Rick Smith and Cherry Payne, Coalition to Protect America’s Parks Published Carlsbad Current-Argus May 14, 2020 Each year, over 450,000 people visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park to marvel at otherworldly cave formations and the flying rivers of Mexican free-tail bats departing each evening for their nightly meal. The park is recognized as a national treasure and
Member OpEd: Oil and Gas Lease Sales Should be Paused During the Pandemic Crisis
Opinion: Oil and gas lease sales should be paused during the coronavirus crisis – Sheridan Steele Special to The Colorado Sun The COVID-19 pandemic has swept through the United States and changed our daily lives. Complying with orders from city, state and national leaders, those who are able to in Colorado are staying home to
Coalition Comments on Acting Positions in DOI
– UPDATE – Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) Sues Over “Acting” Positions For National Park Service, BLM Directors Posted by National Parks Traveler Staff (NPT)- May 11th, 2020 NPT Editor’s note: This updates with reaction from the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks and National Parks Conservation Association. David Vela, the de facto director of
Coalition Joins 850+ Groups in Congressional Letter Supporting Great American Outdoors Act
Support for the Great American Outdoors Act May 11, 2020 Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Speaker Pelosi, Minority Leader Schumer, and Minority Leader McCarthy: Our organizations, and the members we represent, strongly support passage and subsequent enactment of the Great American Outdoors Act (S. 3422) as quickly as possible. This bill is necessary to support the
Coalition Continues to Oppose Legislation that Benefits Eagle Crest
May 6, 2020 OPPOSE AB 2736 (E. GARCIA) As amended May 5, 2020 The above-listed organizations must OPPOSE AB 2736 as amended May 5, 2020, which paired with AB 2255 (Eggman) seeks to greenlight NextEra’s Eagle Crest project. AB 2736 will not protect the environment and will do nothing to protect California ratepayers. AB 2736
Coalition Urges Caution in Podcast Discussion on Reopening Parks
A conversation with Phil Francis, the chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, and Joan Anzelmo, a longtime spokesperson for numerous National Park Service units, about Interior Secretary David Bernhardt’s rush to reopen national parks despite warnings from career NPS staff about risks to employees and the public. Posted May 8,
Coalition Addresses Park Reopenings
During a recent Earth Day ceremony, President Donald Trump announced that his administration will “open up national parks and public lands,” and Interior Secretary Bernhardt continues to tout the reopening of some national parks. “We are also eager to get Americans back into our national parks,” says Phil Francis, Chair of the Coalition to Protect
Coalition Signs on to Funding Requests
April 30, 2020 Dear Chairwoman McCollum, Ranking Member Joyce, Chairman Murkowski and Ranking Member Udall, We, the members of the National Parks Second Century Action Coalition (i), write to encourage you to increase funding for the National Park Service (NPS) and ensure exclusion of all policy riders that harm our national parks within the Interior,
Member OpEd: Airport board failed on heli-tour question
When I read Jackson Hole Airport Board President Jerry Blann’s Guest Column in last week’s News&Guide, it was clear that on April 24 the board would vote to permit Wind River Aviation to base its operation at the airport, which is located inside Grand Teton National Park. Essentially he was telling the community the board
Coalition Opposes Amendment that Props Up Eagle Crest
April 27, 2020 The Honorable Susan Talamantes Eggman State Capitol Room 4117 Sacramento, CA 95814 Re: OPPOSE March 3, 2020 Eagle Crest amends to AB 2255 Dear Assemblymember Eggman: We write to express our opposition to the March 3, 2020 proposed amends to your AB 2255 legislation (“Proposed Amended AB 2255”). As we have previously
Victory in a 30-year fight to protect groundwater under Great Basin National Park
There is good news to celebrate in a long struggle against the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s (SNWA) proposed groundwater pumping and pipeline project in Eastern Nevada, which would have caused significant impact to Great Basin National Park. Following a 30-year battle, the SNWA has decided not to appeal the March 2020 decision by Nevada District Court
Coalition Reacts to President Trump’s Remark That National Parks Will Reopen
WASHINGTON, DC —Moments ago, at a tree-planting ceremony on the White House Lawn, President Trump remarked that he would begin to reopen national parks to the public. Phil Francis, Chairman of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (CPANP), issued the following in response: “We understand that the president is eager to reopen our national
Parks Groups File Brief Against Administration’s Weak Air and Climate Rule
Parks Groups File Brief Against Administration’s Weak Air and Climate Rule Washington, DC – The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks took legal action today by filing an amicus brief in the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. The brief supports a challenge to the Trump administration’s Affordable Clean Energy (ACE)
Coalition Rebukes Secretary Bernhardt’s Messaging
The Coalition issued a short statement in response to an op-ed by Department of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt. Fox News published an op-ed in which the Secretary defended his lackluster response to the coronavirus pandemic, which many experts have warned puts park workers, volunteers, and visitors at risk of infection. Phil Francis, chairman of the Coalition to Protect
Coalition Submits FOIA Request for NPS COVID-19 Numbers
April 20, 2020 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 Act (FOIA). As background for this request: On April 2, 2020, as Chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s
Coalition Urges Funding for Lands Package to Assist with Economic Recovery
The Coalition has called on the Department of Interior to shut down America’s National Parks since the COVID-19 pandemic began. But we also have continued to advocate for long-term solutions needed to protect America’s national parks, and help the gateway communities around them survive the economic devastation caused by the pandemic. The COVID-19 crisis has revealed
Coalition Joins Call to Protect Sage Grouse
April 16, 2020 Re: Please Conserve Greater Sage-Grouse in the FY 2021 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill Dear Chairs and Ranking Members: On behalf of our millions of members and supporters nationwide, we urge you to please ensure that a rider from previous years prohibiting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) from considering greater
Opposition to Uranium Mining Industry Bailout
Dear Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, and Minority Leader McCarthy: We write this letter in response to ongoing calls from two uranium mining companies seeking to take advantage of the global Coronavirus pandemic for their own benefit by seeking $150 million for the establishment of a uranium reserve. On behalf of our millions
Coalition Signs on to Letter Opposing DOI Royalty Relief
April 9, 2020 The Honorable David Bernhardt Secretary Department of Interior 149 C St., NW Washington, DC 20240 Dear Secretary Bernhardt, We, the undersigned groups, on behalf of our millions of members, urge you to reject calls by lawmakers for measures to relieve the oil and gas industry of essential obligations to American taxpayers that
Comments on Proposed Ebike Regulation
April 8, 2020 Jay Calhoun, Regulations Program Manager National Park Service 849 C Street NW, MS-2472 Washington, DC 20240 Subject: Comments on Proposed Rule titled “General Provisions; Electric Bicycles” RIN 1024-AE61 Dear Mr. Calhoun: I am writing to you on behalf of over 1,800 members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition),
Member OP-ED: Secretary Bernhardt Must Close Shenandoah
Shenandoah National Park welcomed nearly 1.4 million visitors in 2019 and the park attracts a particularly high number of visitors during the spring season. So in the middle of a global pandemic, when social distancing and statewide stay-at-home orders are the name of the game, it defies all logic and common sense to keep this
Coalition: Grand Canyon Superintendent Selection is Appalling
Coalition: Grand Canyon Superintendent Selection is Appalling The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks expressed shock and disappointment at the news that Department of the Interior (DOI) Solicitor Edward Keable has been named the new Superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park. Phil Francis, Chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks: “Ed Keable
Coalition Requests Delay in Ebike Rulemaking Process
April 3, 2020 Mr. David Vela Acting Director National Park Service 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20240 Dear Acting Director Vela: I am writing to you on behalf of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition). We were dismayed to read the National Park Service (NPS) press release[1] yesterday regarding NPS plans
Coalition Issues Statement on Oil and Gas Meeting
National Park Service Retirees on President Trump’s Meeting with Oil Executives Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Says Bernhardt is Prioritizing Former Clients Oil Interests, Over the Safety and Health of National Parks Employees WASHINGTON, DC — Today, President Donald Trump met with oil company executives at the White House to discuss falling oil prices
Coalition Letter to Acting Director Vela on Continuing COVID-19 Response
April 2, 2020 Mr. David Vela Acting Director National Park Service 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20240 Dear Acting Director Vela: I am writing to you on behalf of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition) to express our ongoing concerns about the many units of the National Park System remain open