New EPA Lead Must Make National Park Protection a Priority

WASHINGTON – Below is a statement by Theresa Pierno, President and CEO of National Parks Conservation Association, in response to the Senate vote affirming Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to be the next Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:

“I sat in the nomination hearing for Scott Pruitt and I heard his thoughts on some of the most poignant issues affecting our nation’s air and water. I was alarmed that day, and remain so today. Our national parks need and deserve an EPA administrator who is committed to combating, not questioning, climate change, who is not a legal adversary of the agency and who is transparent about potential conflicts of interest.

“National parks are the canaries in the coal mine of climate change. It affects the coral reefs at Biscayne National Park, lodgepole pine trees in Rocky Mountain National Park and glaciers in their namesake Glacier National Park, which have decreased by 83%. The science on climate change is clear, and its impacts are devastating.

“Together, we must work every day to ensure Mr. Pruitt does right by our park resources. Too much is at stake not to.”

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About National Parks Conservation Association Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.2 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s natural, historic, and cultural heritage for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.