WYOMING — On Thursday, Nov. 7, in a three-to-two vote, Wyoming’s State Board of Land Commissioners (SBLC) approved the sale of the Kelly Parcel to the National Park Service, for no less than $100 million, contingent on hunting and grazing allowance and an amendment to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Rock Springs Plan (RMP).
The SBLC — which includes Governor Mark Gordon, Secretary of State Chuck Gray, Auditor Kristi Racines, Treasurer Curt Meier and Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder — made the call to incorporate the 640-acre state school trust parcel into Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) for perpetuity.
Wyoming State Representative Mike Yin told Buckrail that he was happy with the Board’s decision.
“I’m excited for the win-win result where the Park protects the parcel for all time, and the State actually gets to help pay for our schools with the revenue from the investment income coming from the parcel sales being invested,” Yin said.
The parcel is the last remaining state-owned land within the exterior boundaries of GTNP. The Kelly parcel borders GTNP to the north, west and south, the National Elk Refuge to the south and the Bridger-Teton National Forest on the eastern boundary.
Over the past three years, thousands of Wyomingites voiced their support for conserving the parcel during public hearings and rallies. Jackson’s Town Council drafted a letter to OSLI urging the board to sell the parcel directly to GTNP. The Teton County Board of County Commissioners also sent a letter urging the board to not auction the land. Teton Council participated in public surveys and submitted impassioned letters to preserve the land.
During today’s special meeting, the SBLC discussed two possible amendments attached to the parcel’s sale, but both failed in a vote of three to two. The first amendment would have required the contingency of a land swap in the Powder River Basin for mineral extraction. The second amendment would have required an up-to-date land appraisal of the Kelly Parcel.
Degenfelder and Gray voted against the sale of the Kelly Parcel in their effort to create a better deal to maximize revenue for the State of Wyoming.
“The timing on this is not right,” Gray said. “Why would we want Biden and Harris to move forward with a record of decision before the Trump administration begins. The price is undervalued and it feels too rushed. We have to get the right deal for our state.”
Racines reminded the Board that beginning negotiations for the Kelly Parcel began under the Trump administration. Meier said that the state can still accomplish land exchanges that are not contingent on the sale of the Kelly Parcel.
“There are parcels in Teton County that are even more valuable,” Meier said. “We are not giving up on land exchanges. We don’t need additional leverage because in the next four years we now have a friendly administration.”
Meier explained that the disposal of the Kelly Parcel can now be put directly back into education.
“The financial return is a $100M sale price,” Meier said. “The proceeds will go into a permanent school fund, and in 10 years the appreciation return would be over $64M.
During the meeting, many residents addressed their concerns to the SBLC. Wyoming resident Chris Peterson told the Board that he is “put off” that some people want to use the Kelly Parcel as a bargaining chip for the Rocks Springs Plan.
State Senator Mike Gierau urged the SBLC to vote yes on the Kelly Parcel sale.
“Voting yes today keeps doors open and allows all the pressure to go to our friends in Washington,” Gierau said. “The philanthropic interests will dispose of their funds before Dec. 31. Today, we have an opportunity that comes around very seldom.”
State Representative Sandy Newsome said that the funding to acquire the Kelly Parcel is available now.
“It’s important to move with this in a timely manner,” Newsome said. “Buying this land will preserve its wild species and its legacy.”
According to the State Legislature, closing the sale of the Kelly Parcel will not occur unless all funds are received, and if the BLM will align with the State’s request to oil and gas leasing in the RMP. The closure of the sale will require a determination by Gordon that the BLM does not choose Alternative B in the RMP, which prioritizes the conservation of land and wildlife in the Red Desert region of Wyoming, according to the BLM.
