U.S. Sen. Angus King urged the U.S. Department of Interior to allow Katahdin Woods and Water National Monument to maintain the monument status conferred by President Barack Obama last summer.
In a letter to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, King said talk of revoking monument status has already had “an economically chilling effect.” He also said the monument was created after extensive public vetting.
King urged Zinke to reaffirm the monument designation.
“I know that this administration is serious about growing jobs in rural areas; I am absolutely convinced that the prompt conclusion of this review and reaffirmation of the monument designation would be a positive step in this direction,”
King wrote. “This monument is some of the first positive news for the Katahdin region in a long time; please don’t let it be taken away.”
The 87,000-acre site, which was gifted by Burt’s Bees co-founder Roxanne Quimby, was designated by Obama in August 2016.
It is one of 27 sites under a review ordered by President Donald Trump. Gov. Paul LePage has been a vocal critic of the Katahdin monument, saying federal control would hinder economic development.
