MAINE PUBLIC • June 18, 2021
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland packed a lot into a two-day trip to Maine this week. It was her first visit to the state and her first to a national park as Secretary of the Interior. She met with tribal leaders, spent time with Maine's congressional delegation and Governor Janet Mills, and visited Acadia National Park. “Earlier this month, the departments of the interior and agriculture announced proposed allocations of $2.8 billion dollars in Great American Outdoors Act funding to support local economies, outdoor recreation, and access to public lands," Haaland said. Haaland said those funds include $7.6 million to improve drinking water and wastewater systems in the Schoodic District of Acadia. She also said the proposed federal budget includes a $1.3 million increase for natural resources stewardship and conservation at Acadia. Acadia is expecting as many as 3.5 million visitors this summer. Secretary Haaland also visited The Penobscot Nation at Indian Island, and toured the Penobscot River.