Montana Senator Baucus to fight to purchase the Royal Teton Ranch for the Public-

(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.