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Joint Resolution
(4-4) On motion by Senator COURTNEY of York, under
unanimous consent on behalf of President RAYE of Washington
(Cosponsored by Speaker NUTTING of Oakland and Senators: COURTNEY of
York, HASTINGS of Oxford, JACKSON of Aroostook, KATZ of Kennebec,
LANGLEY of Hancock, MASON of Androscoggin, McCORMICK of Kennebec,
PLOWMAN of Penobscot, RECTOR of Knox, SAVIELLO of Franklin, SHERMAN
of Aroostook, SNOWE-MELLO of Androscoggin, THIBODEAU of Waldo,
THOMAS of Somerset, TRAHAN of Lincoln, WHITTEMORE of Somerset,
Representatives: BICKFORD of Auburn, CELLI of Brewer, CLARKE of
Bath, COTTA of China, CURTIS of Madison, DAVIS of Sangerville,
ESPLING of New Gloucester, FITTS of Pittsfield, FITZPATRICK of
Houlton, FOSSEL of Alna, HAMPER of Oxford, HANLEY of Gardiner,
JOHNSON of Greenville, McCLELLAN of Raymond, McFADDEN of Dennysville,
NASS of Acton, PRESCOTT of Topsham, RICHARDSON of Warren, SANDERSON
of Chelsea, SARTY of Denmark, SOCTOMAH of the Passamaquoddy Tribe,
STRANG BURGESS of Cumberland, TURNER of Burlington, WATERHOUSE of
Bridgton, WEAVER of York, WILLETTE of Mapleton) (Approved for
introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to
Joint Rule 214.), the following Joint Resolution:
S.P. 519
JOINT RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF THE
INTERIOR AND THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO OPPOSE THE CREATION OF A
NATIONAL PARK IN MAINE'S NORTH WOODS
WE,
your
Memorialists, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth
Legislature of the State of Maine now assembled in the First Regular
Session, most respectfully present and petition the President of the
United States, the United States Secretary of the Interior and the
United States Congress as follows:
WHEREAS,
Maine
residents and visitors enjoy the privilege of using large tracts of
private land in the north woods for recreational uses such as
snowmobiling, hunting, hiking, fishing, bird watching and other
activities; and
WHEREAS,
the
future of that private land is of great importance to the people of
Maine and their outdoor heritage; and
WHEREAS,
the
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and many of the
large landowners have entered or are entering into cooperative
wildlife management agreements that ensure the future of deer yards
and other critical wildlife habitat in the north woods; and
WHEREAS,
state
agencies, private landowners and nonprofit organizations are
cooperating in an unprecedented effort to secure permanent rights of
access to the north woods and keep valuable recreational property
and natural habitat undeveloped through conservation easements; and
WHEREAS,
federal
ownership or control of the north woods would create many problems
including limitations on timber supply to the forest products
industry, reduced recreational access and loss of local and state
control of these areas; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED:
That
We, your Memorialists, oppose the creation of a national park in
Maine's north woods and request that the President of the United
States and Secretary of the Interior Kenneth Salazar deny requests
to conduct a feasibility study concerning establishing a national
park in Maine's north woods; and be it further
RESOLVED:
That
suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the
Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Honorable Barack H. Obama,
President of the United States, to the Secretary of the Interior,
Kenneth Salazar, to the President of the United States Senate, to
the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and to
each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.