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Regional Haze
Clear Solutions for Parks
Millions of people visit U.S. national parks and wilderness areas each year to see some of the most awe-inspiring views in the world. Visitors imagine national parks as having the…
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Air & Climate Report
Polluted Parks
National parks are home to some of America’s most iconic landscapes and best-preserved cultural and historic sites, and these places need clean air and a healthy climate to flourish. Yet…
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Blog Post
Celebrating 2024’s Top 5 Park Victories
NPCA applauds another year of incredible victories we, and our supporters, made possible to protect our parks!
More about Air
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Read more about Parks need improved air monitoring to address pollution
NPCA AT WORK Parks need improved air monitoring to address pollution Monitoring data is essential to better understand and improve air quality in parks while spotting nationwide trends affecting public health and ecosystems.
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Read more about Air Pollution in Colorado: Our Lives and Parks at Risk
NPCA at Work Air Pollution in Colorado: Our Lives and Parks at Risk Colorado suffers from a serious and growing air quality problem, failing year after year to meet federal standards for air that’s healthy and safe to breathe. That needs to change.
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Read more about Working for Clean Air in our National Parks
NPCA at Work Working for Clean Air in our National Parks Air pollution harms national park visitors’ health, clouds scenic views and alters our climate. And the solutions needed to resolve these problems are largely the same – we must clean up polluting fossil fuel facilities, industries, and vehicles. With your voice, we can make a difference and achieve cleaner air and a healthier climate.
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Read more about California's National Parks: Struggling for Clean Air
NPCA at Work California's National Parks: Struggling for Clean Air It might come as a surprise that California’s crown jewel national parks — Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Joshua Tree and Yosemite — struggle with some of the dirtiest air of any parks in the nation.
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we are part owners of our parks and as such, a steward of these majestic, wild and cultural spaces. As Wallace Stegner so eloquently said, "National Parks are the best idea we've ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic. They reflect us at our best rather than our worst." I don't think I could say it any better. I feel most American when I am standing in one of our sacred spaces. I feel the spirit, I feel the tradition, I feel appreciation and I feel space. They are places for reconnecting - with oneself, with your family, with the greater world beyond your email inbox and worries. And I want to do my part to help ensure all the future generations of Americans have this same opportunity to experience. — Jessica & Nick
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Read more about Our Southwestern National Parks Deserve Cleaner Air
NPCA at Work Our Southwestern National Parks Deserve Cleaner Air Clean air is still out of reach for our Southwestern national parks.
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Read more about Can a Lame Duck Congress Get Anything Done?
Blog Post Can a Lame Duck Congress Get Anything Done? Yes, and here’s what Congress can do for national parks.
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Read more about What’s Next for Parks in a Second Trump Administration?
Blog Post What’s Next for Parks in a Second Trump Administration? Since 1919, NPCA has been an independent voice, outside of the government and nonpartisan. We will continue to be a strong, unwavering voice for our national parks.
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Read more about EPA Criticizes Utah Plan for Failing to Deliver Emissions Reductions Needed to Protect National Park Air Quality
Press Release EPA Criticizes Utah Plan for Failing to Deliver Emissions Reductions Needed to Protect National Park Air Quality National Parks Conservation Association, Public Weigh in on Proposed Partial Disapproval of Utah Haze Plan for Failing to Limit Pollution
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Read more about Wyoming Must Step Up to Curb Haze Pollution, EPA Says
Press Release Wyoming Must Step Up to Curb Haze Pollution, EPA Says Agency Proposes Partial Disapproval of Wyoming’s Haze Plan, Protecting Parks from Grand Teton to Yellowstone
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Read more about Haze Pollution Deadlines Set Clock for EPA to Protect National Parks
Press Release Haze Pollution Deadlines Set Clock for EPA to Protect National Parks “This settlement keeps national parks from Joshua Tree to the Everglades, some of the most polluted parks in the country, top-of-mind for decisionmakers who must ensure that we reduce the haze pollution blurring iconic views visitors travel far and wide to experience." -- Ulla Reeves, Interim Director of the National Parks Conservation Association’s Clean Air Program
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Read more about Position on H.J.Res. 117, H.J.Res. 133, H.J.Res. 136 & H.J.Res. 163
Policy Update Position on H.J.Res. 117, H.J.Res. 133, H.J.Res. 136 & H.J.Res. 163 NPCA submitted the following positions to members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce ahead of a hearing scheduled for June 27, 2024.
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Read more about Code Red
Magazine Article Code Red NPCA’s latest report on national park pollution paints a dire picture.
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Read more about Clearing the Air in the Smokies
Blog Post Clearing the Air in the Smokies Great Smoky Mountains National Park is starting to win its decades-long fight against dangerous haze, adding hope to the park’s horizon.
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Read more about Proposed Haze Pollution Consent Decree Sets Schedule to Improve Visibility in National Parks and Wilderness Areas
Press Release Proposed Haze Pollution Consent Decree Sets Schedule to Improve Visibility in National Parks and Wilderness Areas "From Acadia to Joshua Tree, parks will continue to suffer from hazy skies and unhealthy air until EPA ensures their protection.” - Ulla Reeves, Interim Director, NPCA's Clean Air Program
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Read more about FAQs: Air Quality in National Parks
Blog Post FAQs: Air Quality in National Parks NPCA has released its 2024 “Polluted Parks” report, showing 97% of national parks suffer from air pollution. Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency recently strengthened its air quality standards, which will provide additional protection to these places we love. Here are the latest developments and what they mean.
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Read more about Polluted Parks Report 2024: Resources and Analytical Methods
Resource Polluted Parks Report 2024: Resources and Analytical Methods Our methodologies and further explanation of our analysis of data
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Read more about Regional Haze by EPA Region
Resource Regional Haze by EPA Region Learn about emission sources and the status of regional haze plans in each EPA region.
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Read more about 47 organizations urge EPA to protect parks and communities from haze
Letter 47 organizations urge EPA to protect parks and communities from haze Leaders of organizations across the country urged the Environmental Protection Agency to act swiftly and hold polluters accountable in the name of national parks and the communities who rely on them.
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Read more about 56 businesses from 22 states sent a letter to EPA to protect clean air
Letter 56 businesses from 22 states sent a letter to EPA to protect clean air 56 businesses from 22 states sent a letter to the EPA urging the agency to act swiftly for the sake of their communities, patrons and our natural treasures.
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Read more about Ozone Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet Ozone Fact Sheet Ozone threatens the health of park visitors and contributes to the disease and death of park species such as the black cherry tree in the East and aspen and ponderosa pine in the West. National park ecosystems across the country are already showing damage from ground-level ozone pollution.
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Read more about The Case for Fixing and Building Out National Parks Air Monitoring Networks
Report The Case for Fixing and Building Out National Parks Air Monitoring Networks Our national parks are places of unparalleled natural wonder, historical significance, and cultural value, yet most are plagued by poor air quality that can threaten human health and detrimentally impact park ecosystems.
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Read more about Clean Air for Parks Fact Sheets
Fact Sheet Clean Air for Parks Fact Sheets In the fight for healthy air, laws limiting haze pollution are powerful tools—but we need to act now to sharpen them. To win the fight for clean and healthy air, deploying all means to lower pollution—like ozone and particulate matter—is a necessity.
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Read more about Forward, Not Backward
Fact Sheet Forward, Not Backward Climate change is the greatest threat facing our national parks and people across the world. But the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking strident measures to strip the U.S. of necessary rules to curb climate pollution.
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Read more about 10 Ways to Be a Park Advocate
Resource 10 Ways to Be a Park Advocate Want to be an advocate for parks, but don't know where to start?
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Read more about Join Us
Video Join Us Our national parks preserve some of the most inspiring places and stories. These places belong to us all. They deserve to be celebrated and protected. It’s up to us to ensure that America’s favorite places have clean water, clear air and healthy wildlife.
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Read more about Learn More About Seeing Clearly in America’s National Parks
Map Learn More About Seeing Clearly in America’s National Parks How dirty air harms parks and what you can do to help.
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Read more about Share Your Story
My Park Story Share Your Story Let our leaders know why clean air matters to you. Share your experience!
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