Regarding School Trust Lands in the Boundary Waters—this trust was established to produce revenue for Minnesota public schools. However, since the BWCAW founding, the School Trust Lands within the Boundary Waters have not been earning money for the Trust, as specified in Minnesota law.
According to Minnesota law, if management decisions were found to be producing less than adequate income from certain trust lands, the trust fund would have to be compensated in some way for the loss revenue. This hasn’t occurred either.
The Forest Service has proposed a working group’s “hybrid” approach to a land transfer of the 86,295 acres of School Trust Lands in BWCAW. Their proposal is to exchange 30,000 acres and purchase the rest–56,295 acres.
Conservationists with Common Sense (CWCS) was not invited to participate in this working group, and we oppose the “hybrid’ plan.”
Had we been invited, we would have reminded the group of what the 1964 Wilderness Act states about state lands within wilderness areas.
The 1964 Wilderness Act:
STATE AND PRIVATE LA NDS WITHIN WILDERNES AREAS
SECTION 5. (a) In any case where Stateowned or privately owned land is completely surrounded by national forest lands within areas designated by this Act as wilderness, such State or private owners shall be given such rights as may be necessary to assure adequate access to such State-owned or privately owned land by such State or private owner and their
Regarding School Trust Lands in the Boundary Waters—this trust was established to produce revenue for Minnesota public schools. However, since the BWCAW founding, the School Trust Lands within the Boundary Waters have not been earning money for the Trust, as specified in Minnesota law.
According to Minnesota law, if management decisions were found to be producing less than adequate income from certain trust lands, the trust fund would have to be compensated in some way for the loss revenue. This hasn’t occurred either.
The Forest Service has proposed a working group’s “hybrid” approach to a land transfer of the 86,295 acres of School Trust Lands in BWCAW. Their proposal is to exchange 30,000 acres and purchase the rest–56,295 acres.
Conservationists with Common Sense (CWCS) was not invited to participate in this working group, and we oppose the “hybrid’ plan.”
Had we been invited, we would have reminded the group of what the 1964 Wilderness Act states about state lands within wilderness areas. successors in interest, or the State-owned land or privately owned land shall be exchanged for federally owned land in the same State of approximately equal value under authorities available to the Secretary of Agriculture:
In addition, S.F.1750 passed by Minnesota legislature and signed by Governor Dayton on April 27, 2012 supports the 1964 Wilderness Act in the matter of School Trust Lands.
Sec. 4.
[92.80] EXPEDITED EXCHANGE OF LA ND WITHIN BOUNDAR Y WATERS CA NOE AREA WILDERNES FOR FEDERALL Y OW NED LA NDS.
Subdivision 1.
Purpose and scope.
(b) Exchange of school trust lands within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness for federally owned lands located outside the wilderness area will preserve the spectacular wild areas while producing economic benefits for Minnesota’s public schools.
CWCS proposes the U.S. Forest Service follow the laws regarding state lands surrounded by wilderness, according to the 1964 Wilderness Act and Minnesota law. The School Trust Lands in the Boundary Waters must be exchanged for equal value federal lands outside of the wilderness. Such federal lands must consider lands in the same counties the School Trust Lands are located.
Nancy McReady
CWCS President
Ely
Leave a Reply