National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA)

National Parks

Funding for National Parks
Summary: America’s national parks inspire us as a nation, teach our children about history and the wonders of the natural world, and aim to realize the dreams of our forefathers that “the parks contain the highest potentialities of national pride, national contentment, and national health.” But to fulfill this intention, we must take immediate action to address the chronic funding shortfalls that are crippling the National Park Service’s ability to serve as guardian of the nation’s heritage.

Air pollution in National Parks—Dark Horizons report
Summary: Already, one in three national park sites has air pollution levels that exceed health standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Most of the air pollution now marring the parks’ scenic views, harming plants, and risking the health of wildlife and visitors, results from the burning of fossil fuels, especially by coal-fired power plants. Worse yet, more than 100 new coal-fired power plants are in various stages of planning and development across the country, putting national parks at risk.

Guns in National Parks
Summary: The National Rifle Association (NRA) is pushing hardto allow loaded guns in America’s national parks. Underintense political pressure orchestrated by the NRA, the Bush Administration recently proposed new regulations that would allow visitors to carry loaded, concealed firearms in national parks if the state where a national park unit is located permits people to carry concealed firearms in their state parks. Mandating that national park units abide by state park gun laws will be confusing to both visitors and park rangers and would force the creation of a new, complex (and costly) gun bureaucracy.