Federal Budget Includes Money For Yellowstone Land Buy

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — President Barack Obama included $8 million in his fiscal year 2013 budget for the National Park Service to buy about 86 acres of state land in Grand Teton National Park.

The money would come from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Congress already appropriated $5 million for the parcel in fiscal year 2011. If Congress approves Obama's request for 2013, Park Service officials would still need to find an additional $3 million to complete the transfer because the property was appraised for $16 million.

Grand Teton Park management assistant Gary Pollock says he believes the missing $3 million could come from the Park Service budget.

Conservationists support the federal purchase, which would preserve the property as park land.