MAINE PUBLIC • September 21, 2022
A Senate panel considered federal legislation Wednesday that would expand the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. The bill, sponsored by Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins of Maine, could add nearly 43,000 acres to the south of the existing monument from property owners willing to sell to the National Park Service. Steven Richardson, vice president of Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters, believes surrounding communities have come to accept the monument since its designation six years ago. He said, "I won't say that everybody is in favor. I think we're down to now two 'no parks for Maine' signs in our communities, whereas before we had 20, 30, maybe more." The bill would clear a dedicated route for the public to access the monument from Millinocket, East Millinocket and Medway. Local ATV clubs and loggers are concerned about maintaining their access to trails and trucking routes if the monument were to expand. King said he plans to modify the bill's language to ensure those routes are protected.