H.R. 3937 — Wabeno Economic Development Act

This section directs the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to convey to Tony’s Wabeno Redi-Mix, LLC all right, title, and interest of the United States—including mineral rights—in approximately 14 acres of National Forest System land in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Wisconsin (as generally depicted as “Federal Parcel to be Conveyed” on the map entitled “Conveyance of Federal Parcel Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest,” dated September 27, 2023), if the company submits an offer for fair market value (as determined by appraisal) within 180 days of federal approval of the appraisal. The Secretary must complete the appraisal not later than 300 days after enactment in accordance with the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions and the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, convey the property by quitclaim deed not later than 180 days after receiving the offer (subject to valid existing rights and other terms protecting U.S. interests), and require the company to pay the market value plus all associated costs (including survey, appraisal, and any environmental analysis). The exact acreage and legal description are to be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary, who may correct minor errors on the map (a copy of which will be available for public inspection in the appropriate Forest Service office).

This section directs the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with relevant federal agencies, industry stakeholders, and state permitting authorities, to conduct a comprehensive review of federal permitting processes for stone, sand, and gravel development on federal lands. Not later than 180 days after enactment, the Secretary must submit to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources—and make publicly available on the Department of the Interior website—a report that includes (1) a description of the current process, including average timelines from initial application to final approval; (2) an analysis of inefficiencies, duplicative steps, and their impacts on project timelines; (3) recommendations for legislative or administrative actions to streamline the process; and (4) a summary of economic impacts of current timelines on the stone, sand, and gravel sectors.