"We are thrilled to sponsor this year's 5K Run for Clean Air," said Cinda Waldbuesser, NPCA's Pennsylvania program manager. "This event reminds all Americans that we must act now to reduce air pollution that threatens national parks as well as public health."

According to an NPCA analysis, one in three parks-more than 150 of the 390 parks in the National Park System-suffer from air pollution. National parks including Valley Forge and Independence Hall are located in counties designated by the Environmental Protection Agency as having unhealthful air quality due to ozone pollution. Children, the elderly, pregnant women, and anyone with heart or lung disease are especially vulnerable to harm from ozone pollution, which can harm even healthy adults and children working or playing outdoors. In addition, decades of acidic air pollution have deteriorated historic stone monuments, buildings, and grave markers in national parks across Pennsylvania.

Earlier this week, Senators Thomas Carper (D-DE), with support from Senator Robert Casey (D-PA), and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) introduced separate but similar bills designed to provide healthy air to millions of Americans, clean up the air pollution plaguing our treasured public lands, and take important first steps to reduce global warming threats.

"We commend Senator Casey for his leadership in supporting healthy air for parks and people," said Waldbuesser. "We must all work together to ensure that our treasured national parks are preserved and protected, unimpaired, for future generations."

Since 1919, the nonpartisan, nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice of the American people in protecting and enhancing our National Park System. NPCA, its 330,000 members, and allies work together to protect the park system and preserve our nation's natural, historical, and cultural heritage for generations to come.

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