By KRWG News
New Mexico – The state attorney general's office has questioned appraisals in land swaps proposed by Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons in the popular White Peak hunting area in northern New Mexico.
The state Land Office wants to exchange property with the Express UU Bar Ranch, Stanley Ranch, CS Ranch and William Galloway.
However, Chief Deputy Attorney General Albert Lama says an independent review found several significant defects in the Express UU Bar Ranch appraisal.
His office has asked that the exchange not go through until the concerns are addressed.
Land Office chief counsel Robert Stranahan says some concerns were misunderstandings of the process.
The attorney general's office is still reviewing the other proposed exchanges.
If the exchanges occur, the Land Office would own 44,000 acres of contiguous land.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.