H.R. 197: Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025, proposes a land exchange between the United States and a Minnesota company called Big Winnie Land and Timber, LLC (BWLT). The primary objectives and details of the bill are as follows:

Land Exchange Authorization

The bill authorizes a land exchange where BWLT will give approximately 36.7 acres of non-Federal land to the United States in exchange for about 17.5 acres of Federal land in Itasca County, Minnesota. The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, is responsible for accepting this exchange.

Conditions of the Exchange

For the exchange to take place, several conditions need to be met:

• Title Approval: The Secretary must approve the title of the non-Federal land.
• Value Equalization: If the Federal land is appraised as more valuable than the non-Federal land, BWLT must make a cash payment to equalize the values.
• Environmental Assessment: BWLT must complete a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment of the non-Federal land before the exchange can be finalized.
• Other Requirements: The exchange must comply with any existing rights and conditions deemed appropriate by the Secretary.

Appraisals

The value of the lands involved in the exchange will be determined through appraisals carried out by an independent and qualified appraiser who is mutually agreed upon by BWLT and the Secretary. These appraisals must adhere to established appraisal standards for federal land acquisitions.

Management of Acquired Land

Once completed, the non-Federal land acquired by the U.S. will be managed as part of the Chippewa National Forest and subject to applicable rules and regulations pertaining to National Forest System lands.

Map and Legal Descriptions

The Secretary is tasked with finalizing the map and legal descriptions of the land involved in the exchange. In cases of discrepancies between the map and the legal description, the map will take precedence.

Closing Costs and Surveys

BWLT will be responsible for all closing costs related to the exchange, which may include:

• Title insurance and search fees
• Inspection, escrow, and attorney fees
• Any environmental analyses required

Additionally, BWLT will bear the costs of surveys needed to determine the precise legal descriptions and acreages of the exchanged lands.

Equal Value and Payments

The land exchange must generally be of equal value, or any discrepancy will be adjusted through a cash payment from BWLT, if necessary. However, if the non-Federal land is valued higher, the U.S. will not pay BWLT for the difference; instead, it will be treated as a donation from BWLT to the government.

Administrative Oversight

The Secretary of Agriculture has the authority to oversee the exchange process, ensuring all requirements, conditions, and regulations are met throughout the transaction.

Relevant Companies

• BWLT (Big Winnie Land and Timber, LLC) - As the company involved in this land exchange, BWLT’s business operations and landholdings may expand if the exchange is favorable for their land development or resource management objectives.