmental analysis of the Ray Land Exchange was completed by the BLM in 1999. The land exchange was approved on April 27, 2000, but was later set aside as a result of a legal challenge. This ROD issues decisions based on the analysis in the Final SEIS which supplements the previous environmental analysis and updates information to reflect any changes in environmental conditions in the project area, as well as any applicable environmental laws or regulatory policies that may have come into effect since 1999.

The documents, maps and other information about the approved land exchange are available online at https://go.usa.gov/xEnKR. Protests related to the proposed land exchange, as described in the Notice of Decision, must be submitted in writing to:

State Director
Attn: Project Manager - Ray Land Exchange protest  
U. S. Bureau of Land Management
Arizona State Office
One North Central Avenue, Suite 800
Phoenix, Arizona  85004-4427