This bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to voluntarily acquire additional land to expand the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument while ensuring existing public uses and access rights are protected.
Angus King
Senator
ME
The Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument Access Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire additional land for the Monument through voluntary purchase, donation, or exchange, explicitly prohibiting eminent domain. Once acquired, new lands are incorporated into the Monument, which must be managed according to the original Presidential Proclamation and existing park laws. The Act also mandates the continuation of existing recreational activities like hunting and fishing on newly added lands, while requiring public education efforts that acknowledge local history and tribal influence. Finally, it allows for the acquisition of up to 10 acres outside the Monument for administrative and visitor facilities.
New Act Bans Eminent Domain for Katahdin Monument Expansion, Protects Hunting and Fishing Rights
The Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument Access Act is essentially the rulebook for how the National Monument in Maine will be managed and potentially grown. It starts by making it clear that the Monument’s current boundaries are fixed by the original 2016 Presidential Proclamation. But the big news is the green light it gives the Secretary of the Interior to expand those boundaries—with a massive, non-negotiable caveat: no forced sales. The government can acquire new land only through voluntary purchase, donation, or trade (Sec. 3). If you own land near the Monument, this bill guarantees the government can’t use eminent domain to take it for expansion, which is a major win for property rights.
The 'No Forced Sales' Rule and What It Means
For anyone living or working around the Monument, Section 3 is the most important part. It sets up an “Authorized Acquisition Area” (shown on a specific March 2024 map) where the government can look to buy land. Crucially, the bill explicitly prohibits the use of eminent domain. This means the Secretary of the Interior can only acquire land from willing sellers. If the government buys a piece of land, that land automatically becomes part of the Monument, and the official boundary shifts to include it (Sec. 3).
Keeping the Doors Open: Recreation and Access
This bill goes out of its way to protect existing uses on newly acquired land. If you’re a hunter, fisher, or just enjoy outdoor recreation, and your activities were legal on a piece of land the day before the government acquired it, you get to keep doing it (Sec. 4). This is a smart move that aims to keep traditional local uses intact as the Monument grows. However, the bill does give the Secretary power to manage the gathering of fiddlehead ferns. While personal, non-commercial gathering is allowed, the Secretary can impose limits if they decide the activity is “hurting the Monument’s natural resources”—a slightly vague standard that could lead to restrictions down the line if not managed carefully (Sec. 4).
Sharing the Road with Log Trucks
The Katahdin area has a long history of timber management, and this bill acknowledges that reality. It explicitly protects existing, valid rights people have, such as the right to use roads through the Monument to haul timber cut down outside the Monument boundaries (Sec. 4). This protects the regional economy and existing businesses. For visitors, this means the Secretary must work with all parties—loggers, truckers, and local communities—to set up specific procedures for road use and provide visitors with clear safety information about sharing the roads with heavy logging equipment. If you’re driving through, be aware: you’re sharing the pavement with working forestry operations (Sec. 4).
Visitor Centers and Local History
To support the Monument, the Secretary can acquire up to 10 acres of land outside the Monument boundaries for administrative sites and visitor facilities, such as a visitor center (Sec. 5). This land must also be acquired voluntarily. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the Secretary work with local towns and Tribal governments to conduct public education. This education must cover the area’s history, including the role of Native communities and past timber management practices (Sec. 4). This ensures that the story told to tourists isn’t just about conservation, but also about the people and industries that shaped the land.