The chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee is holding a field hearing in Maine on a proposal for a national monument east of Baxter State Park.
The session scheduled for Wednesday comes a day after Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine wrote to President Barack Obama to encourage him to create a national monument. Republican Rep. Bruce Poliquin, whose district includes the land to be donated, is opposed to the monument designation.
The split over the 87,500-acre gift underscores a growing partisan divide.
Republican Rep. Rob Bishop, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, opposes the use of presidential authority to create national monuments. Wednesday's hearing will feature four speakers opposed to the proposal, with opening remarks from another opponent, Maine Gov. Paul LePage.
