Fedorchak legislation to improve ND land management and unlock responsible energy development passes U.S. House of Representatives unanimously

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) today celebrated unanimous House passage of her legislation, H.R. 2252, the North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act. The legislation creates a congressionally authorized process to address North Dakota's long-standing checkerboard land ownership pattern through voluntary, equal-value land exchanges between the state and federal government.

"This bill improves land management for everyone involved-tribes, local communities, taxpayers, outdoorsmen, and our state," Fedorchak said. "The North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act creates a transparent, structured process to reduce fragmented land ownership that has existed since statehood while protecting tribal treaty rights, public access, grazing agreements, and existing conservation protections. This is a common-sense solution, and I look forward to getting it across the finish line for our state."

When North Dakota became a state, the federal government granted to the state Sections 16 and 36 of every township to support schools and other public purposes. As a result, North Dakota today still holds more than 31,000 surface acres and 130,000 acres of mineral rights within tribal reservation boundaries. That fragmented ownership pattern has complicated land management and economic development opportunities for tribes, the state, and surrounding communities for generations.

The North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act establishes a specific congressionally authorized framework for resolving those ownership challenges through voluntary equal-value exchanges between the State of North Dakota and the Department of the Interior. Under the bill, the state may relinquish scattered trust lands located within reservation boundaries in exchange for "unappropriated Federal land of substantially equivalent value" elsewhere in North Dakota. Importantly, this bill does not automatically exchange a single acre of land. It simply creates a process that can be used if all parties choose to move forward.

"Outdated land ownership laws should not stand in the way of resource development, economic opportunity and educational investment in North Dakota. H.R. 2252 authorizes strategic land exchanges that consolidate fragmented Tribal land and empower the state to generate more energy revenue that helps fund education and other public services," said Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman. "I commend Rep. Fedorchak for advancing practical legislation that strengthens rural communities and improves stewardship of North Dakota's lands and resources."

"We are pleased to hear about the passage of the North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act," said MHA Nation Chairman Mark N. Fox. "The act will restore tribal ownership of thousands of acres of land within the Fort Berthold Reservation, land which was originally intended to be ours under the historic treaties with the United States. We look forward to utilizing this land to promote economic development, tourism, and other beneficial uses. "

Importantly, the bill includes protects wildlife habitat, conservation lands, public access, and existing land uses by excluding from eligible trade all Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, National Landscape Conservation System lands, Research Natural Areas, military reservations, and lands designated for conservation purposes by Congress or the President. Protected conservation areas and specially managed wildlife landscapes are not eligible for exchange under this legislation.

In addition, the legislation preserves grazing permits, leases, rights-of-way, and other valid existing rights associated with exchanged lands. The bill also explicitly states that nothing in the legislation "modifies, limits, expands, or otherwise affects" any treaty-reserved tribal rights.

Additional transparency requirements and safeguards include:

• Consultation with affected tribal governments prior to any conveyance;
• Environmental review authority for the Secretary of the Interior;
• Independent appraisals using federal appraisal standards to ensure substantially equal value;
• Public inspection of final appraisals at least 30 days before any exchange; and,
• Public notice online and in North Dakota newspapers before exchanges occur.

The legislation previously passed unanimously out of the House Natural Resources Committee and passed the United States Senate unanimously in the last Congress. It is Fedorchak's sixth piece of legislation to pass the U.S. House of Representatives.