Position on H.R. 5780 and S. 3028

H.R. 5780: Utah Public Lands Initiative Act – NPCA opposes this bill that would take a step backwards for conservation of national park units and the larger shared landscape addressed in the bill. H.R. 5780 includes language that contradicts and undermines key federal laws including the Wilderness Act, Clean Air Act, and National Environmental Policy Act. The bill is a missed opportunity to protect and preserve some of America’s greatest national parks and their surrounding public lands. Instead, H.R. 5780 would subject much of eastern Utah’s public lands to excessive development and off-road vehicle use, while weakening current environmental protections. NPCA is pleased to see an expansion of Arches National Park included in the bill, however we oppose many more provisions of the bill and do not recognize H.R. 5780 as a balanced approach to resolving Utah’s public land issues. See NPCA’s more detailed position on the bill.

S. 3028: Daniel J. Evans Olympic National Park Wilderness Act – NPCA supports this legislation to rename the Olympic Wilderness in Olympic National Park as the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness, a tribute to Washington’s former Republican governor, senator and member of Congress. Mr. Evans was a crucial supporter of the creation of North Cascades National Park and helped pass the Washington Wilderness Act and legislation creating the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area.