Ralphie Boy
Minister of Fire
Aside from the price I'd be worried about the legality and permanence of his "lifetime rights." Who knows how long those rights will actually mean anything. What happens if the land is developed? mined" turned into a farm? I don't believe he actually has lifetime rights that he can sell.
I'm not a lawyer and I don't play one on T.V and I did not stay in a Holliday Inn Express last night, but I'm originally from W.V. and yes you can sell timber, minerial or just coal rights if you want in W.V. I once owned the coal rights to1526 acers in Barbour County, W.V. I inhereted the rights from my grandfather who was given them as payment for a debt. Owning the rights to the coal also gave me the right to mine the coal. It didn't mattter what was on the surface, house, pasture or what, I had the right to get the coal. So yep, he can sell the timber rights. I'm not sure how the "lifetime" thing works. I've seen the Government purchase land for a wilderness preserve and give the former owners "lifetime rights" to use and /or live on the land untill their death or untill they otherwise relinquish those rights.