In a statement, the White House said the move aimed to honor the National Park Service's centennial, which will take place Thursday.

"President Obama instead used his executive authority to create the monument", Scott says.

More than half, or 32, of all 59 national parks either began as national monuments or have incorporated land given that designation.

"As the National Park Service begins a second century of conservation this week, the president's designation of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument serves as an inspiration to reflect on America's iconic landscapes and historical and cultural treasures", said Jewell. "But when we look to the future, we see huge amounts of success".

Still, some Republicans criticized Obama's decision to protect the area without waiting for congressional approval, which is required to designate a national park. And Republican Gov. Paul LePage opposed the proposal, calling it an "ego play" that was supported by "out-of-state liberals".

Rep. Chellie Pingree spoke out in support of Quimby's efforts.

Quimby's gift has been debated for years among residents of ME, where the paper industry once dominated the economy.

"It means there's a slice of the northern forest that could remain intact for perpetuity", he added.

The approximately $100 million total gift to the American people from the EPI was facilitated by the National Park Foundation as part of its Centennial Campaign for America's National Parks. Their objections include the expectation that the federal government would close off access to recreation and snowmobiling and that the Park Service could not afford to maintain it, according to the Daily News. She also furnished a $20 million endowment for the new Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, promising to raise an additional $20 million for the fund. But national parks and forests are concentrated heavily in Western states, and the northeast in particular is devoid of large portions of federal lands.

On Aug. 12, land conservationist Roxanne Quimby signed deeds transferring her nonprofit foundation's land in Maine's Katahdin region to the U.S. Department of the Interior.

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This year represented the largest-ever annual paycheck for McCarthy, whose earnings increased by $10 million from 2015. Lawrence is also the youngest woman on this year's list, and the only actress under the age of 30.

However no logging, except for tree removal the Park Service conducts for conservation or safety purposes, will be permitted. Angus King, Republican U.S. Sen.

National Park Service staff will be on hand to assist with the first steps to open the park. And they fear the action will ultimately lead to the creation of 3.2 million acre national park that will hurt the state's forestry industry.

He repeatedly noted that other national parks had similar beginnings. About half started as national monuments.

At the Natural Resources Council of ME, the leading ME environmental organization that has been working to establish this new national monument, executive director Lisa Pohlmann heralded the president's decision.

The Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument designation is the result of a years-long effort by the Quimby family.

Opposition continued up until the declaration of the monument on Wednesday. "Today we have people who are extremely excited".

What he heard ran the gamut from what a great idea the proposed national monument would be to what a detriment it would be to local residents. Another $20 million will be raised within three years.

The Katahdin Woods and Waters monument adjacent to Baxter State Park includes the East Branch of the Penobscot River and views of Maine's tallest mountain, Katahdin. Anne Mitchell of the Maine Woods Coalition told The Post this spring.

"What in blazes are they trying to monumentalize?" "There's nothing extraordinary about it, except for a lot of black flies".