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119-s-282119th Congress

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument Access Act

Sponsored By: Senator King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]

Passed Senate

Summary

Expand the Monument through targeted land acquisitions so the Interior Secretary can add willing‑seller parcels inside a mapped Authorized Acquisition Area and manage them under National Park Service rules. The bill also preserves certain traditional uses and builds local and Tribal partnerships for education and visitor services.

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  • Families and visitors would see more public land available for outdoor recreation because hunting, fishing, and other activities that existed before acquisition may continue on newly acquired parcels. It would allow hand gathering of fiddlehead ferns for noncommercial personal use, with limits if needed to protect resources.
  • Tribal governments and local communities would have a formal role in public education about the monument's ecology, Native practices, timber history, and landscape shaping and could partner on cooperative visitor centers and services.
  • Landowners and the timber sector would face acquisitions only from willing sellers because eminent domain is prohibited. The bill preserves existing outside access rights for timber removal and allows noncommercial timber harvests on monument land as the management plan permits.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Hunting, fishing, and fiddlehead gathering

If the government buys a parcel, you would keep hunting, fishing, or other recreation that happened the day before the sale. The activity would need to fit the Monument’s Presidential Proclamation and rules. You would also be able to hand gather fiddlehead ferns for personal use and eating. You would not be allowed to sell them. The Secretary would be able to set limits if gathering would harm Monument resources.

Logging road safety for visitors

The Secretary would give clear safety notices about logging trucks and equipment on roads in or near the Monument. The Secretary would work with loggers, truckers, visitors, and others to set safe road procedures. The goal would be to cut crash risks around active logging operations.

Teach nature and history with Tribes

The Secretary would work with local communities and Tribal governments to teach visitors about this place. Lessons would cover the natural environment and land management history. They would include Native practices and the history of timber management.

Voluntary land sales and visitor center

The Interior Secretary would be allowed to buy land from willing sellers in a mapped area. The map is 686/193,181, dated March 2024. Bought parcels would become part of the Monument, and its boundary would shift. The Secretary would also be able to buy up to 10 acres nearby for offices and visitor services. The bill would forbid eminent domain and would keep valid existing rights, including timber access routes. The Park Service would manage added lands under Presidential Proclamation No. 9476 (August 24, 2016) and Park laws. The Secretary would be allowed to partner with Maine, Tribes, towns, or private groups, and set up a shared visitor information center.

Noncommercial timber work when needed

The Secretary would be allowed to do noncommercial timber harvests on Monument lands when needed. Any harvest would have to follow the Monument’s management plan. Trees would not be sold for profit.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]

ME • I

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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