To require the Secretary of Agriculture to release a reversionary interest in certain land in the Black River State Forest in Millston, Wisconsin, and for other purposes.
Summary
H.R. 5866 addresses a land exchange involving the Black River State Forest in Millston, Wisconsin. It requires the Secretary of Agriculture to release a reversionary interest the US government holds on specific state forest land. This release is conditional upon the State of Wisconsin conveying other land (the "Deli land") to the state for inclusion in the Black River State Forest.
Expected Effects
The bill facilitates a land swap between the State of Wisconsin and Deli, Inc., a sphagnum moss production business. The state will convey state forest land to Deli, Inc., and in return, Deli, Inc. will convey the "Deli land" to the state. This land will then be added to the Black River State Forest.
Potential Benefits
- Potentially streamlines land management within the Black River State Forest.
- Could benefit Deli, Inc. by allowing them to consolidate their land holdings.
- May lead to more efficient use of the land for both the state and the business.
- The bill ensures the land received by the state will be added to the Black River State Forest, maintaining public access and conservation.
- The bill provides a mechanism for correcting any legal descriptions of the land, ensuring accuracy and avoiding future disputes.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- The public may lose access to the specific parcel of state forest land conveyed to Deli, Inc.
- There is a potential risk that the land exchange may not be as beneficial to the public as claimed.
- The bill could set a precedent for similar land exchanges, potentially leading to the fragmentation of public lands in the future.
- The bill benefits a specific private entity (Deli, Inc.) which could be seen as preferential treatment.
- The environmental impact of the land exchange is not explicitly addressed in the bill.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Property Clause of the US Constitution (Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2), which grants Congress the power to dispose of and regulate territory or other property belonging to the United States. The reversionary interest held by the US government is considered property, and Congress has the authority to release it. However, the lack of explicit consideration for environmental impacts could raise concerns under the Public Trust Doctrine, though this is not directly addressed in the Constitution.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).