Coalition Statement on President Biden’s FY 2025 Proposed Budget

For release: March 12, 2023 Contact: Emily Thompson, Em************@********ps.org Coalition Statement on President Biden’s FY 2025 Proposed Budget Phil Francis, Chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, issued the following statement on President Biden’s FY 2025 budget: “We were disappointed in the final budget numbers that were just passed for FY 2024, and

Coalition Joins Comments on Florida’s Supplemental Amendment to Previously Proposed Regional Haze Plan

  March 8, 2024 Preston McLane Program Administrator Division of Air Resource Management Florida Department of Environmental Protection 2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 5500 Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400 Electronic Filing via Email to Pr************@********EP.gov Re: Comments on Florida’s Supplemental Amendment to Previously Proposed Regional Haze Plan for the Second Implementation Period. The National Parks Conservation Association

Coalition Joins Comments on Revision to Pennsylvania State Implementation Regional Haze Plan

  March 8, 2024 Ezra Thrush, Director Policy Office Department of Environmental Protection Rachel Carson State Office Building P.O. Box 2063 Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063 Re: Proposed Revision to State Implementation Plan Regional Haze Best Available Retrofit Technology Dear Mr. Thrush: The National Parks Conservation Association, Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, Sierra Club, PennFuture, Clean

Coalition Comments on Compromise Budget That Will Cut $150 Million From NPS

The National Park Service, already struggling to meet staffing and operational needs, will be saddled with a $150 million cut to its current budget if Congress approves a Senate-House compromise spending plan released by the two chambers’ appropriations committees. Additionally, the bills don’t provide any additional funds to help parks cover a 5.2 percent federal pay

Coalition Offers Support for New Report on Threat to Resources from Orphaned Wells and Abandoned Oil and Gas Infrastructure

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 19, 2024 Press Contact: Paul Reed, pr***@******************st.org REPORT: Orphaned Wells and Abandoned Oil and Gas Infrastructure Pose a Significant Threat to Cultural Resources in the Southwest New Report Explores Native American Tribal Concerns with Orphaned Wells and Discusses Common-Sense Solutions Needed for Addressing the Problem for the Long Term (Tucson, AZ)

Coalition Testifies in Support of SB983, the MD bill to phase-out lead ammunition

Written Testimony in support of SB983 RE: SB 983 – Lead Ammunition Phase-Out – SUPPORT February 27, 2024 The Honorable Brian J. Feldman Chair, Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee Maryland General Assembly Annapolis, MD 21401 The Honorable Cheryl C. Kagan Vice Chair, Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee Maryland General Assembly Annapolis,

Coalition Thanks Senator Van Hollen and Representative Sarbanes on Supporting S. 2620 and H.R. 5045, the Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act

  February 27, 2024 The Honorable Chris Van Hollen U.S. Senate 730 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable John Sarbanes U.S. House of Representatives 2370 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 RE: Support for the Chesapeake National Recreation Area S. 2620 and H.R. 5045 Dear Senator Van Hollen and Representative Sarbanes:

Coalition Urges Congress to Swiftly Pass a Spending Plan that Prioritizes the Protection of Parks and Public Lands

  For release: February 26, 2024 Contact: Emily Thompson, Em************@********ps.org Coalition Urges Congress to Swiftly Pass a Spending Plan that Prioritizes the Protection of Parks and Public Lands With a potential shutdown of the federal government looming on the horizon, our national parks and public lands are once again at risk. Congress has only a

Coalition Supports Dearfield Special Resource Study

The National Park Service (NPS) is conducting a Special Resource Study of the historic Dearfield settlement in Weld County, Colorado, to identify whether it meets the criteria recommended for potential inclusion as a unit of the national park system. Dearfield was established by Oliver Toussaint Jackson in 1910 and was the most prominent African American homesteading settlement

Coalition Urges Phase Out of Poisonous Lead Ammunition in Sport Hunting in Maryland

  February 23, 2024   Subject:  Support of Maryland’s HB 1473   Dear Delegate:   I am writing to you on behalf of over 2,500 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,

Coalition Joins Comments on Wyoming Bureau of Land Management 2024 Competitive Oil & Gas Lease Sale

THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY AUDUBON ROCKIES * COALITION TO PROTECT AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS * FRIENDS OF THE EARTH UNITED STATES * NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL * NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY * POWDER RIVER BASIN RESOURCE COUNCIL * ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILD * WYOMING OUTDOOR COUNCIL February 15, 2024 SUBMITTED VIA E-PLANNING Andrew Archuleta State Director Wyoming Bureau of

Coalition Supports Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park Visitor Use Management Plan

  February 14, 2024 Tracy Stakely Superintendent Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park 1214 Middle Street Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482 Subject: Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie Dock Replacement Environmental Assessment Dear Superintendent Stakely: I am writing on behalf of more than 2,500 members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition), who

Coalition Urges Director Sams to Keep Yosemite National Park Childcare Center Open

  The Honorable Charles Sams Director National Park Service 1849 C Street NW Washington, DC 2024 February 12, 2024 Dear Director Sams, I am writing on behalf of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition), an organization made up of more than 2,500 former, retired, and current National Park Service (NPS) employees and volunteers.

Coalition Highlights Success of GAOA in Interview with Billings Gazette

Great American investments: National park projects accelerate with funding Brett French Feb 4, 2024 Yellowstone National Park has bustled with construction activity in recent years, and not just because the record-breaking flood of 2022 wiped out roads, bridges, buildings and other infrastructure. The Great American Outdoors Act, passed by Congress in a bipartisan vote in

Coalition Joins Comments on the Wyoming Bureau of Land Management 2024 Second Quarter Oil & Gas Lease Sale

THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY COALITION TO PROTECT AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS * FRIENDS OF THE EARTH US * NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION * ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILD * POWDER RIVER BASIN RESOURCE COUNCIL * WYOMING OUTDOOR COUNCIL February 08, 2024 SUBMITTED VIA E-PLANNING Andrew Archuleta State Director Wyoming Bureau of Land Management 5353 Yellowstone Road Cheyenne, WY 82009

Coalition Joins Comments on EPA’s proposed approval of Massachusetts’ Regional Haze Revision

  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 1 5 Post Office Square Suite 100 Boston, MA 02109-3912 Electronic Filing via Regulations.gov Re: Comments on Proposed Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Massachusetts; Regional Haze State Implementation Plan for the Second Implementation Period [EPA Docket No. EPA–R01–OAR–2023–0185] The National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club, Appalachian

Coalition Joins Comments Urging Forest Service to Strengthen Protections for Forests in Proposed Policy

To: The Honorable Randy Moore, U.S. Forest Service Chief Re: USDA Old-Growth Initiative February 1st, 2024 Dear Chief Moore, Thank you for starting a process that we hope will end with meaningful protections for existing old-growth forests and trees across the United States, and increase abundance and distribution of old-growth in the future. The undersigned

Coalition Joins Comments on EPA Disapproval of Kansas Regional Haze Plan

  January 30, 2024 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 11201 Renner Blvd. Lenexa, KS 66219 Electronic Filing via Regulations.gov Re: Comments on Proposed Air Plan Disapproval; Kansas; Regional Haze [EPA Docket No. EPA–R07–OAR–2023–0582] The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), Sierra Club, and the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (collectively, the Conservation Groups) submit

Coalition Provides Comments on Big Bend Livestock Plan Implementation

January 26, 2024 Kate Hammond Regional Director National Park Service 12795 West Alameda Parkway Denver, CO 80225 Subject: 2018 Big Bend Livestock Plan Implementation Dear Regional Director Hammond: I am writing on behalf of more than 2,500 members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition), who collectively represent more than 45,000 years of

Coalition Comments on Use of Fixed Anchors and Fixed Equipment in National Park Service Wilderness Areas

  January 25, 2024 Roger Semler Wilderness Stewardship Division Manager National Park Service 1849 C Street NW, MS–2457 Washington, DC 20240 Subject: Evaluation and Authorization Procedures for Fixed Anchors and Fixed Equipment in National Park Service Wilderness Areas Dear Mr. Semler: I am writing on behalf of more than 2,500 members of the Coalition to

Coalition Provides Comments on Historic Structure Demolition at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

  January 15, 2024 Charles Sellars Superintendent New River Gorge National Park and Preserve National Park Service Post Office Box 246 104 Main Street Glen Jean, WV 25846 Re: Excess Structures and Deferred Maintenance Dear Superintendent Sellars: I write to you on behalf of more than 2,500 members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National

Coalition Speaks with Federal Times about and Shutdowns and Employee Morale

National Parks need $22 billion to address growing maintenance backlog By Molly Weisner Jan 11 at 12:30 PM Land management agencies within the U.S. Department of Interior saw steep increases in repair backlogs, prompting urgent discussions in Congress about how to approach the upcoming reauthorization of a public lands maintenance fund that expires in 2025. Agencies defer needed repairs or

Coalition Joins Comments on Parcels for the Nevada Bureau of Land Management 2024 Second Quarter Competitive Oil & Gas Lease Sale

THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY COALITION TO PROTECT AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS * FRIENDS OF THE EARTH US * NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL * ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILD December 27, 2023 SUBMITTED VIA E-PLANNING Jon Raby State Director Bureau of Land Management, Nevada Project Contacts: Concetta Brown cc*****@*lm.gov (775) 289-1885 Re: Scoping comments on parcels for the Nevada Bureau