Hi Ken

Call BLM first and ask. If they say it is open then do the research to prove to yourself it is open. If the BLM makes a mistake you do not get your money back they are only doing it as a courtesy but it is easy. Check Platt ;maps in GLO records (General Land Office records) on line. Check both Platt, patents and Historical index records. Then go to the LR2000 and check for other claims as well as Case redecoration reports, ROW's and acreage reports for section you are interested in. Check for information from the Geo-communicator for all possible issues and cross reference information from other reports you find in other areas. This is a good start if anything looks odd then do more research. Many times you have to look up PLO also. To be sure it is a lot of work many people do not look this far. It just depends how sure you want to be. Check land status for wilderness, ACEC sites, historical sites, recreational sites removed from mineral entry and the list goes on and on. Areas can be removed from location for many reasons both permanently and temporary. Just go till you are confident it is good or not good.  

Ok, I have been researching my area of interest on BLM's LR2000. I found there are claims in the area, but the information only shows the meridian, township and range. Is there a way I can narrow these claims down to the coodinates so I can use google earth to isolate my area of interest. They are quite a distance from my home and I do not want to waste a trip to the area if it is already claimed.

Hi Ken

You can pull up the serial register page for the claim(s) which will narrow it down to a quarter section. If any claims are in the quarter section that you are looking at then it would be wise to call the blm state office and get the location notices with amendments and maps to all claims in the quarter section that you are interested in. This is the only way to be sure. Remember that if someone has gone out and located in your area within the last 90 days they may still record and file their location with the blm. Their location may be as much as 90 days before they filed. They have to file with county and blm within 90 days of valid location. Some blm offices will email the location information to existing claims to your email, if they will this is the way I prefer to get it myself. The cost is very nominal no matter how they send it to you. Options are mail, fax, email. Hope this helps.