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URGE REPS TO OPPOSE AUCTIONING BWCAW PARCELS
Last week, State Rep. David Dill offered an
amendment to sell at public auction four,
40-acre parcels of state school trust land in
the BWCAW. Although the amendment was withdrawn,
it will likely be offered again on another bill.
It is essential that you contact your state
representative today to ask him or her to oppose
a dismantling of the wilderness by selling
parcels at public auction. When contacting your
state representative, use the following points:
1) The BWCAW is an internationally-renown
wilderness treasure of immense value. More than
200,000 people visit the BWCAW each year; the
majority of these visitors are Minnesotans who
will not support this amendment.
2) Any land transaction with the federal
government will require an appraisal that
conforms to federal appraisal standards.
Attempts to determine land value through a
public auction process, rather than a federal
appraisal process, do nothing to resolve the
issue of the BWCAW school trust land.
3) A better option for dealing with the BWCAW
school trust land is to identify a range of
management options and to assess the costs and
benefits of those options so that the State of
Minnesota can act from an informed position.
Such an analysis is supported by the Cook County
School Board.
To find your state representative and his or
her contact information, visit http://maps.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/website/districts/.
You may also consider contacting Reps. Tom
Huntley and Jim Abeler, both of whom offered
counter amendments during last week’s debate
and should be thanked for their leadership in
protecting the integrity of the BWCAW.
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