STATE LAND OFFICE
Notice of Public Meeting to Receive Public Comment Regarding
Proposed Sale of State Trust Lands
Land Sale No. LS-0121 (LE-1414)
The New Mexico State Land Office (“SLO”) gives notice in accordance with NMSA 1978, Section 19-7-9.1 that it will hold a public meeting Tuesday, August 2, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. MDT to 7:30 p.m. MDT, at the Rio Rancho City Hall, Governing Body Overflow Room, 3200 Civic Center Cir NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144. Those wishing to participate by Zoom may join the meeting at the following address, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82161470204?pwd=YUpsNlZlUzNCOENLbmJRTmtMMlhRZz09 . Any change to the location or time will be posted with a final agenda on the SLO webpage (http://www.nmstatelands.org) at least 72 hours prior to the date and time specified above.
The purpose of the meeting is to receive public comment regarding a proposed sale of 339.7256 acres of state trust lands (the “Subject Property”) located in what is known as the Loma Barbon Tract B near the far northwestern edge of Rio Rancho, Sandoval County, New Mexico, south of U.S. Highway 550 and east of US HWY 550 and is east of Northwest Loop Road NE.
Sale of the Subject Property has been proposed in response to an application submitted to the State Land Office by the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA), which seeks to develop and use the Subject Property for a veterans cemetery. In connection with its proposed acquisition of the Subject Property, the VA issued an Environmental Assessment, dated May 7, 2021, and a Finding of No Significant Impact, which can be found here: https://www.cfm.va.gov/environmental/index.asp.
The Subject Property currently is vacant and undeveloped. While the VA has indicated it intends to develop and use the Subject Property for a veterans cemetery, If the SLO decides to proceed with a sale of the Subject Property, the SLO would conduct a sale auction with open bidding available to other potential purchasers who may wish to use the land for other purposes. Therefore, the effect or potential effect of the proposed sale on surrounding lands includes those associated with development and use of the Subject Property for a veterans cemetery (including construction of interior roads and other infrastructure and increased traffic) and/or effects associated with other development of the Subject Property in accordance with applicable laws, ordinances and regulations, the specifics of which are not known at this time.
Some, but not all, of the land surrounding the Subject Property is state trust land under the custody, control and management of the Commissioner of Public Lands.
If the SLO makes a final decision to proceed with a potential sale of the Subject Property, the Commissioner of Public Lands would conduct a public auction in accordance with the New Mexico Enabling Act (36 Stat. 557); NMSA Sections 19-7-1, 19-7-2 and 19-7-9; and State Land Office Rule 19.2.14 NMAC. The Commissioner of Public Lands would issue a notice of public auction published for at least 10 weeks as required by law soliciting bids on the land. A minimum sale price would be established in accordance with an appraisal to ensure that any sale is for at least the true value of the land. The land would be offered for a cash sale (i.e., full payment in cash due at closing) as a single tract. Additional requirements may be established for submitting bids and completing the sale. The Commissioner would also reserve the right to reject all bids and withdraw the land from sale or to reinitiate the process of offering the land for sale on the same or different terms. The purchaser would be required to pay all costs associated with the transaction, including but not limited to the cost of the appraisal, advertisement of the auction, and recording fees. Conveyance of the land would be subject to all valid and existing leases, easements, restrictions, and reservations, including a reservation to the State of New Mexico of all minerals and geothermal resources in, under or upon the subject land. The SLO may offer a negative easement or surface non-disturbance agreement with regard to the reserved minerals and geothermal resources.
If you have any questions please contact Francesca Di Palma, Director of Constituent Services, at 505-827-5760 or email fdipalma@slo.state.nm.us.
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