| WASHINGTON,
D.C. - U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont) today rejected
the notion that the public may not be able to afford
to purchase the Royal Teton Ranch just north of Yellowstone
National Park.
"Those who do not learn from history are doomed
to repeat it" said Senator Baucus referring to
failed efforts to acquire the Royal Teton Ranch in the
mid-1980s. "We let this slip away once, we must
not do so again."
In the mid-1980s, the Forbes family offered to sell
the entire ranch to the public at about half the current
price. However, President Reagan froze funding for Land
and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) purchases and thus
the public missed its opportunity to protect these lands.
The property was purchased by the Church Universal and
Triumphant who recently indicated a willingness to sell
much of the ranch including critical wildlife winter
range to the public.
"If we do not act quickly, Montanans will see trophy
homes instead of trophy elk," Baucus said. "I,
for one, am determined to make sure that doesn't happen."
Yesterday, Baucus met with top officials from the White
House to urge them to make the Royal Teton Ranch purchase
a top priority. He plans to meet later this week with
members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees
to push for additional funding.
Because Congress has not fully funded the Land and Water
Conservation Fund this year, some have suggested that
the Royal Teton Ranch purchase may fall by the wayside
in favor of completing the Gallatin Land Exchange and
the Lindbergh Lake acquisition. Earlier this year, at
Baucus' request, the White House earmarked $13 million
for the Royal Teton Ranch purchase from funds released
in 1998. That earmark has been held up by Republicans
in the U.S. House of Representatives.
"Some say that we can't afford to complete all
three projects. I say we can't afford not to,"
Baucus said. "Congress is acting irresponsibly
by not placing a higher priority on wildlife protection.
We must act decisively today so that our children and
grandchildren can enjoy these lands tomorrow."
Baucus is urging Congress to release $16.65 million
to complete the Gallatin Land Exchange, purchase phase
one of the Royal Teton Ranch, and purchase phases I
and II of Lindbergh Lake. In addition, Senator Baucus
is pursuing funding for the Rye Creek purchase in the
Bitterroot Valley.
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