Congress passes Acadia National Park package

Legislation aimed at helping Acadia National Park by increasing the amount of money it can spend on land acquisition, among other things, won final approval Tuesday in Congress and awaits President Bush’s signature.

The House voted 291-117 Tuesday evening in favor of a collection of 61 measures dealing with a wide range of national park, public lands, water, and territorial issues.

The Acadia National Park portion of the legislation, when signed into law, will:

. Increase the amount of money Acadia can spend on acquiring land within a set boundary by $10 million.

. Authorize the park to be a partner in an intermodal transportation facility planned for Route 3 in Trenton.

. Extend the life of the Acadia Advisory Commission to 2026.

The commission, a panel of residents from towns that abut the park, was created in 1986, when Congress set a physical limit on how much Acadia can expand. The commission hasn’t met since September 2006.

Because of the physical boundary limit approved by Congress in 1986, Acadia needs congressional approval to be a partner in the proposed Acadia Gateway Center, which will serve as a parking, maintenance and storage facility for the popular Island Explorer bus system.

Island Explorer buses provide tourists and residents with free rides on propane powered buses in the Mount Desert Island area between June and October.

Each of the four members of Maine’s congressional delegation released statements Tuesday expressing support for passage of the bill.

btrotter@bangordailynews.net

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