Ever since Church Universal and Triumphant purchased the ranch from Malcolm Forbes in 1981, environmentalists have expressed fears that the church's planned use of the land could reduce, even eliminate, the underground water supply feeding Yellowstone's famed geyser system, including "Old Faithful." One proposed plan of the church called for the development of a church-run spa to be fed directly by the Yellowstone basin's natural geothermal water supply.

Fear not. Saturday, in his weekly radio address, President Clinton announced that the U.S. Government would pay Church Universal and Triumphant $13 million for a 9,300 acre "conservation easement" and full rights to the geothermal resources on the entire 12,000 acre ranch. The U.S. Forest Service will manage the property as part of the Gallatin National Forest to ensure protection of the wildlife and geyser system.

In his address, President Clinton called the purchase "another milestone in our effort to preserve the matchless wonders of America's first national park."