WASHINGTON – The United States Fish and Wildlife Service soon will acquire five offshore islands to become part of the Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge.

The Maine Coast Heritage Trust had bought the islands on behalf of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but the agency refused in August 2002 to acquire and transfer the islands. At the time, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was developing a broad comprehensive conservation plan and decided to freeze any new acquisitions until the plan was approved.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins objected on behalf of Maine Coast Heritage Trust, which had already spent more than $500,000 to acquire the islands in anticipation of the transfer.

On Thursday, Collins announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had signed an exclusion for the Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge allowing the government agency to buy the islands from the heritage trust.