March 7, 2019 Honorable Betty McCollum Chair Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Relations Agencies Committee on Appropriations House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Madam Chair: I am writing on behalf of The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition). Our Coalition is composed of over 1,600 members who collectively have more than 40,000
Coalition Joins 146 Groups in Comments on Proposed DOI FOIA Changes
The Southern Environmental Law Center, The Wilderness Society, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife Federation, Animal Welfare Institute, the Center for Urban and Environmental Reform, and the Sierra Club submitted these comments on their own behalf and on behalf of the undersigned 135
Coalition’s Letter to Sen. McConnell – Reopen the Dept. of the Interior
January 21, 2019 Dear Leader McConnell, On behalf of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, a non-profit organization representing over 1,600 current and former National Park Service employees, we urge you to do everything in your power to fully reopen our national parks and public lands by ending this government shutdown and passing appropriations
Coalition Joins Call for DOI to Postpone Lease Sales During Shutdown
VIA E-MAIL January 17, 2019 Mr. David Bernhardt Secretary of the Interior, Acting 1849 C Street, NW Washington, D.C. Re: Postponing BLM Oil & Gas Lease Sales Due to the Partial Government Shutdown Dear Acting Secretary Bernhardt: The undersigned organizations represent millions of members and supporters across the West and the nation who are concerned
Coalition Joins Others to Urge Passage of H.R. 266
January 11, 2019 Dear Representative, We, the members of the National Parks Second Century Action Coalition[i], write to ask Representatives to support H.R. 266, the FY19 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Passage of this bill and other individual appropriations bills would reopen portions of the federal government, putting Americans back to work
Coalition Joins Groups Calling Trump to Close Parks during Shutdown
January 9, 2019 President Donald J. Trump The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear President Trump: We respectfully ask that you agree to fully fund the government and reopen agencies currently closed. Otherwise, we strongly urge that you close units of the National Wildlife Refuge System, the National Parks, and other public lands, until sufficient
Coalition’s Statement on Secretary Zinke’s Resignation
Secretary Zinke’s resignation is an opportunity for the current Administration to reconsider our country’s priorities for use of our public lands. Coalition Chair Phil Francis says, “I’m hopeful that Secretary Zinke’s departure marks a new chapter in the story of America’s parks and public lands. During his time as Secretary, our national parks faced unprecedented threats and suffered from a clear lack of support. Now, the current administration must seize this opportunity to appoint a leader who will listen to the needs of those on the ground, work in partnership with the stewards of our public lands, and passionately advocate for the protection of our national parks.” Click “Read More” to read our full statement.
Coalition and NPCA File Amici Brief in Atlantic Coast Pipeline Case
The Coalition and NPCA have filed an amici curiae brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in support of a lawsuit challenging the NPS’s decision to allow a natural gas pipeline to be constructed across the Appalachian Trail and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Click “Read More” for additional information.
Coalition Comments on Sochan Gathering in GRSM
The Coalition has submitted comments to Superintendent Cash on shortcomings in the GRSM environmental assessment on Sochan gathering in the park. Click “Read More” to read our letter to the Superintendent.
Coalition Among Groups Urging for Passage of S. 3172/H.R.6510
The National Parks Second Century Action Coalition, wrote in support of S. 3172/H.R. 6510, Restore Our Parks Act/Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act and final passage in the 115th Congress. Click “Read More” to read our letter and view the photobook delivered to Congress.
Coalition Urges Training for Employees on Ethics Standards with Donors and Partner Organizations
The Coalition has sent a letter to Acting Director Dan Smith on the necessity of establishing a training program in regards to employee relations with donors and partners. To read our letter, click “Read More”.
CPANP Urges Congress to Suspend Action on H.R. 6687
The Coalition has sent a letter to Senators Murkowski and Cantwell to urge suspension of further action on H.R. 6687, a bill that would circumvent established processes and mandate that the National Park Service issue long-term leases to continue commercial cattle ranching operations in Point Reyes National Seashore and the northern portion of Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Coalition Voices Concern about Atlantic Coast Pipeline
The Coalition sent a letter to Acting Director, Dan Smith, voicing our concern about the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and the permit granted by the NPS to allow the natural gas pipeline to cross the Appalachian Trail and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Click “Read More” to read our full letter.
NPS EA for Proposed Alaska Hunting Rule Change is Deeply Flawed
A National Park Service environmental assessment (EA) fundamentally fails to take a hard look at the potential impacts of a proposed rule change that would open Alaska’s national preserves to a variety of controversial and unsportsmanlike hunting practices that target predator species. Click “Read More” to see the Coalition’s comments on the EA.
The LWCF Must Be Reauthorized Without Further Delay
Congress’ failure to reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) will have long-reaching and devastating impacts for communities across the United States. The LWCF has been our nation’s primary source for preserving nationally significant public lands and providing recreational opportunities in local communities throughout the country for over 50 years. The Coalition urges Congress to fully fund and permanently reauthorize the LWCF without delay.
Coalition Opposes Weakening Endangered Species Act Regulations
The Coalition has joined 56 other conservation groups in signing a joint comment letter strongly opposing the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s and National Marines Fisheries Service’s proposed revisions to the Endangered Species Act’s implementing regulations. Click “Read More” to see the letter.
Coalition Condemns Cynical Proposal to Repeal NPS Alaska Hunting Regulations
At the direction of the Interior Department, the National Park Service has issued a proposed rule that would open Alaska’s national preserves to controversial and unsportsmanlike hunting practices such as: killing black bear cubs and sows with cubs at den sites; shooting brown bears at bait stations; and killing wolves with pups during the denning season. Click “Read More” to see the Coalition’s comments on the proposed rule.
Coalition Voices “Process” Concerns About Proposed NPS Repeal of Alaska Hunting Regulations
In May 2018, the National Park Service (NPS) published a proposed rule that would repeal a 2015 regulation that prohibits a number of controversial hunting and trapping methods from occurring on National Preserves in Alaska. Despite the high level of public opposition to the proposed repeal, NPS has yet to release a NEPA analysis of its impacts. Click “Read More” to see the Coalition’s letter to the NPS.
Coalition Opposition to DOI Reorganization
August 16, 2018 The Honorable Ryan Zinke Secretary Department of the Interior 1849 C St. N.W. Washington, DC 20240 Susan Combs Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife & Parks Department of the Interior 1849 C St. N.W. Washington, DC 20240 Dear Secretary Zinke: I am writing to you on behalf of over 1,600 members
Coalition Comments on Proposed Changes to NEPA
July 30, 2018 Edward A. Boling Associate Director for the National Environmental Policy Act Council on Environmental Quality 730 Jackson Place NW Washington, DC 20503 Via Federal e-Rulemaking portal at: https://www.regulations.gov. Dear Associate Director Boling, We are writing on behalf of the more than 1,600 members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks
Coalition Comments on Proposed Revision of Gray Wolf Hunting Seasons
May 08, 2018 Wyoming Game and Fish Department Wildlife Division Attn: Regulations 3030 Energy Lane Casper WY 82604 Subject: Proposed Revision of Chapter 47 Gray Wolf Hunting Seasons Dear Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD): I am writing to you on behalf of over 1,500 members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks
345 Coalition Members Urge Sec. Zinke to Support LWCF Reauthorization
May 10, 2018 The Honorable Ryan Zinke, Secretary U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20240 Subject: Land and Water Conservation Fund Dear Secretary Zinke: We are writing to you on behalf of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition). The Coalition is comprised of over 1,500 members who
Groups Request Public Comment Period on BLM Lease Sale near Carlsbad Cavern
May 4th, 2018 Honorable Senator Tom Udall 400 Gold Avenue SW, Suite 300 Albuquerque, NM 87102 Honorable Senator Martin Heinrich 400 Gold Avenue SW, Suite 1080 Albuquerque, N.M. 87102 Re: New Mexico September 2018 Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale Comment Period (DOI-BLM-NM-P000-2018-0004-EA) Dear Senator Udall, Senator Heinrich, We write today to inform you of
Proposed Repeal of Clean Power Plan Rule is Bad for Parks
The Coalition has partnered with the National Parks Conservation Association and the Appalachian Mountain Club to prepare comments which strongly oppose the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed repeal of the Clean Power Plan (CPP) rule. We believe the CPP is an important regulation that is a vital and necessary step towards addressing global human-caused environmental change.
Coalition Members Call on Wyoming Governor to Halt Premature Grizzly Bear Hunt
April 26, 2018 The Honorable Matt Mead, Governor State of Wyoming Idelman Mansion 2323 Carey Ave. Cheyenne, WY 82002-0010 Dear Governor Mead: We, the undersigned, are former and current employees of the National Park Service (NPS) and active members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition). With over 1,500 members, the Coalition collectively