FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

DOI - 71 - Acadia National Park Advisory Commission - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Acadia National Park Advisory Commission	Agency Name	Department of the Interior
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	71
Original Establishment Date	9/25/1986	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.nps.gov/acad/getinvolved/advisory-c...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	16
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Superintendent, Acadia National Park
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	9/24/2024	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Kevin
Date Of Renewal Charter	9/24/2026	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Schneider
Exempt From Renewal*	Yes	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority	P.L. 116-9	Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(207) 288-8700
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(207) 288-8709
Specific Establishment Authority*	P.L. 99-420;	Designated Federal Officer Email*	kevin_schneider@nps.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	9/25/1986
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Non Scientific Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The Commission reviews and makes recommendations to accept proposed easements. The Commission also provides advice and recommendations on various operational issues at the park, such as visitor use, science, education, and cultural resource and historic preservation.
How is membership balanced?*	As prescribed by the enabling legislation, the sixteen-member Commission is composed of: (a) three members at large; (b) three members from among individuals recommended by the Governor of Maine; (c) four members from among recommendations by each of the four towns on the island of Mount Desert; (d) three members from among individuals recommended by each of the three Hancock county mainland communities of Gouldsboro, Winter Harbor and Trenton; (e) three members from among recommendations by each of the three island towns of Cranberry isles, Swans island and Frenchboro. The members represent the interests of property owners, fishermen, businessmen, lawyers, academics, conservationists, recreationists, as well as the interests of towns, counties and state concerns.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Commission meets an average of three times per year, with subcommittee work in between full meetings. This schedule has proved practical for their accomplishments and duties. The Commission members assist with the necessary research and communication to arrive at sound decisions for full Commission discussions. At full Commission meetings the Commissioners function as advisors concerning subject areas under deliberation. All meetings are held in-person and virtually to provide the public options to participate at Commission meetings.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The Commission was established by the Congress to consult with the Secretary of the Interior on matters relating to the management and development of Acadia National Park, including but not limited to, the acquisition of lands and interests in lands (including conservation easements on islands), and termination of rights-of-use and occupancy. Qualified advice concerning issues that affect a wide array of subjects from those of simple local property owners to those that affect town, county, and state interests can only be attained from individuals who possess fundamental knowledge, understanding, and interest in those areas. For example, the Commissioners' first-hand knowledge and understanding of property owners affected by easements provided valuable insights for park management to proceed in a more effective manner.
Why close or partially close meetings?	All meetings are open to the public.
Recommendation Remarks	Pursuant to Section 301(a)(b), Public Law 102-525, October 26, 1992, regarding charters and members of National Park System Advisory Committees: (a) The provisions of section 14(b) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. Ch. 10) are hereby waived with respect to any advisory commission or advisory committee established by law in connection with any national park system unit during the period such advisory commission or advisory committee is authorized by law. (b) In the case of any advisory commission or advisory committee established in connection with any national park system unit, any member of such commission or committee may serve after the expiration of his or her term until a successor is appointed. The Commission terminated September 25, 2006, but was re-established by Public Law 110–229, May 8, 2008, Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008; EXTENSION OF ACADIA NATIONAL PARK ADVISORY COMMISSION. (1) IN GENERAL— Section 103(f) of Public Law 99–420 (16 U.S.C. 341 note) is amended by striking ‘‘20’’ and inserting ‘‘40’’. (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on September 25, 2006. The Commission will carry out its duties until September 25, 2026.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	No	Action Reorganize Priorities*	No
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	Yes
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	Yes	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	Not Applicable
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	NA	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	NA	Grants Review Comment	NA
Number Of Recommendations*	85	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	Three recommendations were made in 2024. • Recommendation by Park Use Committee: (Review of the Park’s Firing Range) As such that it is a recommendation of the park committee that the use of the Park’s firing range continues as it is currently being operated. • A motion was approved to accept the Park Use Committee report and recommendation as stated. • Recommendation by the Lands Committee: (Reviewing of the proposal for expanding the Otter Creek boat launch) Recognizing that the units within the National Park Service do not have the legal authority to donate lands, and the National Park lands are of national interest, we (Land’s Committee) recommend that any expansion of the Otter Creek boat launch should be realized through a land exchange agreement between Acadia National Park and the Town of Mount Desert. • A motion was approved to accept the Land Committee report and recommendation as stated; 1 opposed. Recommendation by the Lands Committee: (Addition to previous recommendation). “We want everyone on the commission, and more broadly, to understand that the Lands Committee is supportive of the work needed for the boat launch. We also wanted to emphasize that the strong collaborative nature between the National Park and the community of Mount Desert is ultimately important, and anything we can do that's in our purview as the Lands Committee to strengthen that relationship we'd certainly like to do. We didn't want our comments from last meeting in any way to be heard as that we weren't supportive. We were entirely supportive of the work that needs to be done at the boat launch. We just felt that the most appropriate way moving forward for doing that was with an exchange. We wanted to encourage the town of Mount Desert to sit down face to face ideally with Acadia National Park, in order to think through some of those options, and also wanted to emphasize that beyond an exchange there may be some other opportunities or other methods for acquiring the needed lands to make the improvements. One such possibility might be for implementing legislation, and that ultimately this was beyond the purview of the Lands Committee. But that would mean tapping into the Congressional Delegation in order to pursue some legislative way forward, or even considering a kind of land exchange, or a swap that would involve a 3rd party. And if this seemed reasonable, again, we wanted to encourage the town of Mount Desert to sit down with Acadian National Park staff, and again, face to face to figure out those options. So ultimately, again, we just wanted to emphasize that we're supportive of moving forward in a collaborative, constructive nature between the National Park and the town of Mount Desert, and we are at the ready to help make that happen in any way we can. Thank you.” • A motion was approved to accept the Land Committee report and recommendation as stated; All approved.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	100.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	NA	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	0.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	NA	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	N/A
Agency Feedback Comment*	Briefings and reports at the Advisory Commission meetings.	Narrative Description*	Qualified advice concerning issues that affected a wide array of subjects, from those of simple local property owners to those that affect town, county, and state interests, can only be attained from individuals who possess fundamental knowledge, understanding and interest in those areas. The Commission provides a platform for public input on park issues.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	2/19/2025 10:47 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Land Conservation and Preservation Land Management and Use National Parks, Sites, Trails, Recreational Areas Monuments

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