Which legal description method is overseen by the Bureau of Land Management?

The rectangular government survey system is a method of legal description that is indeed overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This system is a standardized way of describing land in the United States, initiated in the late 18th century to facilitate the sale and ownership of land in the western territories.

In this method, land is divided into a grid system of townships and ranges, allowing for precise identification of parcels of land based on their geographic location. Each township is typically six miles by six miles and is further subdivided into sections, which can be divided into smaller parcels as necessary. The utility of this system lies in its uniformity and ease of use, especially in areas where metes and bounds descriptions may be complicated or impractical due to the lack of physical landmarks.

The other methods listed, such as metes and bounds, lot and block, and subdivision maps, are not overseen by the BLM. Instead, these methods may be more widely used in local jurisdictions for specific developments or more traditional property descriptions based on physical features and surveyed points. Each method has its specific use cases, but the rectangular government survey is unique in its national oversight by the Bureau of Land Management.