BRUNSWICK, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) sent a letter to Jonathan B. Jarvis, the Director of the National Park Service (NPS), urging him to visit the Katahdin region in the coming months to directly address questions, thoughts, and concerns from local residents about the possible designation of local, privately-owned land as a national monument. In his letter, Senator King also urged the Department of the Interior to focus its attention on the proposed conditions outlined in the February 2016 letter from Senators Collins and King and Representative Poliquin.

The complete text of the letter can be read HERE and is below:

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March 25, 2016

Jonathan B. Jarvis

Director

National Park Service

1849 C Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20240

Director Jarvis:

Thank you for your response to the letter from Senator Collins, Representative Poliquin, and me regarding the potential donation of land owned by Elliotsville Plantation Inc. to the federal government in the interest of creating a national monument.

I recognize that the President has the statutory authority to designate as a national monument land donated by a private property owner. Given that reality, I continue to believe it is critical that the Department of the Interior focus its attention to the proposed conditions outlined in our previous letter.

I was pleased to note in your response that the Department of the Interior is sensitive to traditional land and forest practices in the region, and that you personally put a premium on local concerns and ideas regarding any possible designation. I strongly believe that the voices of those who call the Katahdin region home and who create and sustain jobs there are a fundamental part of this ongoing discussion. For this reason, I would encourage you to visit the region, as you have done in the past, to hear directly from the residents and to more specifically address their concerns, questions, and ideas.

As I am sure you would agree, their viewpoints are critical to this ongoing discussion.

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