Wanted in Wyoming: Private dollars, willing sellers to protect land from oil and gas development.

The Wyoming Range Legacy Act that passed Congress last week provides permanent protection from future oil and gas development for 1.2 million acres in the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

It also allows for conservation groups and individuals to buy and retire leases on some 75,000 acres already leased for oil and gas development in the Wyoming Range.

But finding private dollars and willing sellers for those existing leases may not be so easy during troubled economic times, conservation and industry officials said.

Conservationists said Friday they were optimistic an equitable framework to retire some existing leases can be worked out and that money can be raised for buyouts. They said buying back leases is a "solution" that could benefit all entities.

By JEFF GEARINO
Southwest Wyoming bureau

Full Story: http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2009/03/30/news/wyoming/d8ed5a7acb2b168d872575870026a35f.txt