February 2, 2026
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To provide greater regional access to the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in the State of Maine, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument Access Act
.
Sec. 2. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Authorized acquisition area
The term authorized acquisition area means the designated area outside the boundary of the National Monument depicted as Authorized Acquisition Area
on the map entitled Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument Proposed Boundary Adjustment
, numbered 686/193,181 and dated March 2024.
(2) National Monument
The term National Monument means the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in the State of Maine established by the Proclamation.
(3) Proclamation
The term Proclamation means Presidential Proclamation Number 9476, dated August 24, 2016 (54 U.S.C. 320301 note).
(4) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
Sec. 3. Acquisition of additional land for National Monument
(a) Boundary
The boundaries of the National Monument shall be the boundaries established by the Proclamation.
(b) Acquisition
(1) In general
Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary may acquire, by purchase from a willing seller, donation, or exchange, land or interests in land within the authorized acquisition area.
(2) Prohibition on use of eminent domain
Nothing in this Act authorizes the use of eminent domain to acquire land or an interest in land.
(c) Treatment of acquired land; boundary adjustment
On acquisition by the Secretary of any land pursuant to subsection (b)—
(1)
the land shall be included in the National Monument; and
(2)
the boundaries of the National Monument shall be adjusted accordingly.
Sec. 4. Administration of National Monument
(a) Administration
The Secretary shall administer the National Monument (including the land added to the National Monument under this Act) in accordance with—
(1)
this Act;
(2)
the Proclamation; and
(3)
the laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System.
(b) Hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation on acquired land
The Secretary shall allow hunting, fishing, or any other outdoor recreation activity on land acquired pursuant to section 3(b)—
(1)
if that activity was in existence on the day before the date of acquisition of the land; and
(2)
consistent with the management of that activity under the Proclamation.
(c) Collection of fiddlehead ferns
(1) In general
Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall allow the gathering by hand of fiddlehead ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) in the National Monument for noncommercial personal use and consumption by the general public.
(2) Limitation
If the Secretary determines that the gathering of fiddlehead ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) under paragraph (1) may adversely affect resources of the National Monument, the Secretary may limit the gathering of fiddlehead ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) under that paragraph in accordance with applicable regulations.
(d) Public education
In accordance with the mission of the National Park Service, the Secretary shall collaborate with local communities and Tribal governments to educate the public regarding the natural environment and history of land management in the National Monument, including the shaping of that landscape by Native communities and practices, successive generations of timber management, and other activities.
(e) Forestry
In accordance with the management plan for the National Monument, the Secretary may conduct such noncommercial timber harvests as the Secretary determines to be necessary.
(f) Protection of existing access
Nothing in this Act affects valid existing rights, including existing rights of access through the National Monument for the removal of timber outside the boundaries of the National Monument.
(g) Public safety
(1) In general
The Secretary shall provide to the public appropriate safety education and notification materials to ensure safe interactions between visitors and logging trucks, equipment, and operations on roads in or adjacent to the National Monument.
(2) Procedures
The Secretary shall collaborate with affected stakeholders to establish procedures to meet the needs of visitors to the National Monument, logging and trucking operations, and other users of roads in or adjacent to the National Monument to ensure safe interactions between active logging operations and visitors.
Sec. 5. Administrative sites and visitor facilities
(a) In general
To facilitate the administration of the National Monument, the Secretary may acquire, by purchase from a willing seller, donation, or exchange, not more than 10 acres of land or interests in land, including improvements, for the administration of the National Monument and visitor services outside the boundaries, but within the vicinity, of the National Monument.
(b) Agreements
The Secretary may enter into agreements with State of Maine, units of Tribal or local government, or private entities—
(1)
to carry out this section; and
(2)
to develop a cooperative information center for the National Monument.