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Land Exchange Proposal Moves Forward for BWCA

WDIO
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A proposal is moving forward this week that would generate more revenue for school kids off a piece of property in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

It's part of a land swap plan put forward by 8th Dist. Rep. Chip Cravaack. It passed in the U.S. House on Wednesday, allowing for more income-generating activities like mining and logging to happen on 86,000 acres of land.

Money raised will benefit a school trust fund. And the impetus for the exchange is exactly for that reason--not much money has been raised for that trust because of strict environmental restrictions.

"Finally after years of inaction, stalling and villainous tactics by special interest groups, Republicans and Democrats have come together in Minnesota and said enough is enough," Cravaack said. 

The proposal would exchange this land for another section of federal land, something Cravaack said will help to create more jobs in the future. But he also said it wouldn't create a causeway for lackadaisical rules--he said any future development would still be subject to strict environmental regulations.

"It's a working forest and creates thousands of good paying jobs in the region. Northern Minnesotans need these opportunities, and every American benefits from the steel and lumber that goes into our cars and homes."

Any federal land swap will also have to be approved by the Minnesota legislature.