Land Board unanimously approves timber sale, 640-acre land-banking parcel and utility easements

The Land Board unanimously approved three agenda items affecting trust land revenue and land management.

Timber sale (0924-1): DNRC described the "Mainsoup" timber sale about 6 miles southeast of Swan Lake with five harvest units and an estimated 8,302 tons of sawlogs. DNRC reported a minimum bid of $24.87 per ton that it estimated would generate approximately $206,460 for the Common Schools Trust and about $36,974 in forest improvement fees. Committee member (S4) moved approval; the board approved the motion unanimously.

Land banking parcel (0924-3): DNRC requested a minimum bid for one parcel totaling approximately 640 acres in Fergus County, nominated by the lessee and used primarily for livestock grazing; DNRC characterized the parcel as below-average productivity for agricultural/grazing statewide. Committee member (S2) moved approval and the board voted unanimously.

Easement package (0924-4): DNRC presented an easement package valued at $18,175 that will benefit common schools, public buildings and public land trust. The easements cover buried electric distribution, buried fiber optic cable, a buried natural gas pipeline, two overhead telecommunications lines and a sanitary sewer main across several counties, including Custer, Fallon, Flathead, Madison, Powder River, River Valley and Sanders; the board approved the item unanimously.

All three items passed with no recorded public comment. The board then considered rulemaking (item 0924-5) and adjourned after public-comment period produced no speakers.