Reform the Federal Oil and Gas Program

February 23, 2023

 

 

The Honorable Deb Haaland

Secretary of Interior

Department of the Interior

1849 C Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20240

 

Dear Secretary Haaland,

 

We are writing on behalf of over 2,300 members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition), a non-profit organization composed of retired, former, and current employees of the National Park Service (NPS). The Coalition studies, educates, speaks, and acts for the preservation of America’s National Park System. As a group, we collectively represent over 45,000 years of experience managing and protecting America’s most precious and important natural and historic resources. Among our members are former NPS directors, regional directors, superintendents, resource specialists, rangers, maintenance and administrative staff, and a full array of other former employees, volunteers, and supporters.

 

We, the undersigned, are writing to urge the Biden administration to take swift action and complete much needed reforms to the federal oil and gas program.

 

America’s national parks protect treasured landscapes, stories, and resources. However, oil and gas development on public lands near our national parks continues to threaten the protection and preservation of these special places. In addition to potentially harming park resources, oil and gas development can contaminate water, pollute the air, destroy habitat, adversely affect public health, impede the visitor experience, and exacerbate the already present impacts of climate change.

 

The current oil and gas leasing system is broken and outdated. Last year, the Department of the Interior leased thousands of acres of public lands to the oil and gas industry, and they will propose to lease thousands more in 2023. This leasing has been mandated by the courts, but it is imperative that the Biden administration complete much needed reforms to the federal oil and gas program to avoid further harm to communities and resources.

 

A recent Coalition report highlights the negative impacts of current oil and gas development near four of America’s national parks (linked here). It also offers the following recommendations help protect our parks:

 

In closing, we urge you to finalize and fully implement much-needed reforms to curb the adverse effects caused by energy extraction activities on national parks, surrounding landscapes, gateway communities, park visitors, and park resources. 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Michael B. Murray, Chair Don Hellmann, Vice Chair Michael Allen Sarah Allen Sue Consolo-Murphy Russell Galipeau Linda Mazzu Don Neubacher

Richard Ring Cheryl Schreier Bill Shaddox Chris Soller Sheridan Steele Terri Thomas Clara Wooden

 

 

Elwood Lynn Janis Kozlowski John Morris Marcia Blaszak Ann Baugh Bill Wade Bruce D. McKeeman David Holmes Deborah O. Liggett G. Arthur Janssen, MD Jonathan Halpern Paul Anderson Phil Clark Richard Smith Rick Smith Robert Arnberger Scot McElveen Scott Sticha Alexander J McMahon Amy Meyer Bruce Dombrowski Charles Schultheis Dan Sealy Daphne Hatch Donald Jackson Elizabeth Van Zandt Gail Lester Gary Davis Joseph Zarki Karen Haner Linda Gregory Margo Surovik Bohnert Mark Black Michael Sutton Nancy Maggiora Rebecca Mills Rosemary Graham-Gardner Thomas Smith Wendy Poinsot Anndevoy Ryan Anne Worthington Bill Jackson Carol McCoy Craig C Axtell David Roberts David Shaver Dick Falb Douglas DeNio Elaine Leslie Emily Kavanagh Eric Sandstrom Janet Wise Jervis D Swannack Katherine C. Ziegenfus Kim Sikoryak Larry Frederick Larry Walling Linda Alick Mary Anne Richards Mike Wrigley Nancy Keohane Patrick Reed Richard Ernenwein Rick Jones Rose Chilcoat Thomas Cherry Timothy Oliverius Carol Aten Nicholas Carson Barbara Goodman Dennis Hanson Fred Herling Lynn Wightman Oron Bass William Loftus, PhD Leon Folsom Linda Finn William L. Huie Steve Moore Chris Korsmo Neil Korsmo Judith Connery Judith Hart Roberta D'Amico Ted Stout Diane Banta Norman Hellmers William Walters Kenneth E. Apschnikat Jay Eickenhorst Chuck Arning Maria Burks Nancy A. Nelson Sue Haley Bernard Fagan David Hartman James Poole Julia T McNamee Steve Pittleman William Wilkinson Anne Walmsley Michael Soukup, Ph.D. Brian A Hoduski Edward Walzer Patricia Gillespie Sue Jennings William Fink James Hummel Ann M. Johnson Brian C Kenner Charles Potter Dennis Divoky Dr. Patricia Corry Gary G. Brandow James Perkins Mark Wagner Raymond Gunn Riley McClelland Tom Habecker Cynthia Holda Dan Moses Jim Burnett Lynda Doucette Michael Molling Lillian Crook Patricia Ashley Warren Hill Terrence Moore Al Webster Anthony Bonanno Cherry Payne David Donohue Gail Menard Jerry L. Rogers Olav Olsen Peter Rhyins Sharon Paris Vito Spinale Dean Reeder Dominic Nessi Eileen Loughran John King Mark Butler Daniel O'Brien Joe Finan Michael Adlerstein, FAIA Emily Thompson John P. Debo, Jr Kathleen Clossin Maureen (Mosie) Welch Rebecca Jones William Carroll Daniel Jenner Betty janes Doyle Nelson Dr. Jerry Freilich Emily Prud'homme George Buckingham Jeff Denny Jim Stratton Brenda Barrett D Scott Hartwig Doris Devine Fanelli Francis A. Alvarez James C Roach John R. Erisman Leonard Emerson Lloyd Chapman Powell Family Steven Simister William Sanders Claudia Galagan Philip Heckman Randi Smith Jimmy Groton William Harwell Allyson Mathis Cordell J Roy Cynthia VonHalle Fred J Fagergren Kathryn Tustanowski Linda L. West Luke Dalton Nicholas Eason Noel R. Poe Paul Henderson Robert Burns Tom Haraden Denis P. Galvin Dixon B Freeland Gordon Gay Jeff Maugans Jim McDaniel Jim Poole John Byrne Karen Rehm Mary Collier Paulette Mullinax Rebecca Harriett Ries Collier Roberta Barrows Sam Weddle William Reid Abigail Miller William Williams Colin Toby Hastie David Given David Morris Dennis Burnett Denny Huffman Gary Cummins Gene Casey George Bowen Ginny Rousseau John Chao Keith Dunbar Laura M. Rotegard Mary Miller Chapman Regina M Rochefort Rick Mosman Ronald G. Warfield Scott Chapman Shirley & Robert Clark Stephen T. Gibbons Thomas Lorig Timothy Manns Tonnie Cummings Pamela Underhill Stephen W Hastings Carl Stapler Mark J Kelleher

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CC: The Honorable Joe Manchin, Chair, Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

The Honorable John Barrasso, Ranking Member, Senate Committee

The Honorable Bruce Westerman, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources

The Honorable Grijalva, Ranking Member, House Committee on Natural Resource