Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025
Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025 - Summary **What the bill does:** This bill allows the U.S. Forest Service to swap federal land along Lake Winnibigoshish (Lake Winnie) in Minnesota's Chippewa National Forest for privately owned land belonging to Big Winnie Land and Timber, LLC. Any land the Forest Service acquires through this deal would become part of the national forest.
The exchange is voluntary—it only happens if the private company agrees to it. **Key conditions and who it affects:** The bill includes several safeguards: the private company must conduct an environmental assessment before the swap, the lands being exchanged must be of equal value (or the difference made up in cash), the company pays all closing costs, and the Forest Service keeps road access rights to certain areas. This mainly affects the company, the Forest Service, and people who use or live near Lake Winnibigoshish and Chippewa National Forest. **Current status:** The bill passed the House of Representatives and is awaiting action in the Senate.
CRS Official 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.
Latest Action
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 218.