Our view: We should be wary of land purchase

A massive land deal might make a lot of sense for the state, but Sweetwater County’s residents should be weary of such a purchase.

With more than 1 million acres of land and 4 million acres of mineral rights in play, it’s hard not to frame it as a great opportunity for the state. However, for residents who like the open spaces and ability to recreate, the purchase may cause problems in the coming decades if it goes through.

The mineral rights at play are the key acquisition to be concerned with. A state desperate to keep the mineral revenues it’s used to seeing wouldn’t be hard to...