California’s National Parks: Sorry, We’re Closed

Environment California

Sacramento – With Congress’ failure to reach an agreement on a budget before Tuesday’s midnight deadline, Nathan Weaver, Environment California’s Preservation Advocate released the following statement on the environmental impacts of the government shutdown:

“Just as families embark on their final camping trip of the year in Yosemite, thousands of nature lovers will be greeted by closed gates and empty ranger stations at our nation’s parks today as a result of the government shutdown.

“More than 400 parks, wildlife refuges, historical battlefields and national forests will be closed to any and all visitors.

“Last year, in October alone, 2,845,883 visitors trekked to California’s national parks. Having the doors close on ‘America’s best idea’ is bad enough, but keeping our public lands and parks open to private mining and gas drilling companies who are polluting these treasured landscapes in spite of these closures is truly deplorable.

 “A majority of personnel from the Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Agriculture, are temporarily out of work, halting many of our nation’s critical clean air and clean water programs. Despite this lack of environmental oversight, most public lands and waters remain open to oil, gas, and mining operations, further threatening the well being of our treasured public lands.

 “We urge Congress to keep our parks open for you and me—and to close them off to major polluters. Congress should quickly pass a budget which restores funding to our parks and gives our agencies the resources they need to keep our air and water clean and our parks and forests protected from pollution and development.”

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Environment California is a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization working for a cleaner, healthier future. For more information, visit www.environmentcalifornia.org.