Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 218.
This Act authorizes a specific land exchange in Itasca County, Minnesota between the United States (Forest Service) and Big Winnie Land and Timber, LLC (BWLT). If BWLT offers its approximately 36.7-acre parcel and meets conditions, the Secretary of Agriculture must convey an approximately 17.5-acre Federal parcel to BWLT, reserve a road-access easement, complete appraisals and title review, require a Phase I environmental assessment, and have BWLT pay closing and survey costs.
Progressives emphasize public-land gain and environmental safeguards.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a well-specified, narrowly targeted substantive land-conveyance statute that articulates terms, conditions, standards, responsible parties, and cost allocations sufficient to carry out the specified exchange.
This Act authorizes a specific land exchange in Itasca County, Minnesota between the United States (Forest Service) and Big Winnie Land and Timber, LLC (BWLT).
If BWLT offers its approximately 36.7-acre parcel and meets conditions, the Secretary of Agriculture must convey an approximately 17.5-acre Federal parcel to BWLT, reserve a road-access easement, complete appraisals and title review, require a Phase I environmental assessment, and have BWLT pay closing and survey costs.
The acquired non‑Federal land will be added to and managed as part of the Chippewa National Forest; appraisal rules and other technical conditions are specified in the Act.
Small, technical, administratively clear land exchange with customary safeguards historically has high odds of enactment absent external controversy.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a well-specified, narrowly targeted substantive land-conveyance statute that articulates terms, conditions, standards, responsible parties, and cost allocations sufficient to carry out the specified exchange.
Progressives emphasize public-land gain and environmental safeguards.
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Progressives emphasize public-land gain and environmental safeguards.
Generally supportive because the federal government would add roughly 36.7 acres to Chippewa National Forest, improving public lands and conservation.
Will note the Phase I environmental assessment and appraisal standards as useful safeguards, but watch for any provisions that favor private parties over public interest.
Likely views this as a routine, narrow land-exchange bill to consolidate and improve federal land management with built‑in process safeguards.
Will focus on fair appraisals, clear title, and no unexpected fiscal exposure for taxpayers.
Skeptical because the bill conveys federal land to a private company and expands federal holdings in another location, creating both transfer of public property and additional federal management responsibilities.
Concerns center on precedent, property rights, and ensuring taxpayers do not absorb hidden liabilities.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Small, technical, administratively clear land exchange with customary safeguards historically has high odds of enactment absent external controversy.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Progressives emphasize public-land gain and environmental safeguards.
Small, technical, administratively clear land exchange with customary safeguards historically has high odds of enactment absent external co…
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a well-specified, narrowly targeted substantive land-conveyance statute that articulates terms, conditions, standards, responsible parties, and cost allocations su…
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