WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced that National Park Service (NPS) Director Jonathan B. Jarvis will visit Maine on Monday, May 16^th to discuss the possible designation of privately-owned land in the Katahdin region as a national monument and to hear directly from Maine residents about the proposal. The visit comes after Senator King wrote to Director Jarvis, urging him to visit the state and directly address questions, thoughts, and concerns from residents about the national monument proposal.

While in Maine, Director Jarvis will hold a public meeting, moderated by Senator King, with the Boards of Selectmen from the Towns of Millinocket, East Millinocket, Medway, Patten, Sherman, Mt. Chase, and Stacyville at the Katahdin Region Higher Education Center in East Millinocket. Later that evening, Director Jarvis will convene a public meeting, also moderated by Senator King, at the University of Maine at Orono that will provide the public and interested stakeholders the opportunity to express their thoughts and questions to Director Jarvis and to learn more about national monument designations.

Please note that the public meeting at the University of Maine at Orono has been moved from the original location of Hauck Auditorium to the Collins Center for the Arts in order to ensure that all participants can be accommodated. For more information about parking, please click HERE. Additionally, there will be space reserved for the press at both meetings.

12-2:00 p.m.:  Public Meeting with Katahdin Region Elected Officials

Katahdin Region Higher Education Center: 1 Dirigo Drive, East Millinocket, Maine 04430

Director Jarvis will convene a public meeting with members of the Town Councils of Millinocket, East Millinocket, Medway, Patten, Sherman, Mt. Chase, and Stacyville.

Senator King will bring the meeting to order and introduce Director Jarvis who will provide background information on the National Park Service, on national monuments, and on how NPS governs them. Senator King will then open the discussion to questions from the participating elected officials from the Katahdin region. This meeting is open to the public and all residents of the Katahdin region.

Director Jarvis and Senator King will hold a media availability following the conclusion of the meeting.

5-8:00 p.m.:    Public Meeting with Director Jarvis

Collins Center for the Arts, The University of Maine at Orono

2 Flagstaff Road, Orono, Maine 04469

***Doors will open at 4:00 p.m. The meeting will begin at 5:00 p.m.

Senator King will bring the meeting to order and introduce Director Jarvis who will explain monument designations. At the request of the National Park Service, Senator King will recognize Lucas St. Clair of Elliotsville Plantation Inc. to briefly present the facts of the proposal and Dan Sakura of the National Park Foundation to briefly discuss the facts of how the foundation intends to financially support the proposal.

Senator King will open the discussion to the public and will recognize both proponents and opponents of the proposal to offer their thoughts or concerns or to pose questions to Director Jarvis. At the conclusion of the comment period, Director Jarvis will respond. Note: Comment cards for the National Park Service will also be available for members of the community who do not wish to address the crowd.

Senator King and Director Jarvis will hold a media availability following the conclusion of the meeting.

***The meeting will also be livestreamed for those who are not able to attend through Senator King’s YouTube page***

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