Acadia Harvesting and Boundary Disputes Bill Passes House, Led by Poliquin and Cosponsored by Pingree

Press Release

Today, Congressman Bruce Poliquin's (ME-02) legislation to help address harvesting and boundary disputes in and around Acadia National Park (ANP) passed the House with support from Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01), an original cosponsor of the bill.

The Acadia National Park Boundary Clarification Act (H.R. 4266) will make important revisions to boundary policies at ANP and help resolve recent disputes between local harvesters and the National Park Service (NPS) in and around the park.

"Hardworking Maine families have made their living for generations by clamming and worming in the intertidal zone in and around Acadia," said Congressman Poliquin. "It's critical their right to use the flats is protected. I'm pleased to have worked closely with the entire Maine Delegation and to hear from all stakeholders to put together this comprehensive solution to resolving boundary and traditional harvesting matters at Acadia. For nearly two years, I've made sure to hear from and meet with groups on all sides and of all different interests in these discussions--from holding a roundtable discussion with local wormers and clammers in Ellsworth in August of 2016 to meeting or talking directly with Acadia National Park officials and local town officials. I'm very pleased a bipartisan group in the House has moved this bill forward today."

"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 Congresswoman Pingree. "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."

In November, Congressman Poliquin testified before the House Natural Resources Committee on the legislation. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins have introduced an identical bill in the Senate. Last year, Congressman Poliquin and Senator King held a joint press conference in Ellsworth to announce their legislation.

Background:

In 2015, ANP was deeded more than 1,400 acres on the Schoodic Peninsula by an anonymous donor. This was a welcome gift from the local towns and communities. It was only after the land was transferred to ANP that the NPS informed the public that the legal authority they used for the transfer came from a 1929 law that many in the Bar Harbor area believed had been repealed in 1986, after successful efforts to pass a law that set boundary limits on the park. The boundary law was crafted due to growing concerns about the size of the park and its impact on the tax base.

The local towns and residents were extremely concerned when they learned that ANP relied on the 1929 law for the Schoodic transfer because it could potentially set precedent for the NPS to use it again. Residents contacted the Maine Congressional delegation to express their concern and request for a repeal of the 1929 law, while at the same time keeping the Schoodic land transfer.

In August 2016, Congressman Poliquin hosted a roundtable in Ellsworth with local clammers and wormers to learn about the challenges their industry is facing and to commit to protecting traditional access to Maine's waters and woods, including the harvesting of marine resources.

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