April 15, 2021 The Honorable Deb Haaland Secretary of the Interior 1849 C Street Washington, D.C. 20240 Dear Secretary Haaland: Thank you for the opportunity to provide recommendations on the Interior Department’s review of the federal onshore oil and gas program. We wholeheartedly support this review, as the onshore program requires sweeping, top-to-bottom reform – to eliminate
Coalition Submits Comments on DOI Fossil Fuels Program Review
April 12, 2021 The Honorable Debra Haaland Secretary of Interior U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C St. NW Washington, D.C. 20240 Dear Secretary Haaland, I am writing to you on behalf of over 1,900 members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition), a non-profit organization composed of retired, former, and current
Coalition Submits Comments on Draft E-Bike Study
April 5, 2021 Jonah Chiarenza Transportation Planner, Transportation Planning Division Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, U.S. DOT Subject: Comments on Draft FHWA study proposal regarding “E-bikes on Public Lands” Dear Mr. Chiarenza: I am writing to you on behalf of over 1,900 members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition), a non-profit
Coalition Joins Letter Sent to Congress Regarding Onshore Oil and Gas Reform
April 1, 2021 CC: Chairmen Sanders, Yarmuth, Wyden, Neal, Manchin, and Grijalva Dear Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McCarthy, and Minority Leader McConnell: President Biden was elected on the promise to take bold action on climate change, and he will need the support of Congress to make good on this promise. Nearly a
Coalition Submits Budget Recommendations for Committee Hearing
The Coalition submitted its FY 2022 NPS Budget Recommendations as part of the official record for the House Natural Resources Subcommittee hearing entitled “Building Back Better: Examining the Future of America’s Public Lands.” FY 2022 National Park Service Budget Recommendations from the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks EXECUTIVE SUMMARY At a time when
Coalition Applauds President Biden’s American Jobs Plan
WASHINGTON — During his speech in Pittsburgh, PA, President Biden outlined his economic vision for building back better with the American Jobs Plan – a path forward that will deliver on jobs, justice, and climate solutions through more than $2 trillion in investments in people and the economy. The plan invests in public lands
Park Leaders Podcast: Working with Friends Groups
Working with Friends Groups On this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Phil Francis joins Jody and Phil Gaines to discuss working with support groups. A retired superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Francis explains how friends groups can help maintain accountability among park rangers and leaders.
Coalition Comments on DOI Public Forum
“We strongly agree with Secretary Haaland’s Interior Department; our nation’s federal oil and gas leasing system is in need of holistic reform,” said Phil Francis, Chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks. “It is an outdated system that threatens our climate, wildlife, clean air and water, public lands, and national parks.” President
Coalition Joins Petition to EPA On Regional Haze Guidelines
March 16, 2021 Michael S. Regan, Administrator Office of the Administrator (1101A) United States Environmental Protection Agency William Jefferson Clinton Building 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20460 Re: Regional Haze Guidance Petition for Reconsideration: Priority Issues Dear Administrator Regan: National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, Appalachian Mountain Club,
Coalition and NPCA Send Letter to Interior Regarding Concerns at Big Cypress National Preserve
March 16, 2021 Ms. Shannon Estenoz Principle Deputy Assistant Secretary Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife and Parks US DOI, Office of the Secretary Washington, DC 20240 Mr. Shawn Benge Deputy Director, Operations Exercising the Delegated Authority of the Director, National Park Service 1849 C Street NW Washington, DC 20240 Dear Deputy Assistant Secretary
Coalition Sends Letter Regarding Concerns over USA Hire
March 11, 2021 Ms. Shannon Estenoz Principle Deputy Assistant Secretary Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife and Parks US DOI, Office of the Secretary Washington, DC 20240 Dear Deputy Assistant Secretary Estenoz: I am writing to you on behalf of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, a non-profit organization comprised of more than
Coalition Joins Comments on Spaceport Coastal Consistency
March 8, 2021 Mr. Doug Haymans Director Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division One Conservation Way Brunswick, GA 31520 RE: Proposed Coastal Consistency Determination For Spaceport Camden Dear Director Haymans: On behalf of the Coalition to Protect America’s Parks, Georgia Audubon, the National Parks Conservation Association, One Hundred Miles, the Satilla Riverkeeper, and Wild Cumberland,
Coalition Supports Legislation to Reform Oil and Gas Leasing System
Coalition Chair Phil Francis issued the following statement in response to Senator Cortez Masto’s reintroduction of legislation that would prohibit leasing lands for drilling where there is little to no oil and gas potential. “It makes no sense to lease public lands on the doorsteps of our national parks to oil and gas companies,
Coalition Contacts Virginia SHPO Regarding Transmission Line DEIS
Subject: Dominion Power Surry-Skiffes Creek-Whealton Transmission Line Project Dear Director Langan: I am writing on behalf of over 1,800 members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition), whose membership is comprised of retired, former, or current National Park Service (NPS) employees. As a group we collectively represent over 40,000 years of experience managing
Coalition Encourages More Diversity Within National Park System
Black History Month provides us with an opportunity to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans. It is also a time to reflect on the work we must do to address the historic, substantial challenges facing people of color in our country today. This is especially true in our national parks, which should
Coalition Continues to Submit FOIA Requests for COVID 19 Numbers
February 5, 2021 Charis Wilson, FOIA Officer, P.O. Box 25287 12795 W. Alameda Parkway Denver, CO 80225 Subject: Freedom of Information Act Request Dear Ms. Wilson: This is a request under the Freedom of Information Improvement Act of 2016 (Public Law No. 114-185) submitted on behalf of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks. This
Coalition Member and Former NPS Director Leads The Restoration Project
The Restoration Project has produced a tactical plan previously shared with the Biden transition team and now made public. The Restoration Project: Reversing the Environmental Harms of the Trump Administration is available at https://rproject.world/. You can also read an accompanying op-ed in the Guardian. The project was led by Jon Jarvis (former National Park Service Director under
Success Story: Safeguarding the Protection Ranger Profession
In June 2016, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a classification appeal involving an encumbered position in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, tasked primarily with performing investigative work, from the 0025 Park Ranger (Protection) occupational series, to the 1801, General Inspections, Investigation, Enforcement and Compliance series. In issuing this appeal, OPM stated that
Coalition EC Member Joins NPCA for a Park Talk
From Bear Dens to the Oval Office, a Park Talk with Sheridan Steele. The former Acadia National Park superintendent talks about his 38 years with the Park Service and his new book. The park talk can be watched here and more information on the book can be found here.
Coalition Speaks With Outside Magazine on Biden Presidency and Parks
By Emily Pennington What a Biden Presidency Means for the National Parks From day one, the new administration has showed itself to be in favor of protecting the wild spaces and species we love. On January 20, during the first few moments of his first day in office, standing at a podium, President Biden asserted
Member Oped: To Protect Our Parks, Hit Pause On Leasing
1/26/21 Our national parks are America’s crown jewels and as former directors of the National Park Service (NPS), it has been an honor to dedicate our careers to the stewardship of places like Yellowstone, Arches and Everglades National Parks. These are places that inspire pride and provide an opportunity for adventure and reflection, and
Coalition Supports Halt On New Oil and Gas Drilling On Public Lands and Waters
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
Coalition Files Join Amicus Brief in Opposition to Rollback Rule
The Clean Air Act’s program of pollution reduction also seeks to protect natural resources and ecosystems, including those conserved by national parks. The Act generally directs the EPA to take regulatory action to reduce air pollution where emissions would endanger “public health and welfare.” Moreover, the CAA explicitly protects the unique vulnerability of national
Coalition Strongly Opposes National Garden of American Heroes
1.22.21 Ms. Shannon Estenoz Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. 20240 Dear Deputy Assistant Secretary Estenoz, 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
Coalition Applauds Federal Mask Mandate
January 22, 2021 Media Contact: Emily Thompson, Em************@********ps.org, 202-758-3936 Coalition Applauds Federal Mask Mandate President Biden recently signed an Executive Order that requires all federal employees and contractors, as well as visitors, to wear masks in federal buildings and on federal lands. It also directs those on federal property to maintain physical distance, and adhere