Land near St. Mary's Glacier may be sold to pay for schools

DENVER - The U.S. Forest Service has listed scenic land overlooking Rocky Mountain National Park and land around St. Mary's Glacier as sites that could be sold to raise money for rural schools in 41 states.

The Bush administration earlier this month detailed a proposal to auction more than 300,000 acres of national forests and other public land to help raise an estimated $800 million.

Proceeds would extend a program that aids rural counties hurt by sharply reduced federal timber sales. Last year, Colorado received $4.7 million of the $393 million the program provided. Beneficiaries included the counties that host the resort communities of Vail, Glenwood Springs, Breckenridge and Aspen.

U.S. Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo., said the sale proposal is in jeopardy.

"I don't think you sell off the family jewels just for convenience," he said. "This is about paying off a debt with priceless assets."

In Colorado, more than 21,000 acres in 11 national forests and grasslands are on a preliminary list of potential auction candidates. The Forest Service has included land along the Mount Evans Highway, lands near Grays and Torreys peaks and a parcel west of Vail ski resort.