Poliquin bill to protect Maine economy by clarifying Acadia National Park boundary gains House approval

The U.S. House of Representatives on March 13 approved bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) to resolve boundary disputes surrounding Acadia National Park in Maine that threaten the local economy.

“Hardworking Maine families have made their living for generations by clamming and worming in the intertidal zone in and around Acadia,” Rep. Poliquin said. “It’s critical their right to use the flats is protected.”

Rep. Poliquin introduced the Acadia National Park Boundary Clarification Act, H.R. 4266, on Nov. 7, 2017 to revise boundary policies at Acadia National Park and to resolve subsequent disputes between local harvesters and the National Park Service (NPS). The NPS had begun taking action to limit commercial harvesting in the intertidal area of Acadia, according to Poliquin, and some harvesters reported having to dump the buckets of worms or clams they spent hours digging, losing their day’s pay.

H.R. 4266 would confirm that the boundary of Acadia National Park includes approximately 1,441 acres of land and interests in the Schoodic Peninsula donated in 2015, and would allow the U.S. Department of the Interior to make technical and limited boundary revisions, as appropriate, to the permanent boundaries of the park, according to the congressional record summary. This would be allowed, according to the summary text, “to resolve issues resulting from causes such as survey error or changed road alignments or to take into account acquisitions or losses of land” in or near the park that are 10 acres or less.

Additionally, “Interior shall allow for the traditional harvesting of the marine worms, clams, and other shellfish, and other marine species in accordance with the laws of the state of Maine: (1) within the park’s boundaries, and (2) on any land outside of the park in which Interior has or obtains a property interest,” among other provisions, according to the summary.

“It was very concerning to hear cases of clammers, wormers and other harvesters being denied access to the mudflats around Acadia National Park that they have worked for decades,” said U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME), an original cosponsor of H.R. 4266. “While I appreciate that park officials quickly ended that prohibition, it’s important that we prevent a similar situation in the future by clarifying that harvesters have a legal right to work that coastline. By doing so, this bill will ensure that Acadia National Park remains an attraction not only for its natural beauty, but also for its unique way of life.”

Rep. Poliquin thanked Pingree, the entire Maine delegation, and other involved stakeholders who helped him to form “this comprehensive solution.” The congressman added after Tuesday’s voice vote, “I’m very pleased a bipartisan group in the House has moved this bill forward.”

U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) introduced the identical bill, S. 2102, in the Senate on Nov. 8, 2017. Hearings for S. 2102 were held on Feb. 14 by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. The House-approved H.R. 4266 was referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on March 14.