Interior Secretary Zinke recommends keeping Maine’s national monument

7 years ago

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is recommending that President Donald Trump keep Maine’s year-old Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.

“Nothing dramatic” would change with the monument, according to a source briefed on the plan. Another source said “there will be some changes on allowable uses,” but the boundaries won’t change.

He told the Associated Press that he is advising that that none of the 27 monuments under review be eliminated, but some boundaries could be altered. The federal government would maintain ownership and public access for hunting, fishing or grazing would be maintained or restored, he said.

An two-page executive summary from Zinke did not specify what would be done with Katahdin Woods or 26 other monuments under review.

Zinke and the White House did not respond to requests for comment.

The news ended months of speculation over the possible fate of one of Maine’s most contentious parcels of land, after Trump in April ordered a review of monuments created or expanded since 1996.

The County is pleased to feature content from our sister company, Bangor Daily News. To read the rest of “Interior Secretary Zinke recommends keeping Maine’s national monument,” an article by contributing Bangor Daily News staff writer Nick Sambides Jr., please follow this link to the BDN online.