06/17/09

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) _ The Nature Conservancy says it's time for
Jackson Hole Airport to pay up for its use of land inside Grand
Teton National Park.

The airport is located on 533 acres inside the park but hasn't
compensated the National Park Service for its use of the land for
the past 25 years.

Paul Hansen, Greater Yellowstone program director for The Nature
Conservancy, is proposing a $5 surcharge on plane tickets to help
buy land that could be added to Grand Teton. Hansen says that could
help Grand Teton buy roughly 900 acres of private inholdings worth
an estimated $80 million.

Grand Teton spokeswoman Jackie Skaggs says it's an interesting
idea but she's not sure how a surcharge could be worked out
legally.

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Information from: Jackson Hole News And Guide,
http://www.jhnewsandguide.com

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
APNP-06-17-09 0926MDT<