La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act
La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act
Plain Language Summary
# La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act – Summary **What the Bill Does:** This law allows the Department of the Interior to sell approximately 3,400 acres of federally-managed land in La Paz County, Arizona, to the county government at fair market value. The stated purpose is to enable solar energy development and job creation in the region. The land will no longer be available for federal mining or mineral leasing operations. **Key Protections and Conditions:** The law includes several safeguards for cultural and environmental concerns.
The federal government must exclude any land containing significant cultural, environmental, wildlife, or recreational resources from the sale. Additionally, La Paz County and any future owners must work with the Colorado River Indian Tribes to identify and protect tribal artifacts, minimize disturbance to these items, and allow tribal representatives to rebury any artifacts that are discovered during development activities. **Status:** This bill was signed into law during the 119th Congress, sponsored by Representative Paul Gosar (R-Arizona). It has already been enacted and is currently in effect.
CRS Official Summary
La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation ActThis bill directs the Department of the Interior, after receiving a request from La Paz County, Arizona, to convey approximately 3,400 acres of identified land managed by the Bureau of Land Management to the county for fair market value.Interior must exclude from the conveyance any federal land that contains significant cultural, environmental, wildlife, or recreational resources.As a condition of the conveyance, La Paz County and any subsequent owner mustmake good faith efforts to avoid disturbing tribal artifacts;minimize impacts on tribal artifacts if they are disturbed;coordinate with the Colorado River Indian Tribes Tribal Historic Preservation Office to identify artifacts of cultural and historic significance; andallow tribal representatives to rebury unearthed artifacts at, or near, where they were discovered.The federal land is withdrawn from the operation of U.S. mining and mineral leasing laws.
Latest Action
By Senator Lee from Committee on Energy and Natural Resources filed written report. Report No. 119-109.