Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument Access Act

The Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument Access Act would enhance public access to the national monument in Maine through strategic land acquisitions. The bill would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land within a designated area surrounding the monument from willing sellers, through donations, or via exchanges, but explicitly prohibits the use of eminent domain. Once acquired, these lands would be incorporated into the monument and its boundaries adjusted accordingly.

The bill would preserve existing recreational activities on newly acquired lands, including hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation. It would also allow visitors to hand-gather fiddlehead ferns for personal, non-commercial use, subject to environmental protections. The Secretary would be required to collaborate with local communities and tribal governments to provide public education about the monument's natural environment and historical land management practices, including Native American stewardship.

To balance conservation with regional economic interests, the bill would permit non-commercial timber harvests according to the monument's management plan and would protect existing access rights for timber operations outside the monument. The bill would also establish a public safety framework requiring the Secretary to develop educational materials and procedures to ensure safe interactions between visitors and active logging operations on roads in and around the monument.