AUGUSTA (AP) – Lawmakers have rejected a proposal that would have required local communities to give their approval to national park before such a park could be created in Maine.

The Senate on Tuesday voted against the proposal, following a House vote earlier this month that also rejected the measure. Both votes closely followed party lines, with Republicans supporting the legislation and Democrats opposing it.

The vote is the latest turn in the long-running debate on whether to create a 3.2 million-acre Maine Woods National Park across parts of northern and western Maine.

Republicans wanted communities in and around the proposed park to give a two-thirds vote of support before federal officials could study the idea. The bill also would have prevented the federal government from acquiring additional land in the state, except as permitted under the U.S. Constitution.

Supporters of the legislation said they wanted to address concerns that Mainers have about creating a new national park in the state.

“We feel this is added protection,” said Senate Minority Leader Paul Davis, R-Sangerville, who favored the proposal.

But opponents said a number of protections already exist for those who don’t want a national park.

“There are many opportunities for public comment and public input,” said Sen. Elizabeth Schneider, D-Orono.

Supporters of a Maine Woods National Park say it would protect lands for future generations, but critics say it would destroy the economic foundation of rural communities in northern Maine.

Opponents of the proposal that was voted down Tuesday questioned whether local votes could influence a federal process. And some said prohibitions on the federal government owning future lands in Maine likely would be illegal.

But Republican lawmakers said opposition to the park is so strong that they want to ensure Mainers have as much local control as possible.

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