The Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument Access Act would allow the Interior Department to acquire additional land adjacent to the existing national monument in Maine through voluntary purchases, donations, or land exchanges, with eminent domain explicitly prohibited. The bill would expand recreational opportunities by preserving existing hunting and fishing activities on newly acquired lands and allowing public collection of fiddlehead ferns for personal use throughout the monument. The legislation affects visitors to the monument, local communities, timber companies with existing logging rights, and tribal governments who would be involved in public education efforts about the area's history and natural environment. The bill also authorizes the Secretary of Interior to acquire up to 10 acres outside the monument boundaries for administrative facilities and visitor services, and establishes safety protocols to manage interactions between tourists and logging operations that have access rights through the monument. No specific funding amounts or implementation timelines are provided in the legislation.
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