Statement from Emily Thompson, Executive Director of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, on the judge’s ruling halting the construction of President Trump’s ballroom at the White House: “The White House is the people’s house. It is not President Trump’s house. And the White House certainly does not belong to the corporate donors
VICTORY: Court Ruling Halts Destructive Data Centers Adjacent to Manassas National Battlefield Park
NPCA applauds today’s ruling, which affirms that the Prince William Board of Supervisors did not follow the law in their efforts to fast-track development of this ill-conceived, destructive project. RICHMOND, Va. – Today, the Court of Appeals of Virginia upheld an earlier court ruling voiding land rezoning changes essential to the construction of the Prince
Conservation Groups Challenge Utah Oil and Gas Lease Sale Near Old Spanish Trail
Synopsis On March 30, 2026, representatives of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, Western Watersheds Project, and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance submitted joint comments on the Bureau of Land Management’s BLM Utah 2026 Second Quarter Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale Environmental Assessment (DOI-BLM-UT-0000-2026-0003-EA). The comments focus
National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 367 | Managing Capitol Reef’s Visitors
By Jess Repanshek – March 29th, 2026 Capitol Reef National Park in Utah is one of the Mighty Five, as the state likes to say in its tourism promotions, and while it’s somewhat off the beaten path, visitors are finding it. In 2024, visitation to the park was a record 1.4 million, a number that
Scoping Comments Urge BLM to Rethink New Mexico’s Q3 2026 Oil and Gas Lease Sale
THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY COALITION TO PROTECT AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS NEW MEXICO WILD The Wilderness Society, Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, and New Mexico Wild are urging the Bureau of Land Management to take a far more rigorous look at its proposed New Mexico 2026 Third Quarter oil and gas lease sale. Their comments argue
Conservation Groups Protest Montana-Dakotas Q2 2026 Federal Oil and Gas Lease Sale
A coalition of environmental and park-protection organizations is urging the Bureau of Land Management to defer all 23 parcels in the proposed Montana-Dakotas Q2 2026 oil and gas lease sale until the agency completes a far more comprehensive environmental review. The Western Environmental Law Center, joined by the Center for Biological Diversity, Coalition to Protect
Coalition Urges OPM to Reject Politicized Federal Employee Performance Rule
ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION – NO HARD COPY TO FOLLOW Submitted online via: https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/OPM-2025-0273-0001 Subject: Performance Appraisal for General Schedule, Prevailing Rate, and Certain Other Employees (3206-AP06) March 20, 2026 Dear Noah Peters, I am writing on behalf of the Coalition to Protect America’s National
Member Op-Ed: BLM nominee puts Grand Canyon at risk. Here’s why.
BLM nominee puts Grand Canyon at risk. Here’s why | Opinion OP ED | Opinion This piece expresses the views of its author(s), separate from those of this publication. BLM nominee Steve Pearce’s record shows he would not protect Arizona’s national parks and monuments. He would do the opposite, putting them at risk. Steve Martin
Member Op-Ed: Trump’s pick to lead BLM is a threat to our great public lands
Trump’s pick to lead BLM is a threat to our great public lands (Opinion) By Daily Camera guest opinion | Boulder Daily Camera PUBLISHED: March 19, 2026 By Elaine F. Leslie The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) exists to sustain and safeguard our nation’s public lands in the present and for future generations. And yet,
Conservation Groups Urge EPA to Reject Oklahoma Regional Haze Plan
Conservation Groups Urge EPA to Reject Oklahoma Regional Haze Plan The National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club, and the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks have submitted comments opposing EPA’s proposed approval of Oklahoma’s 2022 Regional Haze State Implementation Plan. The groups argue that the plan fails to require meaningful new pollution controls, even though
Conservation Groups Urge Camden County to Delay Support for Cumberland Island Land Exchange
March 17, 2026 Via Email and Online Public Comment Portal Re: Cumberland Island – Letter of Support for NPS Land Exchange Dear County Commissioners: On behalf of itself, Center for a Sustainable Coast, Center for Biological Diversity, Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, National Parks Conservation Association, and Wild Cumberland, Southern Environmental
125 Groups to Congress: Reject CRA Resolutions That Threaten Grand Staircase–Escalante
The Honorable John Thune Senate Majority Leader The Honorable Mike Johnson Speaker of the House The Honorable Chuck Schumer Senate Minority Leader The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries House Minority Leader RE: Please Oppose Attacks on Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument through the use of the Congressional Review Act (S.J.Res.109/H.J.Res.151) Dear Senators and Members of Congress, On behalf
Coalition Calls on NPS to Extend Public Comment Period for Controversial Alaska Hunting Rule
ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION – NO HARD COPY TO FOLLOW Submitted online via: https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/NPS-2026-0034-0001 Submitted by email to: Di******@*ps.gov, AK*************@*ps.gov, Do*********@*ps.gov March 10, 2026 Jessica Bowron Comptroller, Exercising the Delegated Authority of the Director National Park Service 1849 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20240 Don Striker, Acting Regional Director Alaska Regional Office 240 West 5th Avenue
Advocates Reject Proposal to Allow Bear Baiting on National Parklands in Alaska
Proposed rule ignores National Park Service obligations to protect wildlife by allowing bear baiting in Denali and Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserves ANCHORAGE – Wildlife and national parks advocates decried new proposed wildlife regulations released by the Department of Interior today, covering 22 million acres of national parklands in Alaska. The proposed rule ignores the Park Service’s obligation
National Conservation Organizations Urge Mariposa County to Reject Development Near Yosemite
March 5, 2026 Mariposa County Planning Department PO Box 2039 Mariposa, CA 95338 Submitted via email to pl**********@************ty.gov Dear Mariposa County Planning Department, On behalf of National Parks Conservation Association, Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks and National Wildlife Federation, we submit the following comments regarding Camp Yosemite LLC’s Formal Housing Development Project Application
Former National Park Service Scientist Urges Maryland to Phase Out Lead Ammunition to Protect Wildlife and Public Health
Testimony MD SB 1067 – Hunting – Phase-Out of Lead Ammunition February 27, 2026 Delegate Marc Korman, Chairman House Environment & Transportation Committee 250 Taylor Office Building Annapolis, MD 21401 Re: HB 1067 – Hunting – Phase-Out of Lead Ammunition – FAVORABLE Dear Chairman Korman and Vice Chair Guyton: I am Dr. F. Elaine Leslie, an
Backdoor procedures undermine Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and all public lands
Backdoor procedures undermine Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and all public lands Yesterday, Utah Republicans furthered their efforts to upend the plan that protects Grand Staircase-Escalante’ National Monument. The previous addition to the congressional record of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) opinion stating that Congress can overturn Monument Management Plans opened the door to this action.
Member Op-Ed: Don’t desecrate Big Bend National Park with a border wall we don’t need
As the former superintendent of Big Bend National Park, I spent the capstone years of my career working to protect this remarkable desert landscape. I am appalled that the Department of Homeland Security is now planning to build a completely unnecessary massive border wall through the spectacular river frontage that gives Big Bend its name
Conservation Groups Protest BLM Utah Oil & Gas Lease Sale Over Threats to Old Spanish Trail
Synopsis: Protest of BLM Utah 2026 First Quarter Oil & Gas Lease Sale Environmental Assessment On February 24, 2026, a coalition of conservation organizations and trail advocates submitted a formal protest of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Utah 2026 First Quarter Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale (DOI-BLM-UT-0000-2026-0001-EA).
Groups Challenge BLM’s Failure to Provide Public Input on “Replacement” Oil & Gas Lease Sales
March 2, 2026 The Honorable Bill Groffy Acting Director, Bureau of Land Management Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20240 Re: Concerns for Compliance with Mandatory Public Participation Requirements, Including for “Replacement” Oil & Gas Lease Sales Dear Acting Director Groffy: We, the undersigned organizations, are writing to express our opposition
There’s a better way to visit crowded national parks
There’s a better way to visit crowded national parks Visitors should brace for longer lines and gridlock now that several major parks are rolling back their reservation systems. Here are strategies for a more relaxed summer vacation. By Andrea Sachs When Will Pattiz learned that Yosemite was eliminating its timed-entry system, he experienced a flashback