Wabeno Economic Development Act

The Wabeno Economic Development Act would authorize the sale of 14 acres of land in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Wisconsin to Tony's Wabeno Redi-Mix, a small gravel and aggregate business. The company would be required to pay the fair market value of the land as determined by a Forest Service appraisal, with the transaction to be completed within 180 days of the appraisal approval.

The bill addresses a specific business need: Tony's Wabeno Redi-Mix has been operating in the area for 25 years but is running out of nearby aggregate materials like stone, sand, and gravel, with supplies expected to be exhausted within approximately two years. The adjacent federal land is critical for the company's continued operation and the jobs it provides to the local community. The company had sought to acquire this land through normal Forest Service channels for years without success, prompting the legislative solution.

The bill also requires the Department of the Interior to publish a comprehensive review of federal permitting processes for developing stone, sand, and gravel on federal lands. The legislation passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support and is now in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining, where hearings have been held. If enacted, the bill would facilitate a land transfer that supporters argue would protect local jobs and support economic development in Wabeno and Forest County, Wisconsin.