March 9, 2023 Re: House National Resources Committee Markup on H.R. 1335 Dear Chairman Westerman, Ranking Member Grijalva, and members of the House Natural Resources Committee, On behalf of more than 40 organizations and our millions of members and supporters, we write to you to express our strenuous opposition to H.R. 1335: Transparency, Accountability, Permitting,
Member Op-Ed: Checking In On America The Beautiful
Checking In On America The Beautiful By Mike Murray, Chair of the Executive Council of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks. Two years ago, as part of our preparation for President Biden’s incoming administration, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks prepared a report that identified recommended changes in direction for our national
Member Op-Ed: Reform oil and gas rules before allowing new leases
Reform oil and gas rules before allowing new leases By Michael Murray and Paul Reed Our national parks and monuments are full of rich history and culture and some are sacred ancestral homes to Tribes – like the Navajo, Hopi and Puebloan peoples — who have stewarded these lands for millennia. Their cultural legacies
Coalition Joins Protest of June 2022 Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale Parcels
The Wilderness Society, Rocky Mountain Wild, Wild Montana, Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, National Audubon Society, Audubon Rockies, and Friends of the Earth respectfully protest all parcels in the June 2022 Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sales. The Environmental Assessment, Finding of No Significant Impact, and accompanying documents contain several major flaws that undergird
Coalition Supports Bennet’s Reintroduced Oil and Gas Reform Bills
Today, U.S. Senator Michael Bennet reintroduced two bills to tackle the growing orphaned oil well crisis in the short and long term while restoring robust public participation for decisions about whether public lands should be leased for drilling. Underlying these crises is the outdated federal oil and gas leasing system, which for decades has failed
Coalition Signs on To Letter Urging DOI Action to Reform Leasing Program
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 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 Applauds Biden’s Executive Actions on Climate Crisis
Moments ago, President Biden took bold executive action by signing a slate of executive orders that would help to protect America’s national parks and public lands and tackle the climate crisis. Specifically, the president ordered a pause on new oil and gas leasing on federal land and laid out a ten-year goal of conserving
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 Joins 500+ Organizations in Letter to President-Elect Biden
December 15, 2020 President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. Biden-Harris Transition Team 1401 Constitution Ave NW Washington, DC 20001 Re: Day one promise to ban new federal fossil fuel leasing and permitting on public lands and waters Dear President-elect Biden, Congratulations on winning the presidential election and thank you for your slate of promised executive actions
Decision to Open Up Tongass National Forest to Development is Devastating
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks slammed President Trump’s decision to open up Tongass National Forest to logging and industry, jeopardizing the world’s largest intact temperate rainforest. This forest has been called the “lungs of the country,” and is home to numerous and diverse species and old-growth forest. Phil Francis, Chair of the
Coalition Joins Comments On Oil and Gas Leasing Near Chaco Culture
September 25, 2020 BLM Farmington Field Office, Attn.: Sarah Scott, Project Manager, 6251 College Blvd, Suite A, Farmington, NM87402 Re: Comments on the Farmington Mancos-Gallup Draft RMP Amendment and EIS Dear Ms. Scott: Please accept the following comments on the Farmington Mancos-Gallup Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) from Archaeology
Coalition Calls on DOI to Halt All Oil and Gas Lease Sales
September 28, 2020 The Honorable David Bernhardt Secretary U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C St. NW Washington, DC 20240 Dear Secretary Bernhardt, On behalf of our over 1,800 members, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition), urges you to halt all oil and gas lease sales as our country continues to navigate the
Coalition Signs On to Public Comment Extension Letter
The Honorable Sonny Perdue Secretary U.S. Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Ave., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20250 The Honorable Vicki Christiansen Chief U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service 201 14th Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20227 September 24, 2020 Dear Secretary Perdue and Chief Christiansen: Given the ongoing public health crisis as a result of COVID-19, the
Coalition Comments on New Mexico Lease Sales
Sale of New Mexico public land to oil and gas nets $8M, despite opposition during Covid-19 Adrian Hedden The federal government made about $8.2 million from a sale of public land to the oil and gas industry in New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. The sale was held by the Bureau of Land Management on
Coalition Joins Protest of Oil and Gas Lease Sales
Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance – Center for Biological Diversity – Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks – Great Old Broads for Wilderness – Living Rivers – National Parks Conservation Association – Natural Resources Defense Council – Old Spanish Trail Association – Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility – Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club – Waterkeeper
Coalition Joins Partners in Comments on Upcoming Oil and Gas Lease Sale
Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance – Center for Biological Diversity – Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks – Great Old Broads for Wilderness – Living Rivers – National Parks Conservation Association – Natural Resources Defense Council – Old Spanish Trail Association – Partnership for the National Trails System – Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility – The
Member Oped: Leasing Plans Threaten Utah’s National Parks
The Salt Lake Tribune 7/1/2020 By Phil Brueck | Special to The Tribune As we continue to navigate the fallout from the pandemic and work to establish a “new normal,” many of us Utahns are still focused on balancing the demands of our personal and professional lives, providing for our families and thinking about
Member Oped: Halt oil and gas lease sales and protect Carlsbad Caverns
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 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
Member OP-ED: We must protect Utah’s Red Rock landscapes
By Cordell Roy | Special to The Salt Lake Tribune Published: 3/29/20 In this time of national emergency, it may seem relatively trivial to concern oneself with anything other than our own personal and community well-being. However, the well-being of our environment and public lands that contribute to Utahns quality of life is also experiencing
Restoring Community Input and Public Protections in Oil and Gas Leasing Act
10/15/19 Dear Representative, Subject: H.R. 3225, Restoring Community Input and Public Protections in Oil and Gas Leasing Act We are writing on behalf of over 1,700 members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition), a non-profit organization composed of retired, former, or current employees of the National Park Service (NPS). The Coalition studies,
Statement of support for Restoring Community Input and Public Protections in Oil and Gas Leasing Act (H.R. 3225) by Phil Francis, Chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks.
Statement of support for H.R. 3225, Restoring Community Input and Public Protections in Oil and Gas Leasing Act by Phil Francis, Chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks. Release Date: 10/15/19 “Oil and gas development damages national parks across the country. And the threats posed to our National Park System have only
Coalition Joins Call for DOI to Postpone Lease Sales During Shutdown
VIA E-MAIL January 17, 2019 Mr. David Bernhardt Secretary of the Interior, Acting 1849 C Street, NW Washington, D.C. Re: Postponing BLM Oil & Gas Lease Sales Due to the Partial Government Shutdown Dear Acting Secretary Bernhardt: The undersigned organizations represent millions of members and supporters across the West and the nation who are concerned