YORK, Maine (AP) - The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a proposal to provide federal protections to a river in southern Maine.
The proposal would designate the York River as “Wild and Scenic” and it passed in late February as part of the Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public Lands Act. Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine has spent years advocating for passage of the river protections.
Pingree said the designation would ensure “the York River will be a regional gem far into the future.” She said it’s important “that this effort was included in the House’s work to conserve our public lands and waters and protect them from the effects of the climate crisis.”
York and Eliot voters chose to pass referendums to push the “Wild and Scenic” designation forward in 2018. The designation would steer federal funding and technical assistance to the area, Pingree said.
The river is a 13-mile stream that flows to the Atlantic Ocean. All four members of Maine’s congressional delegation have advocated in support of preserving it.
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