Wyoming threatens to sell Teton NP

[chumley]

US national park faces sale
Governor of Wyoming threatens to sell chunk of Grand Teton unless White House boosts state's education budget
Chris McGreal in Washington
guardian.co.uk, Friday 6 August 2010 23.13 BST

Some might call it blackmail. The governor of Wyoming calls it desperation.

Governor Dave Freudenthal is threatening to sell off a chunk of one of America's most beautiful national parks unless the Obama administration comes up with more money to pay for education in the financially beleaguered state.

He says he will auction land valued at $125m (£80m) in the Grand Teton national park, one of the country's most stunning wildernesses. Part of the park was donated by John Rockefeller Jr.

Other parts belong to the state government including two parcels of land of about 550 hectares (1,360 acres) designated as school trust lands to be "managed for maximum profit" to generate funds for education in Wyoming.

At present Wyoming raises only about $3,000 a year from the land by leasing it to a cattle rancher. Officials have menacingly suggested that the property might make a nice site for a ski lodge.

Freudenthal recently wrote to the interior department asking the federal government to trade the park land for mineral royalties. "If the federal government won't dance with us, we will go look for another partner," said Freudenthal. "The purpose is to force the federal government to come to the table."

Washington says it is negotiating, but Freudenthal says the issue has dragged on for a decade. "The way the federal government has treated us to date is that we are like the people who own the land, but they figure there isn't anything else they can do with it," he said.

Previous negotiations led Washington to offer 800,000 acres of federal land in a swap but state officials rejected it as "trash land" not worth nearly as much as their "prime, in-park real estate".

"I admit we aren't as bright as those boys on the Potomac," said Freudenthal. "But this ain't our first county fair."

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2010

[Jim]

They're blowing smoke, but they can do that.

[big_load]

I first saw this elsewhere about a month ago. I agree with Jim_H, but it sure is frustrating. They're also not going to react well to today's relisting of wolves in the Northern Rockies on the endangered species list, which was a direct result of their failure to set reasonable policies.

[chumley]

I posted this in the "politics" section because its 100% politics.

I personally think that the governor of Wyoming is jealous of the attention that Jan Brewer is getting for challenging the feds with SB1070. I haven't looked to see if he's up for re-election in Nov, but I wouldn't doubt it. There is perhaps no more of a red state than WY (except UT), so any challenge to federal power should be a boost to his image within the state.

With that said, it does seem like there is some kind of land-swap in order, despite the fact that it will still remain a protected parcel within a national park. We know how those swaps work politically here in AZ too!

[big_load]

With that said, it does seem like there is some kind of land-swap in order, despite the fact that it will still remain a protected parcel within a national park.

I think a land swap would be fine. WY will never do it, since it would be equivalent to releasing the hostage.

[Jeffshadows]

How sad that WY is the only state where the president cannot use the Antiquities Act to end foolishness like this.

Additionally, I feel sorry for anyone who is jealous of Jan Brewer for any reason.