The Elk Park Ranch has nominated 80 acres of State School Trust land for proposed sale under the DNRC Land Banking program (77-2-361 through 77-2-367 MCA). Consistent with state law (77-2-304) only the surface acreage would be sold with the State retaining ownership of the underlying mineral estate. The proposed sale would reserve easement rights for this use. The nominated parcel is currently leased (Lease #3298) by the Elk Park Ranch for grazing use. This state-owned land is held in trust for the support of the Common Schools (K-12). The parcel is entirely surrounded by private land, and is not legally accessible to DNRC and the general public. The purpose of the state Land Banking Program is to allow DNRC to dispose of parcels that are primarily isolated and produce low income, and to allow the Department to purchase land with legal public access that can support multiple uses and will provide a rate of return equal to or greater than the parcels that are sold. Revenue generated from the sale of this parcel would be deposited in a special account used to purchase replacement lands meeting acquisition criteria related to legal access, productivity, potential income generation and potential for multiple use.