Coalition Chair Phil Francis recently spoke with The Ashville Citizen Times and Jackson Hole Daily about the recent death of former NPS Director Gary Everhardt. You can read more from the Coalition in our recent press release as well.
Coalition Joins Comments Regarding Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Dr. Eric Kershner Attn: FWS-HQ-MB-2018-0090 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service MS: JAO/1N 5275 Leesburg Pike Falls Church, VA 22041-3803 er***********@*ws.gov Re: Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2018-0090, Final Environmental Impact Statement, Regulations Governing Take of Migratory Birds Dear Dr. Kershner: The Southern Environmental Law Center submits these comments on behalf of the 31 undersigned organizations, which work
Former NPS Director Gary E. Everhardt Passes Away
December 29, 2020 Former NPS Director Gary E. Everhardt Passes Away Gary Everhardt, former director of the National Park Service (NPS), passed away on the evening of December 27, 2020. His death followed the passing of his wife Nancy, on December 23, 2020. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of both Gary and
Coalition Joins Comments on Rulemaking Revisions
December 28, 2020 Public Comments Processing Attn: Docket No. DOI-2020-0001 Department of the Interior; MS: 7328 1849 C Street NW Washington, DC 20240 Re: Department of the Interior interim final rule to revise rulemaking procedures to implement Executive Order 13891 entitled “Promoting the Rule of Law Through Improved Agency Guidance Documents. Dear Mr. Patnaik: Please
National Parks Traveler Episode 98: Looking Back At 2020 In The Parks
By Kurt Repanshek – December 27th, 2020 7:00am In this, our last episode for 2020, we look back on the past 12 months in the parks with Phil Francis of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks and Kristen Brengel from the National Parks Conservation Association. And we also take a peek at the task ahead for the Biden
Coalition Talks with National Parks Traveler About DOI COVID Count
UPDATE | Report: More Than 2,000 Interior Department Employees Infected By Covid-19 By Kurt Repanshek – December 18th, 2020 Editor’s note: This updates with reaction from the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, and the National Parks Conservation Association. More than 2,000 Interior Department employees, including more than 500 at the National Park Service, have
Biden administration must build-up the National Park Service
BY PHIL FRANCIS, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR — 12/19/20 As we begin to close the book on 2020 and start a new year, it’s a good time to reflect on where we’ve been and where we need to go. I served our country and the American people in the National Park Service (NPS) for over 40 years,
Coalition Calls on DOI for Transparency and Leadership
The Washington Monument Was Shut Down After Secretary Bernhardt, Who Had Been “Giving Private, Nighttime Tours,” Tests Positive for Coronavirus A recent internal Interior report revealed that over 2,000 Department of the Interior (DOI) employees have tested positive for COVID-19 and 17 have died. And while the pandemic continues to rage across the country, Secretary Bernhardt
Coalition Weighs In on Bernhardt’s Reckless Behavior
By Washington Post – Juliet Eilperin and Darryl Fears Interior shuts Washington Monument after interior secretary tests positive for the coronavirus Park Service staff say they may have been exposed when David Bernhardt led a private, after-hours tour Officials have taken the extraordinary step of closing the Washington Monument starting Friday as a precaution after
Coalition Praises Representative Haaland’s Historic Nomination for Interior Secretary
WASHINGTON, DC — Moments ago, it was reported that President-elect Joe Biden plans to nominate Representative Deb Haaland to serve as Secretary of the Interior. She would be the first Indigenous person to serve in that position. In reaction to the announcement, Phil Francis, Chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, said:
Coalition Comments on CO Air Quality Regulator’s Reversal of Decision
Colorado Air Quality Regulator Reverses Decision to Retire Coal Plants Early Air Quality Control Commission sides with corporate polluters over decision to force the early retirement of three coal plants. Denver, CO – Today, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) voted to reverse its decision to accelerate the retirements of three Colorado coal units
Coalition Joins 500+ Organizations in Letter to President-Elect Biden
December 15, 2020 President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. Biden-Harris Transition Team 1401 Constitution Ave NW Washington, DC 20001 Re: Day one promise to ban new federal fossil fuel leasing and permitting on public lands and waters Dear President-elect Biden, Congratulations on winning the presidential election and thank you for your slate of promised executive actions
Coalition Urges Clean Air Protections
The Coalition submitted comments in support of the Air Quality Control Commission’s (AQCC) recent decision to reduce air pollution by accelerating the retirement dates of coal-fired power plants in Colorado through the regional haze rulemaking. Nine polluting coal plants would retire by 2028 — sharply reducing the pollution that causes haze in Rocky Mountain National
Coalition Continues to Submit FOIA Requests for COVID-19 Numbers
December 2, 2020 Charis Wilson, FOIA Officer, P.O. Box 25287 12795 W. Alameda Parkway Denver, CO 80225 Subject: Freedom of Information Act Request Dear Ms. Wilson: This is a request under the Freedom of Information Improvement Act of 2016 (Public Law No. 114-185) submitted on behalf of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks. This
Coalition Submits Comment Period Extension Request
December 7, 2020 Norfolk District, Army Corps of Engineers (ATTN: CENAO-WRR) 803 Front Street Norfolk, Virginia 23510-1011 Subject: CENAO-WRR NAO-2012-00080, Dominion Power Surry-Skiffes Creek-Whealton Transmission Line Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) Dear Mr. Steffey: I am writing on behalf of over 1,900 members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition). As a
Coalition Submits Letter in Support of National Defense Authorization Act
November 19, 2020 Dear Chairman Murkowski and Ranking Member Manchin, Chairman Inhofe and Ranking Member Reed, Chairman Grijalva and Ranking Member Bishop, Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Thornberry, On behalf of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, a non-profit organization representing over 1,900 current and former National Park Service employees, we would like to
Coalition Signs on to FY 21 Appropriations Letter
November 19, 2020 Dear Chairwoman Murkowski and Ranking Member Udall, Chairwoman Collins and Ranking Member Reed, Chairwoman McCollum and Ranking Member Joyce, Chairman Price and Ranking Member Diaz-Balart, We, the members of the National Parks Second Century Action Coalition, thank you for your investments over the years to our national parks given the constraints to
Coalition Supports Inclusion of Wildlife Overcrossings in XpressWest High-Speed Rail Project Design
Re: Adding Necessary Wildlife Overcrossings to XpressWest High-Speed Rail Project Design Treasurer Ma, Director Omishakin and Director Bonham: We write to request that your agencies coordinate to ensure that the proposed XpressWest High-Speed Rail Project (“Project”) includes wildlife overcrossings, which are necessary to avoid the permanent blockage of critical California wildlife corridors resulting from the
Coalition Testimony: Hearing on Various National Park and Public Lands Bills
Statement for the Record Philip A. Francis, Jr. Chair of the Executive Council Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests & Mining Committee on Energy & Natural Resources United States Senate Hearing on Various National Park and Public Lands Bills November 18, 2020 Senator Lee, Senator Wyden, and members of
Coalition Signs on To Letter to Protect Sage Grouse
November 18, 2020 Re: Please Conserve Greater Sage-Grouse in the Final FY 2021 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill Dear Chairs and Ranking Members: On behalf of our millions of members and supporters and as you enter year-end negotiations on appropriations bills, we write again to urge you to ensure that the rider prohibiting the U.S.
Coalition Speaks Out On NPS Alaska Jurisdiction Rule
For immediate release: 11/16/20 Contact: Emily Thompson; Em************@********ps.org; (202) 819-8622 The National Park Service (NPS) has issued a final rule that has gone far beyond a precedent set in Sturgeon v. Frost, a case in which the Supreme Court held that the NPS could not enforce a System-wide regulation prohibiting the operation of a hovercraft
Coalition: The Secretary Bernhardt’s Attempt to Undermine LWCF is Unacceptable
WASHINGTON, DC — Moments ago, Secretary David Bernhardt announced that the Interior Department would issue new orders that will impose unnecessary, top-down requirements that will potentially delay the National Park Service’s ability to address its over $5 billion backlog of land acquisition needs. In reaction to the announcement, Phil Francis, Chair of the Coalition
Coalition Slams DOI Over Its LWCF Funding Projects List
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 10, 2020 WASHINGTON, DC — This morning, the Department of the Interior published a list of projects it intends to allocate with the Land and Water Conservation Fund’s support. The list comes a week after the deadline, which the Trump administration inexplicably missed. As per the guidance laid out in
Coalition: NEPA Directive a “Waste of Taxpayer Money.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11/10/20 MEDIA CONTACT: Emily Thompson; Em************@********ps.org; 202-758-3936 Coalition Calls NEPA Directive a “Waste of Taxpayer Money.” The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo directing federal agencies to prioritize aligning their National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures with the finalized Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations.
The Election Might Be Over—But Our Work As Travelers Isn’t
November 9, 2020 BY MEGAN SPURRELL November 9, 2020We spent days waiting for the 2020 election results, knowing that the final call would impact the world we live in, and, crucially, how we travel. At long last, we know that Joseph R. Biden is the president-elect—and Kamala Harris the first female, Black, and Indian-American vice