[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 149 (Tuesday, September 24, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5721-H5722]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH LAND EXCHANGE ACT OF 2024
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1657) to provide for a land exchange in the Chippewa
National Forest, Minnesota, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1657
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Lake Winnibigoshish Land
Exchange Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) BWLT.--The term ``BWLT'' means Big Winnie Land and
Timber, LLC, a Minnesota Limited Liability Corporation.
(2) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map entitled ``Heig
Land Exchange'' and dated December 14, 2023.
(3) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means the
approximately 17.5 acres of Federal land in Itasca County,
Minnesota, generally depicted as the ``Federal Parcel'' on
the Map.
(4) Non-federal land.--The term ``non-Federal land'' means
the approximately 36.7 acres of non-Federal land in Itasca
County, Minnesota, generally depicted as the ``Non-Federal
Parcel'' on the Map.
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest
Service.
SEC. 3. EXCHANGE OF LAND.
(a) Exchange Authorized.--Subject to the provisions of this
Act, if BWLT offers to convey the non-Federal land to the
United States, the Secretary shall, not later than 1 year
after the date on which such offer is made--
(1) accept the offer;
(2) convey to BWLT all right, title, and interest of the
United States in and to the Federal land, excepting and
reserving an easement for road access to National Forest
System land west of the Federal Parcel; and
(3) accept from BWLT all right, title, and interest of BWLT
in and to the non-Federal land.
(b) Requirements.--The exchange under subsection (a) shall
be--
(1) conditioned on title approval for the non-Federal land
by the Secretary in accordance with subsection (e);
(2) conditioned on a cash equalization payment made by BWLT
to the United States in accordance with subsection (c) if,
under the appraisals conducted in accordance with this Act,
it is determined that the value of the Federal land exceeds
the value of the non-Federal land;
(3) conditioned on the satisfactory completion of a Phase I
Environmental Site Assessment by BWLT, provided to the
Secretary, in advance of the acceptance of the non-Federal
parcel;
(4) subject to valid existing rights; and
(5) subject to any other terms and conditions the Secretary
determines appropriate.
(c) Equal Value and Cash Equalization.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
exchange under subsection (a) shall be for equal value or the
values shall be equalized by a cash payment.
(2) Exception.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
if the appraised value of the non-Federal land to be conveyed
to the United States exceeds the appraised value of the
Federal land, a cash equalization payment by the United
States to BWLT is hereby waived and the amount of such waived
payment shall be considered a donation by BWLT to the United
States for all purposes of law.
(d) Appraisals.--
(1) In general.--The value of the land to be exchanged
under this Act shall be determined by appraisals conducted by
an independent and qualified appraiser mutually agreed to by
the Secretary and BWLT.
(2) Appraisal standards.--The Secretary shall complete
appraisals of the land to be exchanged under this Act in
accordance with--
(A) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land
Acquisitions; and
(B) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal
Practice.
(e) Format.--Title to the non-Federal land to be conveyed
to the United States under this Act shall be found sufficient
by the Secretary pursuant to section 3111 of title 40, United
States Code.
(f) Management of Acquired Land.--The non-Federal land
acquired by the United States under subsection (a) shall be--
(1) added to, and managed as part of, the Chippewa National
Forest; and
(2) managed in accordance with the laws, rules, and
regulations pertaining to National Forest System lands.
(g) Map and Legal Descriptions.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall finalize the Map
and legal descriptions of all land to be conveyed under this
Act.
(2) Controlling document.--In the case of a discrepancy
between the Map and a legal description, the Map shall
control.
(3) Corrections.--The Secretary and BWLT, by mutual
agreement, may correct any minor errors in the Map or in the
legal descriptions, including with respect to the boundaries
of the Federal land and the non-Federal land.
(4) Map on file.--The Map and legal descriptions shall be
on file and available for public inspection in appropriate
offices of the Forest Service.
(h) Closing Costs.--As a condition for the exchange under
subsection (a), BWLT shall pay all closing costs associated
with the exchange, including for--
(1) title insurance and title search;
(2) any applicable inspection fees, escrow fees, attorneys
fees, and recording fees; and
(3) any environmental analysis or resource survey required
under Federal law, regulation, or policy, including a Phase I
Environmental Site Assessment of the non-Federal land.
(i) Survey.--
(1) In general.--The exact acreages and legal descriptions
of the Federal and non-Federal land to be exchanged under
subsection (a) shall be determined by surveys satisfactory to
the Secretary.
(2) Costs of survey.--BWLT shall bear all costs associated
with the surveys under paragraph (1).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Ocasio-
Cortez) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
General Leave
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on H.R. 1657, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1657, the Lake
Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2024, a bipartisan bill being led
by the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).
This commonsense legislation will authorize the U.S. Forest Service
to enter into a land exchange with the Bowen Lodge, a family-operated
resort on the shores of Lake Winnibigoshish in northern Minnesota.
Exchanging parcels between the Chippewa National Forest and the Bowen
Lodge will create a win-win scenario. The lodge will gain permanent
access to the lake, and the Forest Service will be able to reconfigure
part of its unwieldy checkerboard pattern of land ownership.
This change will provide excellent fishing and recreation
opportunities for the local community and improve management
efficiencies for the Federal Government.
I applaud Representative Stauber for his leadership in this effort to
improve outdoor recreation opportunities for his constituents and for
all who have the pleasure of visiting and recreating in northern
Minnesota. He has long been a strong advocate for responsible public
land management and access for outdoor recreation, and this
[[Page H5722]]
legislation is an excellent reflection of that commitment.
Mr. Speaker, I support the bill and reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1900
Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1657, introduced by
Representative Stauber, would authorize the U.S. Forest Service to
exchange a parcel of Chippewa National Forest land for a parcel of land
currently owned by the Big Winnie Land and Timber company in Minnesota.
The Forest Service parcel is commercially zoned and already leased
annually for the management and operation of a marina and resort, so
the land exchange is designed to ease and simplify management.
In exchange for the land that includes the marina, the Forest Service
will receive a parcel that consolidates ownership in the Chippewa
National Forest, providing for better land management of undisturbed
sites, critical wetlands, and wildlife habitat that are currently
adjacent to Federal lands. In turn, Big Winnie will continue management
and operation of the marina and resort for continued visitor and
commercial activity.
This bill is a commonsense solution that follows the standard
protocols for these types of transactions.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for
working with us to incorporate feedback from the Forest Service,
including extending the timeline to allow for the completion of the
exchange.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Minnesota (Mr. Stauber), the lead sponsor of this bill.
Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R.
1657, the Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2024.
Lake Winnibigoshish, or Lake Winnie as it is also known, is located
within the boundaries of the Chippewa National Forest and is home to
Bowen Lodge, a premier, family-owned fishing lodge. Bowen Lodge has
been in operation and welcoming patrons since 1925.
For the past four decades, Bill and Gail Heig and their family have
operated Bowen Lodge, serving as incredible stewards of Lake Winnie and
providing incredible fishing and vacation memories for Minnesotans and
other out-of-towners over the years.
Currently, Bowen Lodge has a 20-year agreement with the U.S. Forest
Service to lease 17\1/2\ acres of shoreline along the lake, where they
operate their marina. Under the Heigs' stewardship, Lake Winnie has
remained accessible to the citizens of Itasca County and the many
people who visit.
Notably, the Heigs purchased extra acreage in 2021 after an out-of-
State mega-resort developer sought to purchase a parcel of land, which
would have changed the face of Lake Winnie forever. Now, Bowen Lodge is
seeking to convey this extra acreage to the Chippewa National Forest.
It is in the best interest of the public that the Forest Service take
stewardship of this land, rather than out-of-State developers that may
not prioritize public access for our local community.
Additionally, this land will make it easier for the Forest Service to
access and responsibly maintain their other acreage in the area.
The bill before us today would facilitate the land exchange between
Bowen Lodge and the Forest Service: 17 acres of shoreline to Bowen
Lodge so they can continue to operate their marina in exchange for 37
acres of nearby land to the Forest Service, which would then be added
to the Chippewa National Forest.
This exchange would better align proper boundaries, put the right
acreage under the right management, and ensure Minnesotans have the
ability to boat, fish, and enjoy beautiful Lake Winnie.
Thanks to the Heigs' quick thinking and strong advocacy, our way of
life will be preserved.
I am proud that this land exchange is supported by local communities
in Itasca County, including the local county board of supervisors that
testified in support of the bill before the Natural Resources Committee
last fall as well as the Mississippi Headwaters Board and other local
environmental organizations. It is also supported by the U.S. Forest
Service and leadership of the Chippewa National Forest.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this
legislation.
Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, this is a commonsense bill that will
benefit the people of northern Minnesota and our public lands. Once
again, I applaud Representative Stauber for his work on this
legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Moran). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1657, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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