H.R. 197
Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025
In Plain Language
This bill allows the Forest Service to swap some land along Lake Winnibigoshish in Minnesota with a private company called Big Winnie Land and Timber, but only if the company agrees and only after an environmental inspection is done. The Forest Service must keep a road access easement and make sure the land values are equal or use cash to make up any difference. The private company has to pay all the costs of completing the exchange.
Official Congressional Research Service summary
Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025This bill directs the Forest Service to exchange specified land along the shoreline of Lake Winnibigoshish (commonly known as Lake Winnie) in the Chippewa National Forest in Minnesota for specified land owned by Big Winnie Land and Timber, LLC (BWLT), if BWLT offers to make the exchange. The land acquired by the Forest Service must be added to and managed as part of Chippewa National Forest. The bill outlines requirements and conditions for the exchange. For example, the Forest Service must reserve an easement for road access to certain land in the forest. The bill also conditions the exchange on the satisfactory completion of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment by BWLT before the nonfederal land is accepted in the exchange.In addition, the exchange must be for equal value or the values must be equalized by a cash payment, subject to an exception.Finally, the bill directs BWLT to pay all closing costs associated with the exchange.
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Latest action
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 218.
Oct 27, 2025
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