Wyoming is trying to force the Interior Department to trade land, minerals or mineral royalties for 1,366 acres it owns within the majestic park. If the foot-dragging feds don't agree to a deal — soon — Freudenthal threatens to put a For Sale sign on the property.
Wyoming has owned the land since statehood in 1890, when the federal government set aside land in new Western states to be mined, logged or leased to raise money for public education. Wyoming kept its so-called "school sections" after Grand Teton National Park was established in 1950.
The state has tried for a decade to negotiate some kind of trade. Saying that his patience is running out, Freudenthal, a Democrat, sent an ultimatum recently to park Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott.
"I think he wants to pound the (for sale) sign in himself," said Ed Grant, director of the Office of State Lands and Investments.
Wyoming gets just $3,000 a year from the land by leasing it for cattle grazing. Sold with the proceeds invested at 3%, the land easily could bring in $3.75 million a year.
The state constitution requires state officials to manage state lands for maximum profit. Their oaths of office require them to act.
"If it's to recreate on, or if it's a new ski lodge, highest and best use," said Susan Child, deputy director of the state lands office. "It's obviously not grazing."
Even in pro-development Wyoming, however, selling off land in a national park isn't a popular idea. Some are protesting already.
But Freudenthal, who has a long history of run-ins with the Interior Department over endangered species and snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park, isn't stepping on any toes he hasn't smashed already. What's more, he's wrapping up his second term and will leave office next year. He's all but enshrined as one of the most popular governors in Wyoming history.
"We're going to continue to push on it," he said. "Somehow we've got to get some attention."
Freudenthal certainly has grabbed the park's.
"These are wildlife-rich habitats completely surrounded by pristine park land," said park spokeswoman Jackie Skaggs. "For obvious reasons, Grand Teton National Park would be very, very concerned and disappointed if these lands were sold for development."
A deal wouldn't be unprecedented: Utah in 1999 worked out an elaborate swap involving nearly 600 square miles of state land within several national parks, monuments and recreation areas. The state got $50 million plus 240 square miles of federal land in return.
In 2003, Republican Sen. Craig Thomas got a bill passed that was supposed to encourage some kind of swap in Grand Teton. But Thomas died in 2007 and a deal has been elusive.
The Interior Department continues to work with Wyoming to resolve the matter, said Interior spokeswoman Kendra Barkoff.
Both sides are working on getting an updated appraisal for the state land. A 2005 appraisal put the land's value at $98.5 million. Wyoming officials figure it's now worth between $100 million and $125 million.
The land consists of two parcels of a square mile each plus a handful of other lots. All are in the southern end of Grand Teton with views of the world-famous Teton Range.
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