Land department — property management
Exchange of USA land rights
The exchange of USA land rights is a complex real estate transaction involving
Salt River Project and the Bureau of Reclamation.
Salt River Project (SRP) processes the request through the Bureau of Reclamation
(BOR) and the process takes approximately six to nine months to complete.
The applicant pays SRP a non-refundable upfront fee of $4,000 ($7,500 as of May
1, 2012) to initiate the land exchange.
These funds reimburse SRP for its administrative costs and for the
required Phase I Environmental Assessment.
In addition, the BOR requires a deposit of $7,500 to initiate a federal realty
action. The BOR bills actual costs.
If those costs exceed $7,500, the BOR
will invoice you for the difference; if the costs are less than $7,500, the BOR
will refund the difference.
The real estate transaction requires the preparation of signed and sealed legal
descriptions, title reports, and the staking of the existing and proposed USA
land rights for the Phase I assessment.
No grading or disturbance of the soil is permitted until SRP releases the job for
construction upon written approval by the BOR.
Do not record a plat over the proposed USA lands.
The USA will not accept property subject to a recorded plat.
A plat may be recorded once the new
land right has been conveyed to the USA.
After the Field Solicitor for the BOR has issued verification that all
requirements have been met and approved the new land rights, SRP will forward
the appropriate conveyance document to you for execution.
Upon recording of the conveyance
document and receipt of the title policy, the BOR will notify SRP that
construction activities can commence.
After the new facilities have been constructed, inspected, and accepted into the
irrigation system, the BOR will convey the land rights no longer needed to the
property owner.
For more information concerning the exchange of USA land rights, contact Joel
Gilmore at (602) 236-3150.
To schedule the initial meeting to discuss relocation of Project facilities and
federal land rights, contact Harold Biever at (602) 236-2977.
