Acadia Advisory Commission

What is the Acadia Advisory Commission?

The purpose of the Acadia National Park Advisory Commission is to advise the Secretary of the Interior through his or her designee, the superintendent of Acadia National Park. The superintendent consults with the commission regarding the management and development of the park.

The commission was established by the 1986 park boundary legislation (Public Law 99-420) and amended by Public Law 110-229 in 2008. The commission terminates in 2026. The bylaws describe the commission in more detail. Meetings are open to the public; meeting notices appear in the Federal Register.

Four standing committees make recommendations for action to the commission.

• Science and education

• Land conservation

• Park use

• Historical/cultural

Can I Find Past Meeting Notes?

Can I Attend The Advisory Commission Meetings?

When Does The Commission Meet?

First Monday in February
First Monday in June
Second Monday in September
Meeting notices will be published in the Federal Register.

Who Sits on the Advisory Commission?

Members of the Acadia National Park Advisory Commission represent the Secretary of the Interior, the Governor for the State of Maine, and the communities in the surrounding Acadia National Park region.

Lands Committee:

Chair: Darron Collins
Members: Ken Smith, Ben (Lee) Worchester, Howie Motenko, Kirk Emerson
ANP Liaison: Land Resource Specialist (Emily Seger Pagan)

Park Use Committee:

Chair: Jacqueline Johnston
Members: Ken Smith, Fred Ehrlenbach, Matt Horton, Howie Motenko
ANP Liaison: Deputy Superintendent (Brandon Bies)

Science and Education Committee:

Chair: Bruce Wiersma
Members: Callie Gothard, Stephen Shea, Kendall Davis
ANP Liaison: Science Coordinator (Abe Rushing-Miller)

History Committee:

Chair: Vacant
Members: Callie Gothard, Stephen Shea, Kendall Davis
ANP Liaison: Cultural Resources Program Manager (Rebecca Cole-Will)

Advisory Commission Bylaws

U.S. Department of the Interior
National Park Service

Acadia National Park Advisory Commission Charter

1. Committee's Official Designation. Acadia National Park Advisory Commission (Commission).
2. Authority. The Commission is established by section 103 of Public Law 99-420. September 25, 1986. as amended, and is extended by Title II. Subtitle B, section 2108 of Public Law 116-9, the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management. and Recreation Act, 2019. The Commission is operated pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act as an1ended (5 U.S.C. Ch. 10). and the Federal Advisory Committee Management regulations found at 41 C.F.R. Part 102-3.
3. Objectives and Scope of Activities. The Commission consults the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) 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.
4. Description of Duties. The duties of the Commission are solely advisory and stated in paragraph 3, above.
5. Official to Whom the Committee Reports. The Commission reports to the Secretary through the Designated Federal Officer (DFO).
6. Support. Administrative support and funding for activities of the Commission will be provided by the National Park Service.
7. Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years. The annual operating costs associated with supporting the Commission s activities are estimated to be $50,000, including all direct and indirect expenses and 0.40 Federal staff years support.
8. Designated Federal Officer. The DFO is the Superintendent of Acadia National Park who is a full-time Federal employee appointed in accordance with Agency procedures. The DFO must:
   (a) Ensure the Commission activities comply with the FACA. FACA Final Rule. Agency administrative procedures. and any other applicable laws and regulations;
   (b) Approve or call all meetings of the Commission or subcommittee;
   (c) Approve the agenda;
   (d) Attend all Commission and subcommittee meetings for their duration;
   (e) Fulfill the requirements under section I 009 ofthe FACA. Advisory Commission Procedures;
   (f) Adjourn any meeting when the DFO determines it to be in the public interest;
   (g) Chair any meeting when so directed by the Secretary;
   (h) Maintain information on Commission activities and provide such information to the public, as applicable; and
   (i) Ensure Commission members and subcommittee members, as applicable. receive the appropriate training (e.g.. FACA overview. ethics training) for efficient operation and compliance with the FACA and FACA Final Rule.
   Also, the DFO should ensure a public facing website is created and maintained for the Commission.
9. Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings. The Commission will meet approximately 2-4 times per year. and at such time as designated by the DFO.
10. Duration. Continuing
11. Termination. The Commission will not meet or take any action without a valid. current charter. Although the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act requiring a biennial rechartering are inapplicable to the Commission pursuant to 54 U.S.C. 100906(b)(c), the Department of the Interior (Department) will conduct a biennial review of the Commission to determine if its goals and objectives have been fulfilled.
12. Membership and Designation. The Commission shall be composed of 16 members appointed by the Secretary. as follows:
    (a) three members at large:
    (b) three members appointed from among individuals recommended by the Governor of Maine;
    (c) four members appointed from among individuals recommended by each of the fouJ towns on the island of Mount Desert:
    (d) three members appointed from individuals recommended by each of the three Hancock County mainland communities of Gouldsboro. Winter Harbor and Trenton; and
    (e) three members appointed from among individuals recommended by each of the three island towns of Cranberry Isles. Swans Island. and Frenchboro.
    Members may be appointed as representatives or special Government employees (SGEs).
    Members will be appointed for 3-year terms. A vacancy on the Commission will be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made. Members serve at the discretion ofthe Secretary.
    Members ofthe Commission and its subcommittee members serve without compensation. However. while away from their homes or regular places of business. Commission and subcommittee members engaged in Commission or subcommittee business that has been approved by the DFO may be allowed travel expenses. including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in Government service under 5 U.S.C. 5703.
    The Commission shall elect its own Chair.
13. Ethics Responsibility of Members.
    (a) Special Government Employee Members. Members ofthe Commission appointed as SGEs are subject to applicable Federal ethics statutes and regulations, to include applicable exceptions and exemptions. Additionally, SOE members are required. prior to appointment and annually thereafter, to file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report. SOE members are also required to receive initial ethics training prior to performing any Commission duties and to receive annual ethics training thereafter. The Department ofthe Interior will provide materials to those members serving as SGEs, explaining their ethical obligations.
    (b) Non-Federal Members Who Are Not Special Government Employees. Federal members of the Commission and subcommittees appointed as representatives are not subject to Federal ethics statutes and regulations. However. no non-Federal Commission or subcommittee members will participate in any Commission or subcommittee deliberations or votes relating to a specific party matter before the Department or its bureaus and offices including a lease. license. permit, contract. grant. claim, agreement, or litigation. in which the member or the entity the member represents has a direct financial interest.
14. Subcommittees. Subject to the DFO"s approval. subcommittees may be formed for the purposes of compiling information or conducting research. However. such subcommittees must act only under the direction of the DFO and must report their recommendations to the full Commission for consideration. Subcommittees must not provide advice or work products directly to the Department. Subcommittees will meet as necessary to accomplish their assignments, subject to the approval ofthe DFO and the availability of resources.
15. Recordkeeping. Detailed records must be kept of each Commission and formally and informally established subcommittees. All records must be made available to the public subject to the Freedom oflnfom1ation Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and must be handled in accordance with General Records Schedule 6.2 and other approved Agency records disposition schedules.
16. Filing Date. 9/24/24