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MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2001

The Inspector General's office of the Department of Interior is criticizing the Bureau of Land Management for the way it conducts land appraisals.

A recent audit said the BLM adjusted values of land in order to benefit local, private landowners. The audit says this action gives the appearance of wrongdoing and conflict of interest.

BLM is also being criticized by two land groups, who want the agency's top appraisal official fired.

BLM is responsible for surveying the land held in trust for tribes and individual Indians but doesn't even have a plan in place do so, EDS Corporation recently told Secretary of Interior Gale Norton. A senior department official recently testified in a contempt trial that he wasn't aware that any of the 11 million acres of land held for individual Indians has been properly surveyed or appraised.

Get the Story:
Audit: BLM Adjusted Appraisals to Help Private Landowners (The Los Angeles Times in The Salt Lake Tribune 12/24)