Federal officials this week will auction off more than 280 acres southwest of Estrella Mountain Regional Park in Goodyear.

The 282.5-acre Bureau of Land Management parcel is valued at nearly $7 million and is being sold to purchase other public lands, said Chris Tincher, a BLM spokeswoman.

A public auction is scheduled for Thursday at the BLM Phoenix District Office, 21605 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix.

Bidding starts at $7 million or the highest sealed competitive bid. Sealed pre-auction bidding closes Tuesday.

Tincher said the BLM identified the land for sale under its land management policy, which calls for isolated parcels to be sold. Selling the parcel allows the agency to expand its holdings elsewhere by purchasing privately owned islands inside or plots adjacent to BLM land, Tincher said.

Kevin Harper, manager for the Lower Sonoran Field Office, said this is the first competitive sale of federal public land in Arizona since