Polluted Parks: How Dirty Air is Harming America’s National Parks
Full Report (4.44 MB)“Polluted Parks” graded the pollution-related damage in the 48 national parks required by the Clean Air Act to have the highest possible air quality.
Every one of the 48 national parks with the greatest Clean Air Act protections are plagued by significant air pollution.
Polluted Parks: Fact Sheets
Haze pollution limits views of our most valued national parks and wilderness areas, affecting not just how far we can see, but also the color, sharpness, and quality of the…
See more ›Air quality in parks can be as bad – or worse – than in some major cities due to emissions from outdated coal plants and other sources of pollution. While progress has been made in reducing air pollution in national parks, pollution still damages air quality in all parks, most often during the busy summer season.
“Polluted Parks” graded the pollution-related damage in the 48 national parks required by the Clean Air Act to have the highest possible air quality. The report highlights twelve parks across the nation that earned a D or lower in at least one of three categories – threat to public health, hazy skies, and impacts from climate change.
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General
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- Parks:
- Acadia National Park
- Big Bend National Park
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park
- Everglades National Park
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Kings Canyon National Park
- Mammoth Cave National Park
- Saguaro National Park
- Sequoia National Park
- Yosemite National Park
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Issues
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Blog Post
June 8 Is World Ocean Day
NPCA is working to ensure coastal national parks are part of the climate solution. The more we protect national park waters from climate impacts now, the more they will protect…
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Blog Post
Civil War-Era Cemetery and Hospital Found Under Water
A small, long-submerged island is revealing Civil War mysteries in Dry Tortugas National Park. The National Park Service is conducting an in-depth survey to learn more.
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Press Release
Victory: Biden Administration Protects Chaco Canyon Cultural Landscape
"We are grateful for today’s action, which is the latest move by the Biden administration that prioritizes preserving, instead of industrializing, Indigenous lands," -- NPCA CEO Theresa Pierno
