HR197-119

What This Bill Does

The Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act authorizes a specific land exchange in Itasca County, Minnesota. If Big Winnie Land and Timber, LLC offers to convey about 36.7 acres of non-federal land to the United States, the Agriculture Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, must accept the offer within one year, convey about 17.5 acres of federal land to BWLT, and reserve a road easement for National Forest System access west of the federal parcel. The exchange is conditioned on title approval, valid existing rights, appraisals under federal land-acquisition appraisal standards, any cash equalization payment owed by BWLT if the federal parcel is more valuable, and BWLT's completion of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment. If the non-federal land is appraised higher, the United States does not pay BWLT; the waived payment is treated as a donation. The acquired land is added to and managed as part of the Chippewa National Forest. BWLT must pay closing costs, title work, inspection, escrow, attorney, recording, environmental-analysis, resource-survey, and survey costs.

Who Benefits and How

Chippewa National Forest, Forest Service land managers, National Forest visitors, Itasca County recreation users, conservation planners, and public-land access advocates benefit because the United States gains about 36.7 acres for the national forest, preserves road access to National Forest System land west of the federal parcel, and can consolidate management around Lake Winnibigoshish. Big Winnie Land and Timber, LLC benefits by receiving the 17.5-acre federal parcel it seeks, subject to appraisal and exchange conditions.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Big Winnie Land and Timber, LLC must convey its non-federal parcel, complete a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, pay closing costs, title insurance, title search, inspection fees, escrow fees, attorney fees, recording fees, environmental analysis, resource surveys, and survey costs, and make any cash equalization payment if the federal parcel is more valuable. The Forest Service, Agriculture Secretary staff, appraisers, title reviewers, map specialists, and Chippewa National Forest offices must process the exchange, approve title, finalize maps and legal descriptions, reserve the road easement, and add the acquired land to National Forest System management.

Key Provisions

• Requires the Secretary to accept BWLT's offer and complete the exchange within one year after the offer is made.
• Authorizes conveyance of about 17.5 acres of federal land to BWLT and acquisition of about 36.7 acres for the United States.
• Requires a road-access easement for National Forest System land west of the federal parcel.
• Requires title approval, independent appraisals, equal-value rules, environmental assessment, valid existing rights, and Forest Service conditions.
• Provides that any excess non-federal parcel value is treated as a BWLT donation rather than a federal cash payment.
• Requires BWLT to pay closing, title, environmental, resource-survey, and survey costs.