Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025
2/12/2025, 7:43 PMSummary of Bill HR 197
Bill 119 HR 197, also known as the Chippewa National Forest Land Exchange Act, is a proposed piece of legislation that aims to facilitate a land exchange within the Chippewa National Forest in Minnesota. The bill seeks to authorize the exchange of approximately 6,650 acres of federal land within the forest for approximately 6,690 acres of non-federal land owned by the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.The purpose of this land exchange is to consolidate land ownership within the Chippewa National Forest and improve management efficiency. The bill also includes provisions for the protection of cultural and natural resources, as well as the preservation of important historical sites within the forest.
Additionally, the bill includes measures to ensure that the land exchange is conducted in a fair and transparent manner, with opportunities for public input and consultation with relevant stakeholders. The bill also outlines the process for completing the land exchange, including the appraisal of the lands involved and the transfer of ownership. Overall, Bill 119 HR 197 aims to facilitate a land exchange within the Chippewa National Forest that will benefit both the federal government and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, while also ensuring the protection and preservation of important cultural and natural resources within the forest.
Congressional Summary of HR 197
Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025
This 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.
