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,
Comments on the Death Valley National Park Proposed Air Tour Management Plan
These comments have also been submitted via the park’s PEPC website. August 28, 2021 Mike Reynolds, Superintendent Death Valley National Park P.O. Box 579 Death Valley, CA 92328 Subject: Comments on the Death Valley National Park Proposed Air Tour Management Plan Dear Superintendent Reynolds: I am writing on behalf of over 1,900 members
Comments on the Olympic National Park Proposed Air Tour Management Plan
These comments have also been submitted via the park’s PEPC website. August 27, 2021 Ms. Sarah Creachbaum, Superintendent Olympic National Park 600 E. Park Avenue Port Angeles, WA 98362 Subject: Comments on the Olympic National Park Proposed Air Tour Management Plan Dear Superintendent Creachbaum: I am writing on behalf of over 1,900 members of the Coalition
Comments on Mt. Rainier National Park Proposed Air Tour Management Plan
These comments have also been submitted via the park’s PEPC website. August 26, 2021 Mr. Greg Dudgeon, Superintendent Mount Rainier National Park 55210 238th Avenue East Ashford, WA 98304 Subject: Comments on Mt. Rainier National Park Proposed Air Tour Management Plan (ATMP) Dear Superintendent Dudgeon: I am writing on behalf of over 1,900 members of the Coalition
Comments on Everglades National Park Proposed Air Tour Management Plan
These comments have also been submitted via the park’s PEPC website. August 25, 2021 Pedro Ramos, Superintendent Everglades National Park 40001 State Road 9336 Homestead, FL 33034-6733 Subject: Comments on Everglades National Park Proposed Air Tour Management Plan (ATMP) Dear Superintendent Ramos: I am writing on behalf of over 1,900 members of the
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 Joins Sign On for Oil and Gas Reform
Alaska Wilderness League Action * Azul * Center for Civic Policy * Citizens Caring for the Future * Clean Water Action * Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks * Conservation Voters New Mexico * Earthjustice * Earthworks * Environment America * Environmental Defense Fund * Friends of the Earth * GreenLatinos * Greenpeace USA *
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
NPS Director Nominee Announced
Release Date: August 18, 2021 NPS Director Nominee Announced Today, the White House announced that President Biden plans to nominate Charles Sams to serve as the Director of the National Park Service. Phil Francis, Chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, says this announcement is long overdue. “For the first time in
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,
Member Op-Ed: Clean up orphaned wells for Chaco, all national parks
Clean up orphaned wells for Chaco, all national parks BY TOM VAUGHAN/CHACO CULTURE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK, SILVER CITY RESIDENT Published: Saturday, July 31st, 2021 at 3:32pm Updated: Friday, August 6th, 2021 at 3:33pm During my 22 years with the National Park Service, I spent four years as superintendent of Chaco Culture National Historical Park in
Member Oped: Precious landscapes need protection from orphaned wells
Precious landscapes need protection from orphaned wells Aug 8, 2021 By DENNY HUFFMAN From Yosemite National Park in the west to Great Smoky Mountains and Virgin Islands National Parks in the east, I was privileged to work with the National Park Service for 34 years, helping to protect our country’s most treasured natural and
Coalition Joins Partners in Push to Nominate a NPS Director
August 4, 2021 Dear President Biden, We, the undersigned, urge you to nominate a National Park Service (NPS) Director as soon as possible. It’s been over four years since the NPS has had a Senate-confirmed director, an agency whose 20,000 employees oversee 423 of America’s most treasured places — national parks, monuments, battlefields, military parks,
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
Coalition Signs Letter About Spaceport Camden and Cumberland Island National Seashore.
July 9, 2021 Shannon A. Estenoz Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240 RE: Spaceport Camden and Cumberland Island National Seashore Dear Deputy Assistant Secretary Estenoz: We write to raise concerns about Spaceport Camden, a proposed rocket launch site
Coalition Joins Comments on Florida’s Proposed Regional Haze Plan
July 9, 2021 Ashley Kung Florida Department of Environmental Protection 2600 Blair Stone Road Tallahassee, FL 32301 Re: Conservation Organizations’ Comments on Florida’s Proposed Revisions Regional Haze State Implementation Plan for the Second Implementation Period Dear Ms. Kung: The National Parks Conservation Association, Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks and Sierra Club (“Conservation Organizations”)
Coalition Opposes S. 1812 – A Bill to Expand Lincoln Home NHS
July 8, 2021 Subject: Opposition to S. 1812 – A bill to expand Lincoln Home National Historic Site Dear Chairman Manchin and Ranking Member Barrasso: 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, or current National
Coalition Sends Comment Letter Regarding NPS Campground Strategy
July 7, 2021 Dear Mr. Caldwell, We offer these comments as a follow up to our letter of March 9, 2021, regarding the proposed NPS Second Century Campground Strategy. First, we commend the National Park Service (NPS) on the release of the Campground Design Standards that will provide excellent guidance to park managers. The
Coalition Signs On in Opposition to General Management Plan Amendment for Point Reyes National Seashore
June 30, 2021 The Honorable Deb Haaland Secretary of the Interior U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C St. NW Washington, D.C. 20240 RE: Protect Point Reyes National Seashore from industrial agriculture and restore the park for all Americans Dear Secretary Haaland: Our organizations – over 50 in number – have joined together to urge
Member Op-Ed: Biden’s “America the Beautiful” plan is well-timed
While the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be on the retreat, our time spent at home has demonstrated just how important the great outdoors are to Americans. After spending months in lockdown, a road trip to a national park — or even a hike through a local park — feels like a much needed physical, emotional,
Member Op-Ed: America the Beautiful initiative is right on time
President Biden’s plan will combat some of the worst impacts of climate change in Colorado By Sheridan Steele – June 30, 2021 The COVID-19 pandemic has reaffirmed for me just how lucky I am to live in Colorado. As households across the country spent months in lockdown, a trip to the great outdoors provided
Member Op-Ed:Biden’s America the Beautiful Plan will help ensure national parks are protected, accessible
Biden’s America the Beautiful Plan will help ensure national parks are protected, accessible Bill Wade | Special to Tucson Sentinel.com | Jun 29, 2021 The COVID-19 pandemic has very visibly demonstrated just how important parks are to Americans. With households across the country spending months in lockdown, a trip to the great outdoors provided much
Letter Sent to DOI Expressing Concerns Over Plans to Drill Near Dinosaur NM
June 28, 2021 The Honorable Debra Haaland Secretary of Interior U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C St. NW Washington, D.C. 20240 Subject: Proposed Oil and Gas Drilling Adjacent to Dinosaur National Monument under Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lease No. UTU-81185 Dear Secretary Haaland, I am writing to you on behalf of over