Coalition of National Park Service Retirees
The Coalition of National Park Service Retirees
The Coalition of National Park Service Retirees (CNPSR) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization comprised of former employees of the National Park Service. Our mission is to study, educate, speak, and act for preservation and protection of America's National Park System and the mission-related programs of the National Park Service. See more About Us. See more about the National Park Service mission.
Letter to Senator Heinrich Re: S. 285, Valles Caldera
On June 17, the Coalition sent a letter to Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico regarding S. 285, proposing that Valles Caldera National Preserve be managed by the National Park Service.
CNPSR & Partners Comment on Proposed Winter Use Rule
On June 14, CNPSR and several partners in conservation wrote a letter to the National Park Service regarding Yellowstone National Park's Winter Use Proposed Rule (NPS 1024-AE15). An excerpt:
NPS’s plan contains thoughtful strategies to reduce adverse impacts to the park. However, it also maintains deficiencies identified in the judicial opinions that overturned Yellowstone’s 2003 and 2007 plans. The public and the park need the Obama Administration not to repeat these errors.
Comment on Yellowstone Winter Use Rule - Due June 16
CNPSR Chair Maureen Finnerty encourages CNPSR members to comment on the proposed Yellowstone Winter Use Rule and provides talking points in hopes that you choose to do so. Comments must be in by midnight, June 16, 2013.
For the talking points, instructions on how you can comment, and a link to National Park Service rule, click here.
Excerpt from Chairman Finnerty's talking points:
CNPSR members can support a sustainable rule that protects Yellowstone as required by law by emphasizing in our comments that delaying, weakening or creating exemptions from the preferred alternative’s BAT standards departs from NPS’s professional judgment and from the NEPA analysis supporting NPS’s recommended management approach; this would create legal vulnerability and/or need for additional, expensive study and public involvement. The taxpaying public and budget-challenged National Park Service cannot afford yet more study of winter use in Yellowstone due to political interference with management actions that NPS has determined are necessary to protect the park’s resources.
Federal Budget Sequester - Director Jarvis's Memo to All National Park Service Employees
Excerpt from Director Jarvis's March 8, 2013 Memo to All NPS Employees:
. . . I want to commend you all for making very difficult decisions. To help meet the reductions, 900 permanent positions will not be filled. In an organization with 15,000 permanent employees, 900 vacant jobs have a profound effect. Every activity will be affected. Some impacts will be immediate, others will accumulate over time. Fewer law enforcement rangers and USPP officers mean lower levels of protection and longer response times. Fewer maintenance personnel mean that parks may have to close facilities completely when breakdowns occur – and that the $12 billion maintenance backlog will continue to grow. . . .
Click here to see the entire memo.