Fall 2018
Drilling in National Parks?
Oil and gas development already is harming dozens of national park sites around the country. It could get much worse.
Just how many national park sites are affected by domestic oil and gas development? 12 have active oil and gas operations on privately owned lands inside their borders, and 30 more parks could follow. At least 68 coastal national parks could be harmed by an offshore drilling plan President Donald Trump’s administration submitted in the beginning of the year. Since the start of 2017, the Trump administration has proposed oil and gas leasing close to more than 18 national parks in the West. At least 14 proposed major pipelines are in the works across the country, and some of them could end up going through national park sites.
Oil and gas development in and around park lands can harm fragile ecosystems, fragment wildlife habitat, pollute air and water, interfere with viewsheds, degrade visitors’ experiences, and ultimately hurt the economies of local communities that rely on park tourism. Pipeline construction requires developers to permanently clear land, and pipes running through parks could explode or rupture, devastating the landscape and jeopardizing human health and safety.
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Press Release
Colorado Could Lead Nation in Fighting Air Pollution, But Isn’t
National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club, and Earthjustice call for improvements on Colorado’s regional haze plan to better protect air quality and public health.
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Press Release
New Methane Rule Means Critical Benefits for National Parks
Stronger regulations will reduce methane pollution from oil and gas facilities that harms parks and the climate
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Press Release
President Biden Nominates Charles Sams for Director of the National Park Service
Today, after more than four years without an official director, President Biden nominated Charles “Chuck” Sams III to be the director of the National Park Service.
