Austin Knudsen, Montana's attorney general, recently voiced his concerns about the organizations leading the push for Natural Asset Companies (NACs), stating that these groups are threatened by investigation and exposure. His comments were made during a radio program called "SHOT show".
Knudsen expressed his surprise at the reaction of these groups to public scrutiny. He stated, "What has really surprised me, frankly, is how much these groups do not like sunlight," adding, "That has been really kind of staggering, just how quickly by us just making a little bit of noise, getting a little media, maybe a TV hit." He continued with an analogy: "I truly have been shocked to watch the cockroaches scurry." He concluded his remarks by emphasizing their aversion to exposure: "They do not like exposure."
According to an article from KBUL News Talk, Knudsen's comments were made during a forum on gun rights held in Las Vegas. During this event, he discussed NACs and the recent withdrawal of a proposal from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to adopt their standards. The article suggests that Knudsen believes proponents of NACs are uncomfortable with public attention.
A notice from the Security and Exchange Commission regarding the NYSE-NAC proposal released on Sept. 29 clarifies that NACs will have the authority to hold rights related to the value and ecological performance of "natural assets." The notice further explains that these organizations will be granted "the authority to manage the areas for conservation, restoration, or sustainable management".
An article on Utah State Treasurer Marlo Oakes' website provides further context on NACs. It explains that NACs aim to maximize the ecological services of land and may potentially prohibit traditional extraction processes such as farm machinery use. The potential impact of NACs could be "devastating", particularly in states where the federal government owns over half of the land.
The KBUL News Talk article also reports that Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes shares Knudsen's concerns about NACs. He described them as a "devious new abomination" and warned that they would "allow foreign entities, including China and others, to purchase public lands directly from the government." He further criticized the NYSE proposal facilitated by the SEC as "highly unconstitutional, and unlawful."
Knudsen, according to his website, is a former Speaker of the House and current attorney general of Montana. His political career has been marked by efforts to voice constituent concerns, combat drug-related crimes, and support law enforcement.
