# La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act

This bill transfers about 3,400 acres of federal land in Arizona from the federal government to La Paz County. The land is currently managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and the bill allows the county to take ownership of it so they can develop solar energy projects and create jobs in the area.

La Paz County will need to pay the fair market value for this land, which will be determined by a professional appraisal. The county also has to cover all the costs involved in the transfer, including surveys, appraisals, and administrative fees. The money the federal government receives from this sale goes into a special account used for other federal land transactions. The bill does exclude any land that has significant cultural, environmental, wildlife, or recreational value, so those areas won't be transferred.

The bill includes important protections for Native American artifacts and history. Before any development happens, the county must work with the Colorado River Indian Tribes to identify and protect tribal artifacts. If construction accidentally unearths any artifacts, the county must try to minimize damage and allow tribal representatives to rebury them where they were found. Additionally, the land cannot be used for mining or mineral leasing—it's restricted to other uses like solar energy development. This means the bill is specifically designed to encourage renewable energy projects in La Paz County while protecting tribal cultural resources and preventing extractive industries on the transferred land.