1.25.2021
The Honorable Joseph R. Biden
President of the United States
The Honorable Debra Haaland
Secretary-designate
Department of the Interior
Dear President Biden and Secretary-designate Haaland,
Congratulations on your election victory. We look forward to working with you to preserve and protect America’s national parks.
We are writing on behalf of over 1,800 members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition), a non-profit organization composed of retired, former, or current employees of the National Park Service (NPS). The Coalition studies, educates, speaks, and acts for the preservation of America’s National Park System. As a group, we collectively represent over 40,000 years of experience managing and protecting America’s most precious and important natural and historic resources. Among our members are former NPS directors, regional directors, superintendents, resource specialists, rangers, maintenance and administrative staff, and a full array of other former employees, volunteers, and supporters.
We, the undersigned, are writing today to voice our support for a moratorium on new oil and gas drilling on public lands and waters. Not only does drilling contribute to our greater climate crises – the fossil fuels that are extracted on public lands and waters account for nearly a quarter of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions – it is a threat to the protection of our national parks.
Oil and gas drilling on public lands – often on the doorstep of national parks – jeopardizes critical species habitat, endangers resources, and compromises the dark skies and scenic viewsheds that surround our parks. It is a threat not only to the protection of our parks but to the quality of the visitor experience. We must stop new drilling on our public lands and waters to avoid further harm to our country’s precious and irreplaceable natural and cultural resources.
We are heartened by your campaign pledge to halt new oil and gas drilling on our country’s public lands and waters. Now, we urge you to take bold and immediate action on this pledge to ensure the protection of our national parks and public lands for Americans today, and for generations to come.
Sincerely,
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Executive Council:
| Phillip A. Francis, Chair Maria Burks, Vice Chair Michael Allen Sarah Allen Brenda Barrett Sarah Bransom Russell Galipeau | Rebecca Harriett Don Hellmann Michael Murray Don Neubacher Jim Northup Richard Ring Chris Soller Sheridan Steele |
Signatures of Coalition Members (retired):
| Alan D. Hollister Alexander J. McMahon Alison J Thompson Alister Shanks Amy Vanderbilt Ann Baugh Ann Childress Anndevoy Ryan Anne Cully Anne Worthington B. Riley McClelland Barbara J. Griffin Barbara Maynes Barry T. Sullivan Bernard Fagan Bill Pierce Bonnie Winslow Brian C. Kenner Brian Forist Bruce Douglas McKeeman Bruce W Bytnar Carl Hinrichs Carl L. Stapler Carl S. Christensen Carol Kruse Caroline Ailanthus Caroline Keinath Cary P. Carlson Cathleen J. Cook Charles D Jacobi Charles L Higgins Charles Schultheis Charles W. Kirby, Ph.D. Cherry Payne Cheryl Schreier Chris Seymour Christine L. Korsmo Christine McNeil Chuck Arning Clyde Stonaker Cordell Roy Courtney Hotchkiss Craig C. Axtell Crystal Muzik Cynthia M. Holda D Scott Hartwig Dan Moses Daniel J. Jenner Daniel Taylor Daphne Hatch David B Shaver David B. Ames David C Hartman David Donohue David Forney David H Wallace David Hollenberg David Holmes David Mills David N. Given David R. Stuart David Roberts Dawn M Foy Dean Reeder Deena Barlev Demica Vigil Denis M Osowski Denis P. Galvin Dennis Burnett Dennis Divoky Dennis Hanson Denny Huffman Diane E. Banta Diane T. Liggett Dominic Nessi Don Neubacher Donald Hellmann Donald L Jackson Donald M. Fox Dorothy A Davis Douglas DeNio Doyle Nelson Dr. Patricia Corry Edward D Carlin Sr Edward P Walzer Edward Souza Edwin L. Rothfuss Eileen Loughran Elaine F. Leslie Elaine Pisani Elizabeth Hastings Elizabeth Janes Elizabeth Snyder Elizabeth Van Zandt Ella Rayburn Emilee Martell Emily Prud'homme Emily Thompson Erik R. Hauge Frances J Rutter Frank J. Deckert Fred Herling Fred J Fagergren G. Michael Sutton Gary Cummins Gary E. Davis Gary G Brandow Gary L Williams George Alderson George Buckingham George H. Bowen Gilbert Blinn Gilbert Soper Ginny Rousseau Gordon Vincent Gay H. Bryan Mitchell Hal J Grovert Harry A. DeLashmutt Helen S Hossley Isak Kvam J. Douglas Cuillard J. Mel Poole J. Scott Harmon J. W. Wade Jack E Stark Jack Potter Jack Ramsden James Brandi James C Roach James Campbell, PhD James Corless James E Wimberly James L Hummel James M. Brady James Perkins James Zinck Janet Wise Janet Wolf Janis Kozlowski Jeffrey Sussman Jerry Freilich PhD Jervis D Swannack iii Jimmy Groton Joan Anzelmo Joel B. Schwartz John Chao John E. Hunter John F Chapman John F. Byrne John J Reynolds John P. Debo, Jr. John Richard Erisman John W. Hiscock Jon Boyce Jonathan D Lewis Jonathan W. Bayless Joseph Aull Joseph H Finan Joseph Lee Boyle Joy Warren Justin Berthiaume Karen G. Rehm Karl Christopher Soller Katherine C. Ziegenfus Katherine Stevenson Kathleen Clossin Kathryn Eileen Tustanowski Kathryn S. Brett Kathy Tonnessen, Ph.D. Keith B. Dunbar Kenneth E. Apschnikat Kent Bullard Kent Cave Kevin Melfi Kim E. Sikoryak Kim Watson Larry B. Thomas Larry Kilborn Larry Thomas Larry Walling Laura Rotegard Lawrence Beal Leon L. Folsom, Jr. Leonard W. McKenzie Leslie Starr Hart Linda Alick Linda L. West Luke E. Dalton Lynda C Doucette Lynn D Jamison Lynn Wightman M. Susan Hurst Marcia Keener Margaret Dolinich Maria Burks Marilyn Meyer Mark Butler Mark Kelleher Mark Ruggiero Mary Anne Richards Mary D. Partsch Mary E. Caress Mary G Martin Mary Jones Mary Miller Chapman Matthew Provost Meredith M Kaplan Michael B. Murray Michael Budig Michael K. Johnson Michael Molling Michael Piraino Michael Rees Michael Tollefson Mike Wrigley Miriam Hornstein Nancy Stone Neil R. Korsmo Nelson Siler Nicholas Carson Nicholas J Eason Norah Martinez Norman D. Hellmers Olav V. Olsen Oron L. Bass, Jr. Pamela Underhill Patricia Ashley Patrick H Reed Patrick J. McCabe Paul B Cole, III Paul F. Haertel Paul Henderson Paul R. Anderson Paulette Mullinax Pete Nigh Peter C Fitzmaurice Peter D. Rhyins Phil Brueck Philip S Heckman Philip Selleck Phyllis Ellin Ralph G Mihan Randi Smith Randolph Elmquist Rebecca M. Post Rebecca Mills Richard Bryant Richard C. Curry Richard Cronenberger Richard D Falb Richard E Wells Richard H Martin Richard Smith Rick Jones Rick L. Mossman Robert Arnberger Robert G Burns Robert Joseph Abrell Robert King Robert R. Martin Roberta Barrows Roberta D'Amico Ronald A. Wilson Ronald Thoman Russ Ludwick Samuel M. Weddle Sanford P. Rabinowitch Sarah Bransom Sarah Peskin Sarah Pisani Scott Chapman Scott Emerson Tilley Scott Sticha Sharon C Miles Shirley M. Clark Stephanie Gibert Stephen R. Bruner Stephen W. Hastings Steve Pittleman Steven Golden Steven Harrison Steven Kesselman Sue Consolo-Murphy Sue Jennings Ted Stout Terrence D. Moore Terry Savage Thomas A. Cherry Thomas Allen Smith Thomas D. Thiessen Thomas E. Lubbert Thomas L. Habecker Thomas P. Workman Thomas W. Sweeney Timothy Ingalsbee Timothy J. Oliverius Todd Bolton Tom Haraden Tom Lorig Tom Patterson Tom Ribe Tonnie Cummings Vaughn Baker Vito Spinale Walter J Chavez Warren E Bielenberg Wayne T. Jipsen Wendy Artz Wendy Poinsot William A. Sanders William D Rice, Jr William F. Loftus, Ph.D. William F. Paleck William J Carroll William Jackson William M. Hassebrock William Overstreet Yeva Cifor | TN Sonoma, CA Sandy, UT Northampton, MA Kalispell, MT Chino Valley, AZ Hillsville, VA Loveland, CO Santa Fe, NM Cortez, CO West Glacier, MT CA Port Angeles, WA Cape May, NJ Silver Spring, MD Prescott valley, AZ Guthrie, OK SD Michigan City, IN Prescott, AZ Raphine, VA Harrison, AR Evanston, WY Sequim, WA Flagstaff, AZ Newark, MD Norfolk, MA Salida, CO Olympia, WA Bar Harbor, ME Hernando, FL San Diego, CA Leesburg, VA Santa Fe, NM Custer, SD Newark, MD West Branch, IA Spring City, PA Lunenburg, MA Fort Collins, CO South Jordan, UT Raleigh, NC Estes Park, CO Moab, UT Manns Harbor, NC Gettysburg, PA New Bern, NC Grove, OK Volcano, HI Novato, CA Morrison, CO Hilo, HI Stevensville, MD Santa Fe, NM King of Prussia, PA Frederick, MD Philadelphia, PA Volcano, HI Gustavus, AK Port Townsend, WA Sacramento, CA Montrose, CO Danville, VT Salt Lake City, UT Silver Spring, MD WV Seville, OH Mc Lean, VA Tucson, AZ West Glacier, MT Duluth, MN Ridgefield, WA Chicago Heights, IL Williams, AZ Las Vegas, NV Point Reyes Station, CA Annandale, VA Weaverville, CA Mariposa, CA Westlake Village, CA Loveland, CO Grants Pass, OR Helena, MT Omaha, NE Hesperia, MI Dracut, MA Kalispell, MT Las Vegas, NV Durango, CO Maryville, TN Harpers Ferry, WV CO Williamsburg , VA Indio, CA Scranton, PA Madison, WI Bend, OR Oakwood, OH Erie, CO Boise, ID Glen Allen, VA Cutler Bay, FL Santa Clara, UT Carmel Valley, CA Port Townsend, WA Westlake Village, CA Columbia Falls, MT Fort Collins, CO Catonsville, MD Chiloquin, OR Hoodsport, WA Eastsound, WA CA Orleans, MA Winchester, VA Reva, VA Tucson, AZ DeLand, FL FL Minneapolis, MN Arvada, CO Thurmont, MD Frederick, MD Tucson, AZ Wichita, KS Columbia Falls, MT Syracuse, NY Salt Lake City, UT PA CO Nokomis, FL Fayetteville, AR International Falls, MN Highlands Ranch, CO Helena, MT Hardy, Virginia Lakewood, CO Newport, NJ Anchorage, AK Ennis, MT Bend, OR CO Oak Ridge, TN Jackson, WY Bangor, PA Bellevue, WA Lovettsville, VA Littleton, CO Oakton, VA Crozet, VA Hudson, OH Pittsburgh, PA Kanab, UT Seattle, WA Carpinteria, CA Davis, CA Weaverville, NC Greenwich, NY Athens, GA Boise, ID San Francisco, CA Williamsburg, VA Arlington, VA Lakewood, CO Potomac, MD Middlefield, OH Moab, UT VA Missoula, MT Kirkland, WA Bowling Green, KY Ventura, CA Pigeon Forge, TN Providence, RI Golden, CO Flagstaff, AZ Moab, UT Evergreen, CO Moab, UT Littleton, CO Indianola, WA Littleton, CO Atlanta, GA Mariposa, CA Fredericksburg, TX Gunnison, CO Vernal, UT Ogden, UT Waynesville, NC Louisville, KY Penney Farms, FL San Rafael, CA Fredericksburg, VA Colorado Springs, CO Wellfleet, MA Pioneer, CA NV Jackson, WY AZ Cortez, CO Chesterton, IN Laguna Woods, CA Palo Cedro, CA Pensacola, FL University Place WA Annapolis, MD Oakland, CA Brunswick, ME Salt Lake City, UT Fredericksburg, VA Asheville, NC Bainbridge Island, WA Lakewood, CO AZ Howard, CO Huntsville, AL Mountainair, NM West Branch, IA Pueblo, CO Washington, DC UT Titusville, FL Valparaiso, IN Albuquerque, NM High Springs, FL Harpers Ferry, WV Dickinson, ND Fort Collins, CO Caledonia, NY Kissimmee, FL Southwest Harbor, ME Moab, UT Tucson, AZ Bedford, VA Prescott, AZ Mazama, WA Albuquerque, NM Saratoga Springs, UT Custer, SD Falls Church, VA Chicago, IL Marin County, CA Spearfish, SD Gaithersburg, MD Santa Fe, NM Berkeley, CA St. Augustine, FL McLean, VA Littleton, CO Lakewood, CO Palm Springs, CA Palo Cedro, CA Tucson, AZ Ridgway, CO Mount Vernon, WA Tucson, AZ Orem, UT Nevada City, CA Silver Spring, MD Dunbar, PA Colorado Springs CO Boise, ID Knoxville TN Denver CO Luray, VA Front Royal, VA Anchorage, AK Grand Lake, CO Walpole, ME Maryville, TN University Place, WA Maidens, VA Hereford, AZ Denver, CO Issaquah, WA Montrose, CO VT Harpers Ferry, WV Chestertown, MD Andover, MA Hendersonville, NC Albemarle, NC Wapiti, WY Lake Ann, MI Picabo, ID Shamong, NJ Charleston, SC Loveland, CO San Jose, CA Pleasant Dale, NE Lakewood, CO Bozeman, MT CA Lynchburg, VA Eugene, OR Mancos, CO Smithsburg, MD Castle Valley, UT Seattle, WA Redlands, CA Santa Fe, NM Vancouver, WA Estes Park, CO Santa Fe, NM Placitas, NM Maryville, TN Saint George, UT Los Lunas, NM San Francisco, CA Birdsboro, PA Eagle River, AK Vero Beach, FL San Tan Valley, AZ Hudson, OH Fort Collins, CO San Francisco, CA Roanoke, VA Seattle, WA |