November 9, 2021 Laura M. Crowder Director, Division of Air Quality W.V. Department of Environmental Protection 601 57th St. SE Charleston, WV 25304 Re: Requesting Extension of Comment Period for West Virginia’s Regional Haze State Implementation Plan for the Second Implementation Period Dear Ms. Crowder: On behalf of the National Parks Conservation Association,
Coalition Supports BLM Decision to Defer Leases
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued a press release today, announcing the agency’s intention to defer a number of leases from upcoming onshore oil and gas lease sales. Phil Francis, Chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, said, “the Bureau of Land Management took a good first step by deferring some of our
Coalition Signs on to National Monument Thank You Letter
October 18, 2021 Dear President Biden, Secretary Haaland, Secretary Raimondo, Secretary Vilsack, Chair Mallory, Ms. Gina McCarthy, and Administrator Spinrad. On behalf of the undersigned organizations and the millions of members and supporters we collectively represent, we enthusiastically thank you for your actions restoring full protections to Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and Northeast Canyons and
Comments Regarding the Proposed Lava Ridge Wind Project
October 20, 2021 Kasey Prestwich, Project Manager Lava Ridge Wind Energy EIS BLM Shoshone Field Office 400 West F Street Shoshone, ID 83352 Subject: Scoping Comments on Lava Ridge Wind Project, DOI-BLM-ID-T030-2021-0015-EIS Dear Project Manager Prestwich: I am writing on behalf of over 2,000 members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks
Comments on North Carolina’s Proposed Regional Haze State Implementation Plan
October 15, 2021 Randy Strait NC Division of Air Quality 1641 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1641 Comments submitted via email to: da****************@****nr.gov Re: Conservation Organizations Comments on North Carolina’s Proposed Regional Haze State Implementation Plan (SIP) for North Carolina Class I Areas for the Second Planning Period (2019 – 2028) Dear Mr. Strait:
Coalition Supports Charles F. Sams III as The 19th Director of The National Park Service.
October 14, 2021 Dear Chairman Manchin and Ranking Member Barrasso: On behalf of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, a non-profit organization representing over 2,000 current and former National Park Service employees, we would like to express our support for President Biden’s nomination of Charles F. Sams III to serve as the 19th
Coalition Celebrates President Biden’s Restoration of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments
WASHINGTON, DC — Late yesterday, it was announced that President Joe Biden will restore protections for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. In reaction to the announcement, Phil Francis, Chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, a national organization representing current, former, and retired National Park Service employees, issued the following
Coalition Continues Support of Amache Legislation in Committee Hearing
Bennet, Neguse, Buck Welcome Senate Hearing on Bill to Add Amache to the National Park System In June, Bennet Urged the Committee to Hold a Hearing on This Legislation Washington, D.C. – Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D) and Colorado U.S. Representatives Joe Neguse (D) and Ken Buck (R) welcomed the U.S. Senate Committee on
Ticket to paradise? Crowded national parks try reservations, fees
By Rob Hotakainen | 10/04/2021 11:59 AM EST Mount Desert Island, MAINE — With tickets selling out in seconds every day, Herb Cohen figured he was lucky to get a reservation that allowed him to park his car just steps from the summit of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park — the coveted
Comments on Canyonlands National Park Proposed Air Tour Management Plan
October 1, 2021 Ms. Patricia Trap, Superintendent National Park Service Southeast Utah Group 2282 Resource Blvd. Moab, UT 84532 Subject: Comments on Canyonlands National Park Proposed Air Tour Management Plan Dear Superintendent Trap: I am writing on behalf of over 1,900 members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition), whose membership is
Comments on Bandelier National Monument Proposed Air Tour Management
October 1, 2021 Mr. Patrick Suddath, Superintendent Bandelier National Monument 15 Entrance RD Los Alamos, NM 87544 Subject: Comments on Bandelier National Monument Proposed Air Tour Management Plan Dear Superintendent Suddath: I am writing on behalf of over 1,900 members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition), whose membership is comprised of retired, former,
Former National Park Service Leaders Applaud Tracy Stone-Manning’s Confirmation to be the Next Director of the Bureau of Land Management
WASHINGTON, DC — Moments ago, Tracy Stone-Manning was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as the next director of the Bureau of Land Management. In reaction to her confirmation, Phil Francis, chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, issued the following statement: “The confirmation of Tracy Stone-Manning to serve as the next
Comments on Natural Bridges National Monument Proposed Air Tour Management Plan
September 29, 2021 Ms. Patricia Trap, Superintendent National Park Service Southeast Utah Group 2282 Resource Blvd. Moab, UT 84532 Subject: Comments on Natural Bridges National Monument Proposed Air Tour Management Plan Dear Superintendent Trap: I am writing on behalf of over 1,900 members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition), whose membership
Coalition Speaks on Need for More Parks and More Funding
More national parks? Summer of overcrowding could spur push By Rob Hotakainen | 09/07/2021 12:43 PM EST With national parks across the country reporting record attendance this summer, Sen. Angus King says there’s one solution Congress could embrace: Create more parks. “If you have a demand problem, one way to beat it is to
Coalition Speaks with NPT about Air Tour Management Plans
Traveler’s View: Study Air Tour Management Plans Carefully By Kurt Repanshek – September 6th, 2021 Though we had paddled halfway down Yellowstone Lake into an area of Yellowstone National Park that is managed as wilderness and where it would take you a day or more to reach on foot, we hadn’t entirely escaped the 21st
Coalition Comments On Reforms To Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Program
September 2, 2021 The Honorable Joe Manchin Chairman, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Raul Grijalva Chairman, House Natural Resources Committee U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 CC: Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker Nancy Pelosi Dear Chairmen Manchin and Grijalva, We are writing on behalf of
Coalition Joins Call to Restore National Monument Protections
August 31, 2021 President Joseph R. Biden Jr. The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Biden, On behalf of the undersigned organizations and the millions of members and supporters we collectively represent, we urge you to immediately take action to restore national monument protections to Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and
Coalition Signs on To Deferred Maintenance Letter
August 30, 2021 Dear Chairman Manchin and Ranking Member Barrasso, As the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources prepares its portion of S. Con. Res. 14, the National Parks Second Century Action Coalition requests $5 billion for the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund to address deferred maintenance needs in our
Member Op-Ed: Our national parks need more funding to keep up with rising number of visitors.
Parks across the country have seen record-breaking numbers of visitors this summer, even as we continue to grapple with the impacts of COVID-19. I’m sure you’ve seen the images; visitors lined up to hike at Zion National Park, heavy traffic at Yellowstone National Park and big crowds in Arches National Park. Here in Maine,
GAOA Funds Must Be Available to More Units Across the National Park System
August 26, 2021 Honorable Deb Haaland Secretary U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20240 Dear Secretary Haaland: Our organizations are writing to express our deep concern about the need to make funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) available to more units across the National Park System.
Coalition Speaks with NPR On NPS Mask Mandates
National Parks Requiring Masks For All Visitors Again As of this week, the National Park Service is requiring everyone – regardless of vaccination status – to wear masks in national park facilities, public transport systems and in crowded outside areas. Denise Germann is with Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. She
Coalition Concern Over Air Tour Management Plans
August 16, 2021 Mr. Shawn Benge, Acting Director National Park Service 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington DC 20240 Subject: National Park Proposed Air Tour Management Plans referred to in Federal Register on July 29, 2021; Document Citation: 86 FR 40897 Document Number: 2021-16182 Dear Acting Director Benge: We are writing to you on behalf
Member Op-Ed: Off-highway vehicles in national parks is a bad idea
Mike Lee’s bill to allow off-highway vehicles in national parks is a bad idea By Cordell Roy | Special to The Tribune U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, recently introduced two bills in the Senate — S.1526 and S.1527 — that have to do with allowing off-highway vehicle use in our national parks. S.1526,
Coalition Submits Letter in Opposition to ATV Use in Utah National Park
July 27, 2021 Subjects: 1) Opposition to S. 1526, a bill to authorize the use of off-highway vehicles in certain areas of the Capitol Reef National Park, Utah; and 2) Opposition to S. 1527, a bill to amend Title 54, United States Code, to provide that State law shall apply to the use of motor
National Parks Traveler Episode 128: Waiting For A National Park Service Director
A roundtable discussion with Phil Francis from the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks and Kristen Brengel of National Parks Conservation discuss why the National Park Service still is without a Senate-confirmed director. Listen to Episode 128