56 businesses from 22 states sent a letter to EPA to protect clean air

Air pollution resulting from the extraction, development and burning of fossil fuels may not originate in our beloved national parks, but emissions travel hundreds of miles from their source, where visitors are now missing out on over 50 miles of picturesque views due to haze pollution.

This haze pollution, which travels across state lines, harming air quality, obscuring scenic vistas and impacting communities, is what we’re fighting through NPCA’s Clean Air Program. And this pollution phenomenon affects an astounding 90% of national parks.

How does haze pollution affect businesses?

Haze pollution in national parks threatens local economies. Many businesses depend on parks, which provide nearly $36 billion in economic output each year and support thousands of jobs across the country. But studies show that park visitation drops when air pollution is high, demonstrating the direct effect air quality has on the visitor experience. A 2018 study on air pollution and national park tourism found that an increase of just three high ozone days in one month can cause a 27% drop in tourism – a high cost for businesses. Our nation’s public lands, with their stunning views and unique and sensitive ecosystems, are critical to the $887 billion outdoor recreation economy.

What about businesses that aren’t near parks?

The U.S. outdoor recreation economy is nearly 2% of the country’s GDP and the 4th largest category of consumer spending. Outdoor recreation activities directly support approximately 7.6 million diverse jobs and bring tourists and visitors from all over the world into natural landscapes and the gateway communities nearby. Public lands, and our ability to enjoy their visual wonders, create and sustain livelihoods.

Because haze pollution travels hundreds of miles from its original source, businesses all over the country play a role in keeping our skies clear. Clean air is vital to our businesses and the patrons who frequent them. Our businesses thrive when our air is clean and people and ecosystems are healthy. 

What message does this letter send to the Environmental Protection Agency?

The U.S. EPA has a critical opportunity right now to deliver cleaner air and clear views in our public lands for years to come, but it must act swiftly in 2023. The clock is ticking for the agency to approve or deny states’ regional haze plans – many of which are highly flawed. Through decisive action, EPA can and must hold states accountable to require pollution reductions that cut haze emissions from hundreds of industrial facilities nationwide. The same pollution that causes hazy skies also harms people’s health who live closest to those polluting facilities.

Given the combination of environmental, economic and public welfare interests at stake, we trust the agency will act in our collective best interests.

Download Clean Air for our Businesses, Letter to EPA (PDF)

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:

A Walk in the Woods (Gatlinburg, TN)

Acadia Bike Rentals and Coastal Kayaking Tours (Bar Harbor, ME)

Acadia Mountain Guides (Bar Harbor, ME)

Acadia Stand Up Paddleboarding/Sand Beach Surf Co. (Bar Harbor, ME)

Alarka Expeditions (Franklin, NC)

Alaska Wildland Adventures (Cooper Landing, AK)

Aspen Skiing Company (Aspen, CO)

Backcountry Safaris (Jackson, WY)

Better Tomorrow Solar (Atlanta, GA)

Big Mountain Dreams (Park City, UT)

Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine (Charlottesville, VA)

Bridger Bowl Ski Area (Bozeman, MT)

Cactus & Tropicals (Salt Lake City, UT)

Capital City Kayak Adventures (Jackson, MS)

Channel Islands Expeditions (Santa Barbara, CA)

Coastal Expeditions (Charleston, SC)

CREAM Design and Print (Tucson, AZ)

Dogwood Refillery (Charlottesville, VA)

Dripolator Coffeehouse (Black Mountain, NC)

Echo Adventure Cooperative (Groveland, CA)

Fifth Element Camping (Marshall, NC)

Fogtown Brewing Company (Bar Harbor, ME)

Gin Majka Photo & Video (Rockport, ME)

Hamilton Consulting (Fresno, CA)

High Tor Gear Exchange (Charlottesville, VA)

Honey Island Kayak Tours (Pearl River, LA)

I Heart Pisgah Outdoor Business Coalition (Asheville, NC)

Illumine Collect (Springfield, MO)

Jessica Delfino / The Mom Report on Pocono 96.7 FM (Stroudsburg, PA)

Laura Stephan-Corio, Rural Tourism Advocate (Blairstown, NJ)

Liberty Bicycles Inc. (Asheville, NC)

Mariah Reading Art (Bangor, ME)

MAST (Tucson, AZ)

Meadowlark Ridge (Mount Solon, VA)

Mountain Light Sanctuary (Barnardsville, NC)

National Parks at Night (Catskill, NY)

New Mexico River Adventures (Embudo, NM)

One World Brewing (Asheville, NC)

Pacific Islands Institute (Honolulu, HI)

Partnership for Responsible Business (Santa Fe, NM)

Parks Project

Patagonia

Pivot Produce (Tucson, AZ)

Precipice Coffee (Ellsworth, ME)

Rachel Thornberry Creative (Trenton, ME)

Rim Mountain Bike Tours (Moab, UT)

San Luis Valley Great Outdoors (Alamosa, CO)

Santa Barbara Adventure Company (Santa Barbara, CA)

Selkie Sauna (Mount Desert Island, ME)

Small Changes Big Impact LLC (Tucson, AZ)

Snakeroot Ecotours (Burnsville, NC)

Volta Climbing (Trenton, ME)

Western Spirit Cycling (Moab, UT)

Wild Abundance (Weaverville, NC)

Wildernest Inc (Bainbridge Island, WA)

3 Rivers Outdoor Co (Pittsburgh, PA)