# Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025

This bill authorizes a straightforward land swap in northern Minnesota involving the federal government and a private company called Big Winnie Land and Timber (BWLT). The government will give BWLT about 17.5 acres of federal land in the Chippewa National Forest, and in return, BWLT will give the government about 36.7 acres of private land in the same area. The deal has to be completed within one year of BWLT making the offer.

The bill includes several protections to make sure this exchange is fair and legitimate. An independent appraiser that both sides agree on will determine the value of each parcel of land. If the federal land turns out to be worth more, BWLT has to pay the difference in cash to the government. However, if the private land is worth more, the government doesn't have to pay BWLT anything—that extra value is treated as a donation. BWLT also has to cover all the costs involved in making the exchange happen, including appraisals, environmental inspections, title insurance, legal fees, and surveys. Before the deal can close, BWLT must provide an environmental assessment showing the private land is safe and free of contamination.

Once the government acquires the private land, it will become part of the Chippewa National Forest and be managed like any other national forest land. The bill does preserve the government's right to maintain road access to other forest land west of the federal parcel being exchanged. For the general public, this means more land will be added to the national forest system in Minnesota, potentially expanding recreational opportunities and forest management in the region.

Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025

Stauber, Pete

Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025This bill directs the Forest Service to exchange specified land along the shoreline of Lake&nbsp;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.&nbsp;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&nbsp;before the nonfederal land is accepted in the exchange.In addition, the exchange must&nbsp;be for equal value or the values must be equalized by a cash payment, subject to an exception.Finally, the bill directs&nbsp;BWLT to pay all closing costs associated with the exchange.