[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 282 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 282
To provide greater regional access to the Katahdin Woods and Waters
National Monument in the State of Maine, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 28, 2025
Mr. King introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide greater regional access to the Katahdin Woods and Waters
National Monument in the State of Maine, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Katahdin Woods and Waters National
Monument Access Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Authorized acquisition area.--The term ``authorized
acquisition area'' means the designated area outside the
boundary of the National Monument depicted as ``Authorized
Acquisition Area'' on the map entitled ``Katahdin Woods and
Waters National Monument Proposed Boundary Adjustment'',
numbered 686/193,181 and dated March 2024.
(2) National monument.--The term ``National Monument''
means the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in the
State of Maine established by the Proclamation.
(3) Proclamation.--The term ``Proclamation'' means
Presidential Proclamation Number 9476, dated August 24, 2016
(54 U.S.C. 320301 note).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 3. ACQUISITION OF ADDITIONAL LAND FOR NATIONAL MONUMENT.
(a) Boundary.--The boundaries of the National Monument shall be the
boundaries established by the Proclamation.
(b) Acquisition.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary
may acquire, by purchase from a willing seller, donation, or
exchange, land or interests in land within the authorized
acquisition area.
(2) Prohibition on use of eminent domain.--Nothing in this
Act authorizes the use of eminent domain to acquire land or an
interest in land.
(c) Treatment of Acquired Land; Boundary Adjustment.--On
acquisition by the Secretary of any land pursuant to subsection (b)--
(1) the land shall be included in the National Monument;
and
(2) the boundaries of the National Monument shall be
adjusted accordingly.
SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION OF NATIONAL MONUMENT.
(a) Administration.--The Secretary shall administer the National
Monument (including the land added to the National Monument under this
Act) in accordance with--
(1) this Act;
(2) the Proclamation; and
(3) the laws generally applicable to units of the National
Park System.
(b) Hunting, Fishing, and Outdoor Recreation on Acquired Land.--The
Secretary shall allow hunting, fishing, or any other outdoor recreation
activity on land acquired pursuant to section 3(b)--
(1) if that activity was in existence on the day before the
date of acquisition of the land; and
(2) consistent with the management of that activity under
the Proclamation.
(c) Collection of Fiddlehead Ferns.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary
shall allow the gathering by hand of fiddlehead ferns
(Matteuccia struthiopteris) in the National Monument for
noncommercial personal use and consumption by the general
public.
(2) Limitation.--If the Secretary determines that the
gathering of fiddlehead ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) under
paragraph (1) may adversely affect resources of the National
Monument, the Secretary may limit the gathering of fiddlehead
ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) under that paragraph in
accordance with applicable regulations.
(d) Public Education.--In accordance with the mission of the
National Park Service, the Secretary shall collaborate with local
communities and Tribal governments to educate the public regarding the
natural environment and history of land management in the National
Monument, including the shaping of that landscape by Native communities
and practices, successive generations of timber management, and other
activities.
(e) Forestry.--In accordance with the management plan for the
National Monument, the Secretary may conduct such noncommercial timber
harvests as the Secretary determines to be necessary.
(f) Protection of Existing Access.--Nothing in this Act affects
valid existing rights, including existing rights of access through the
National Monument for the removal of timber outside the boundaries of
the National Monument.
(g) Public Safety.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide to the public
appropriate safety education and notification materials to
ensure safe interactions between visitors and logging trucks,
equipment, and operations on roads in or adjacent to the
National Monument.
(2) Procedures.--The Secretary shall collaborate with
affected stakeholders to establish procedures to meet the needs
of visitors to the National Monument, logging and trucking
operations, and other users of roads in or adjacent to the
National Monument to ensure safe interactions between active
logging operations and visitors.
SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATIVE SITES AND VISITOR FACILITIES.
(a) In General.--To facilitate the administration of the National
Monument, the Secretary may acquire, by purchase from a willing seller,
donation, or exchange, not more than 10 acres of land or interests in
land, including improvements, for the administration of the National
Monument and visitor services outside the boundaries, but within the
vicinity, of the National Monument.
(b) Agreements.--The Secretary may enter into agreements with State
of Maine, units of Tribal or local government, or private entities--
(1) to carry out this section; and
(2) to develop a cooperative information center for the
National Monument.
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