Dear Chairs and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Interior Appropriations Committees, The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks extends its thanks for your efforts in passing the FY 2018 Consolidated Appropriations Act. The Coalition consists of over 1,500 retired, former, and current National Park Service employees with over 35,000 years of collective
Coalition Opposes Oil and Gas Leasing Near Great Sand Dunes
April 5, 2018 Mr. Keith Berger Manager, BLM Royal Gorge Field Office 3028 East Main Street Cañon City, CO 81212 Subject: Comments on DOI-BLM-CO-F020-2018-0003-EA September 2018 Oil & Gas Lease Sale, Royal Gorge Field Office Dear Mr. Berger: I am writing to you on behalf of over 1,500 members of the Coalition to Protect
Success Story: Interior Department Drops Outrageous Entrance Fee Proposal
Success Story: Interior Department Drops Outrageous Entrance Fee Proposal Multiple news sources report that the U.S. Department of the Interior is backing away from a plan to dramatically increase entrance fees at 17 of the most popular national parks after receiving more than 100,000 public comments from Americans nearly unanimously opposed to the idea. The apparent decision
Colorado BLM Denies Coalition Request for an Extension
The Coalition requested that a 15-day public comment period on an oil and gas lease sale near Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve be extended to a more reasonable 30 days. BLM denied the request, stating it was following “current administration guidance” to streamline the NEPA process. March 24, 2018 Mr. Keith Berger Manager,
Coalition Statement on “Made in America” Advisory Committee
March 28, 2018 The Coalition is troubled by the membership of Secretary Zinke’s “Made in America” Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee. While the mission of this advisory group is clear, to gather advice from those who represent the recreation industry, we believe it is critical to balance the biases of those who seek to expand development
National Parks Magazine: Reporting for Duty
The Spring 2018 edition of NPCA’s magazine features an article on the Coalition’s Weekly National Park System Report and its editor and Coalition member, Bill Halainen. Click here to read about the return of the ‘Morning Report’.
Success Story: BLM Defers Oil and Gas Lease Sale Near Chaco Culture NHP
Success Story: BLM Defers Oil and Gas Lease Sale Near Chaco Culture NHP On Friday, March 2, 2018, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke has directed the BLM to defer its scheduled Farmington New Mexico Field Office oil and gas lease sale so the agency can complete
Portland Press Herald: Former Acadia superintendent: Trump’s proposed budget cuts threaten national parks
“Under Donald Trump’s proposed budget cuts, the dual mission of the National Park Service – providing for public use and enjoyment while protecting park resources and values, now and for future generations – will most certainly suffer.” Click here to read the op-ed from Coalition Executive Council member, Sheridan Steele, on Trump’s proposed budget
CPANP Statement on Trump’s FY 19 Budget and Infrastructure Plan
February 12, 2018 Statement from CPANP Chair Phil Francis on Trump’s FY 19 Budget and Infrastructure Plan “Our national parks face real and significant challenges that threaten the integrity of the national park system. If the President and his Administration sincerely want to address these challenges, they must start by adequately funding them and developing
Interior Department’s Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing Plan is Irresponsible
February 12, 2018 Ms. Kelly Hammerle, Chief National Oil and Gas Leasing Program Development and Coordination Branch Leasing Division, Office of Strategic Resources Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (VAM-LD) 45600 Woodland Road Sterling, VA 20166-9216 Subject: 2019-2024 Draft Proposed Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program Dear Ms. Hammerle: I am writing to you
Knox News: Georgiana Vines: Coalition concerned about possible cuts to national parks budget
Coalition Chair, Phil Francis, was recently interviewed by the Knoxville newspaper expressing the Coalition’s concern and frustration with plans to cut the NPS’s budget. Click here to see the full article.
Coalition Submits Scoping Comments to BLM on Ambler Road Project
January 31, 2018 Tim La Marr, Central Yukon Field Manager Ambler Road Scoping Comments Anchorage, Alaska 99513 Re: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Ambler Road Project Dear Mr. La Marr: I am writing to you on behalf of over 1,400 members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National
Coalition Comments on Ambler Road Project at Gates of the Arctic NP
January 29, 2018 Greg Dudgeon, Superintendent Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve 4175 Geist Rd Fairbanks AK 99709 Subject: Ambler Mining Industrial Access Project, Environmental and Economic Impact Analysis (EEA) Dear Superintendent Dudgeon: I am writing to you on behalf of over 1,400 members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition),
Interior Proposes to Weaken Offshore Oil and Gas Safety Requirements
January 29, 2018 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement Attention: Regulations Development Branch 45600 Woodland Road, VAE-ORP Sterling VA 20166 Subject: Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Production Safety Systems – Revisions, RIN 1014-AA37 Dear Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE): I am writing to you on behalf of over 1,400 members of the
Backpacker: What New Offshore Drilling Means for National Parks
The Department of the Interior proposes to open the vast majority of America’s coastal waters for oil and gas drilling, raising concerns among conservation groups such as the Coalition about potential impacts to dozens of coastal parks. Interior’s proposal is the topic of an article in Backpackerthat included an interview with the Coalition’s
Coalition Press Release on National Park Service Advisory Board Resignations
January 17, 2018 Administration’s Anti-Park Agenda Results in Secretary’s Advisory Board Resignations The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks is deeply disheartened at the resignation of 9 of the 12 members of the National Park System Advisory Board (Board). “After playing such an active and instrumental role in the planning of the highly successful National
Washington Post: Nearly all members of National Park Service advisory panel resign in frustration
Nearly all the members of the National Park Service Advisory Board resigned, citing frustration that Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke had refused to meet with them or convene a single meeting last year. The resignation of nine out of 12 NPSAB members leaves the federal government without a functioning body to designate national historic or natural landmarks. Click
Salon: Trump’s Interior secretary wages war on “deep state”: his own staff
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks strongly believes that Secretary Zinke’s proposed reorganization of the Department of Interior lacks transparency and threatens our national parks. Click here to read an article in Salon, which features a quote from the Coalition’s Chair, Phil Francis, explaining that the proposed changes will weaken oversight of our
CNN: Grand Canyon is a national treasure, not a place for uranium mining
Two former NPS Superintendents, Steve Martin & Rob Arnberger, wrote an op-ed on proposed uranium mining near the Grand Canyon. Click here to see the work of these two Coalition members.
Recent Court Ruling Raises Questions about Delisting of Yellowstone Grizzly Bears
January 4, 2018 Public Comments Processing ATTN: FWS-R6-ES-2017-0089 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: BPHC 5275 Leesburg Pike Falls Church, Virginia 22041-3803 Subject: Possible Effects of Court Decision on Grizzly Bear Recovery in Conterminous United States Dear U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: I am writing to you on behalf of over 1,400 members of the
Coalition Participates in Telepresser on the 2008 “Utah 77” Oil and Gas Leases
Coalition Participates in Telepresser on the 2008 “Utah 77” Oil and Gas Leases On December 20, 2017, Coalition member and former NPS Utah State Coordinator Cordell Roy participated in a nation-wide telephonic press conference (telepresser) with members of the news media press to commemorate the anniversary of the “Utah 77” oil and gas leases that
Success Story: BLM Defers Leasing Oil and Gas Parcel Near Theodore Roosevelt NP
Success Story: BLM Defers Leasing Oil and Gas Parcel Near Theodore Roosevelt NP In a terse one-paragraph statement, on December 14, 2017 the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced its decision to defer (i.e., postpone until a future date) leasing an oil and gas parcel on the boundary of the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt
CPANP Approves New Strategic Plan for 2018-2020
STRATEGIC PLAN COALITION TO PROTECT AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS 2018-2020 Who We Are The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition) was established in 2003. It is an advocacy organization comprised of over 1400 retired, former and current employees of the National Park Service (NPS). It uses its 35,000 years of “voices of experience” to protect
Testimony Before the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Natural Resources
Statement of Denis P. Galvin Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Natural Resources United States House of Representatives “Transforming the Department of the Interior for the 21st Century” December 7, 2017 Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today
Member OP-ED: Preserve national parks. This land is your land, Florida
As the former Superintendent of Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks, I have a deep appreciation for the natural wonders Florida has to offer. And so after 32 years with the National Park Service, I’ve dedicated my retirement to standing up for America’s outdoor heritage. I want to ensure that these treasures are around