Polluted Parks

How America is Failing to Protect Our National Parks, People and Planet from Air Pollution

Table of Contents

I. Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................................5

II. Introduction .....................................................................................................................................................7

III. How Air Pollution Affects People and National Parks ...........................................................................9

Unhealthy Air ...................................................................................................................................................10 Harm to Nature .................................................................................................................................................11 Hazy Skies ........................................................................................................................................................12 EffectsofClimateChange .................................................................................................................................13 CommunityActivistGemaPerez .....................................................................................................................14 HoldingGovernmentResponsibleandtheOilandGasIndustryAccountableforitsPollution ......................... 15 OutdoorIndustryAssociation’sAmyRoberts .................................................................................................16

FightingCoalPollutiontoMakeWayforCleanEnergy ................................................................................17 OrganizerAkiimaPrice ....................................................................................................................................18 MaintainingScientificIntegrityinFederalRulemaking ................................................................................19 ConservationistChrisLiu ................................................................................................................................20 UsingNationalParksasaCatalystforPollutionReduction ..........................................................................21 TheLegacyofHarrietTubman ........................................................................................................................ 22 ChangingtheU.S.DirectiononClimateChange. .......................................................................................... 23

IV. Solutions for Clean Air and a Healthy Climate .....................................................................................24

ActionsNationalParksareTaking .................................................................................................................. 25 ActionsYouCanTaketoProtectNationalParks ............................................................................................. 26

Resources and Analytical Methods ......................................................................................................... 28

AcknowledgementsandCredits .......................................................................................................................31

Executive SummaryI

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION

96 Percent of the 417 National Parks Assessed are Plagued by Significant Air Pollution Problems in at Least One of these Categories

89%HAZY SKIES

National parks that suffer from

haze pollution

88%National parks

where air pollution is damaging sensitive species and habitat

HARM TO NATURE

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION 5

Fortunately,thereareclearandfeasiblesolutions:mitigatingpollutionandtransitioningtocleanenergy.Togetthere,wewillneedpoliciessupportedbyalllevelsofgovernmenttobenefitourair,parksandclimate.

Thisyear,asNPCAcelebratesacenturyofworkingtoprotectplacesofunparallelednaturalwonder,

Executive Summary

Likealllivingthings,nationalparksneedcleanairandahealthyclimatetothrive.

Theeffectsofairpollutionandclimatechangearenotuniquetonationalparks—theyalsowreakhavoconourcommunities.TounderstandhowpollutionaffectsAmerica’smorethan400nationalparksandtheirmorethan330millionvisitorseachyear,thisreportassessesthedamagefromairpollutionbyevaluatingfourcategories:unhealthy air, harm to

nature, hazy skies and climate change.

Thekeyfindingofourreportisthat96percent ofthe417nationalparksassessedareplaguedbysignificantairpollutionproblemsinatleastoneofthefourcategories.Amongotherthings,wefoundthat85percentofnationalparkshaveairthatisunhealthytobreatheattimes,andnearly90percentofparkssufferfromhazepollution.At88percent ofparks,airpollutiondepositsintosoilsandwaters,damagingsensitivespeciesandhabitat.Wealsofoundthatclimatechangeisasignificant concern for80percentofournationalparks,thoughallparksareaffectedatsomelevel.

Inadditiontoouranalysis,wefeaturethestoriesofacommunityactivist,youngconservationist,organizer,historiclandscapeandoutdoorrecreationleaderwithfirsthandexperiencesdealingwiththeeffectsofairandclimatepollutionacrossthecountry.Thesefive storiesrevealacommontheme:Theproblemsofpollutionafflictthewellbeingofpeopleandourparks.Andfossilfuelsandindustrialairpollutionarethesourceofmostoftheseproblems.

historicsignificanceandculturalvalue,wealsocommittoafutureforourparksthatisgroundedinprinciplesofjusticeandequity.Withthiscommitmentinmind,wearepledgingtoactonfairsolutionsforcleanairandahealthyclimateforeveryone.Thismissionismoreimportantnowthaneverbefore.

Wehopeyouwilljoinus.

For 100 years, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has

been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its 1.3

million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our

nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more

information, visit www.npca.org.

100YEARS

85%UNHEALTHY AIR

National parks that have air that is unhealthy to

breathe at times

80%CLIMATE CHANGE

National parks where climate change is a significant concern

IntroductionII

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION 7

IntroductionAmerica’snationalparkshaveauniquepowertobringpeopletogetherandbridgedifferences.Morethanacenturyago,leadersinournationrecognizedtheimportanceofprotectingourpreciousnaturalandculturalheritageforthebenefitandenjoymentoffuturegenerations.Today,nationalparkscontinuetopreserveourstoriesandreflectourdemocracy,buttheyarebeingpolluted.

Airpollutionisharmingpublichealth,obscuringviewsanddegradingournation’smostpreciousparksites,fromGlacierNationalParkinMontanatotheNatchezTraceParkwayinTennesseetoCuyahogaValleyNationalParkinOhio.Unfortunately,airpollutionalsodrivesthemostseriousproblemof ourtime—climatechange.

Whilemostairpollutiondoesn’toriginateinnationalparks,itcantravelhundredsofmilesfromitssource,therebyaffectingallparks—evenremoteones—anddistantcommunities.Muchofthispollutionbeginswithextractingfossilfuels,includingoil,gasandcoal,andburningtheminpowerplantsandvehicles.Additionally,industrial-scaleagriculturaloperationsharmtheair,likeinCalifornia’sCentralValleycommunitiesaswellasinSequoiaandKingsCanyonNationalParksandCésarE.ChávezNationalMonument.

Pollutionalsoharmscommunityhealth,havingthegravesteffectsoncommunitiesofcolorandpeopleoflowersocioeconomicstatus.Italsoundermineslocaleconomies,drivinguphealthcarecostsandmakingitharderforkidstolearnandplayandadultstowork.

InBakersfield,California,GemaPerez,amom,urbanactivistandparklover,fretsaboutthedirtyairthatchokesoffviewsofthemountainsandharmsherfamily’slungswhentheyareoutsidetryingtoenjoythesafespaceshercommunityhasworkedhardto

create.AmyRoberts,CEOoftheOutdoorIndustryAssociation,representsbusinessesthatdependonourcountry’snaturalresourcestoproviderecreationalopportunities,andwhetherit’slowersnowpackorintensifiedwildfires,sheiskeenlyawareoftheeffectsofairpollutionandclimatechangeonadailybasis.

Toaddressthechallengesofairpollution,it’scriticalweconsiderjusticeandequitywhileworkingtoreduceemissions,transitiontoappropriatelysitedrenewableenergy,buildsmartinfrastructurethatusescleanenergy,andconserveournaturallandscapes.

A note on our analysis

UsingavarietyofdataandrelyingheavilyonNationalParkServiceinformation,NPCAcreatedasummaryindexforeachcategory(unhealthyair,harmto nature,hazyskiesandeffectsofclimatechange). Thefollowingcodesareusedtodescribethescaleofconcernineachofthefourcategories.

n Significant Concern n Moderate Concern n Little to No Concernn No data available

National Parks Protected Under the Clean Air Act

IN OUR ANALYSIS, WE EVALUATED 417 NATIONAL PARKS. THESE INCLUDE:

Cultural Sites, Preserved for the Stories They Tell About Our Nation’s History

Seashores, Trails, Battlefields and Memorials

Top Pullman National Monument in Chicago, IL embodies rich African American labor history as the first planned U.S. industrial community. ©Jim Roberts | Dreamstime

How Air Pollution Affects People and National ParksIII

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION 9

How Air Pollution Affects People and National ParksNearlyeverynationalparkisaffectedbyairpollutionandclimatechangeinadverseways.Climatechangeisintensifyingflooding,droughtandwildfires,hazeisobscuringmilesofscenicviews,unhealthyairistriggeringasthmaattacksinsensitivepopulationsandinhealthyadultswhoexerciseoutdoors,andpollutionisdevastatingsensitivewaterwaysandwildlifehabitat.WhiletheCleanAirActhassteadilyreducedpollutionoverthepastfivedecades,injusttwoyears,theTrumpadministration’spolicieshavecontributedtoreversingthistrend.

Today,airpollutionisontherise,enforcementactionsagainstpollutershaveplummetedby85percent,theEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)ispushingananti-scienceagenda,andtheUnitedStatesisexitingtheParisAgreement,theglobalclimatetreaty.A2018studybytwoHarvardUniversityresearchersconservativelyestimatesthatrecentEPArollbackstopublichealthandenvironmentalsafeguardswillresultinover80,000deathsevery10years.

Asaresult,ournationalparkscontinuetosufferfromairpollutionandshowincreasedstrainandworseningsymptomsinsteadofthereliefpromisedbyCongressforourmosticoniclandsthroughtheCleanAirAct.ThekeyfindingsofthisanalysisshowthepervasiveeffectofpollutionacrosstheNationalParkSystem.

Asdescribedinthepagesthatfollow,ninety-sixpercent,or401ofthe417nationalparksassessedshowairpollutionisasignificant concern in at least oneoffourcategories:unhealthy air, harm to

nature, hazy skies and effects of climate change.

Manyparkssufferfromthenegativeeffectsofairpollutioninmorethanoneofthesecategories.

Climate pollution, or “greenhouse gases,” rose 3.4 percent in 2018, the second-biggest leap in two decades. This includes carbon dioxide from coal plants and vehicles and methane from oil and gas development, emitted across the transportation, building and power sectors.

COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS: Pollutionfromthepowersectorwasonthedeclinefrom2007-2017;however,in2018,emissionsdatashoweda1.9percentincreaseinpollutionfromcoalplants.

TRANSPORTATION:Inthepasttwoyears,thetransportationsectorhasbecomethegreatestoverallsourceofgreenhousegaspollutioninthecountry.

OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT: IfdevelopmentofoilandgasintheU.S.continuesunabated,drillingintonewreservescouldreleasetheequivalentofthelifetimecarbondioxidepollutionof1,000coal-firedpowerplants.

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Sector Trends Contributing to the Increase in Greenhouse Gases

FOUR OF OUR MOST POLLUTED NATIONAL

PARKS

Sequoia, Kings Canyon and Joshua

Tree National Parks and Mojave National

Preserve regularly struggle with air that is

unhealthy for park visitors and rangers to breathe.

SEQUOIA JOSHUA TREE

KINGS CANYONMOJAVE

Unhealthy Air Ozoneisagasproducedwhenotherpollutantsreactundersunlight.AbovetheEarth,ozoneisbeneficial.Butatthegroundlevel,ozonepollutionisharmfultolivingthings.Forpeopleandwildlife,ozonemakesithardertobreathebyinflamingandirritatingourlungs.Itcancauseasthmaattacks,irritatesufferers’throatsandairways,andcausetightnessinthechest;itisparticularlydangerouswhenbreathingheavily.Forsensitivepopulationsandanyoneexercisingoutdoors,aswellaschildrenandtheelderly,exposureisespeciallydangerous.Onaglobalscale,ozoneisalsoagreenhousegasthatcontributestoclimatechange.Althoughozoneisnottheonlypollutantthatthreatenshumanhealthin theparks,itisoneofthemostwidespread.Health effectsduetoparticulatematterorothernon-ozonepollutantshavenotbeenincludedinthisassessment.

In2018,fourparks--Sequoia,KingsCanyonandJoshuaTreeNationalParksandMojaveNationalPreserve—hadunhealthyairformostparkvisitorsandrangerstobreatheformorethantwomonthsoftheyear,mostlyinthesummermonths.Theseareamongournation’smostpollutednationalparks.Muchof theairpollutionintheseparkscomesfromvehiclesandtheagricultureindustryintheSanJoaquinValley—oneofthemostpollutedareasinthenation—whereresidentsarefrequentlyexposedtounsafeair.

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION10

Air pollution levels in some of our most iconic national parks are comparable to, and at times even higher than, levels in densely populated cities such as Los Angeles and Houston.

We found that eighty-five percent of national parks (354 parks) have air that is unhealthy to breathe at times. At 87 parks, ozone levels are a signifi-cant concern, and another 267 parks have a moderate level of concern.

While air pollution affects everyone, those exercising outdoors, children, the elderly and anyone with asthma or other respiratory illnesses are especially at risk.

AIR POLLUTION & HUMAN HEALTH

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION 11

nitrogen,whichresultsfromincreasedpollutionfromoilandgasdevelopmentintheregion,canchangethetypesofplantsthatgrowonthetundra.Aslevelsofnitrogenincrease,grassestakeoverfootprintsof

alpineflowersandreducehabitatforsomeanimalsatRockyMountainNationalPark.

Harm to NatureAirpollutionhasawidespreadeffectonplants,animalsandentireecosystems.Ozonepollutionstiflestreeandcropgrowthandcausesleaves ofcommontreespeciestoblackenandwither.Nitrogenandsulfurpollution thatcomesthroughrain,snoworfog cancausechangestosoilandwaterchemistrywhichaffectsplants’andanimals’abilitytosurviveinanarea.

Our findings show that air pollution is harming sensitive species and habitat at 88 percent of national parks (368 parks). At 283 parks, the problem is of a significant concern and in 85 parks, the concern level is moderate.

Ozoneoccursnaturallyintheatmosphere,buthuman-causedairpollutantsthatproduceozone atthegroundlevelarehighlydamagingforplants,slowinggrowthandincreasingvulnerabilitytodiseasesandinsectdamage.Emissionsofnitrogenandsulfuraredepositedontothegroundwhentheyarewashedoutoftheairbyrain,snowandotherprecipitation.Highconcentrationsofthesepollutantscancauseacidification,over-fertilizationandotherchangestosoilandwaterchemistry;theseprocessescanchangethenumberandtypesofplantsandanimalsabletosurviveinanarea.

AtRockyMountainNationalPark,floweringplantsarebeingreplacedbygrasses.Thepark’shigh- elevationenvironmentishighlyvulnerabletonitrogenbecauseoftheecosystem’sshallowsoilsandshortgrowingseasons.Additionally,theincreasein

Above: North American Elk rest on hillside in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO ©barizklina | Shutterstock

Harm to Soil and Plants

Harm to Water

Air Pollution (nitrogen and sulfur)

Air pollution is a significant or moderate concern, harming sensitive species and habitat at 88 percent of parks.

Emissions of nitrogen and sulfur make their way to the ground when they are washed out of the air by rain, snow and other precipitation. High concentrations of these pollutants can cause acidification, over-fertilization and throw natural systems out of balance, harming the soil, water and health of plants and animals trying to survive in an area.

How Pollution is Deposited in Water and Soil

1990 2010 NATURAL

A Work In Progress: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Air pollution obscures scenic park views—in some cases obliterating more than 90 miles in visibility.

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION12 POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION

Hazy SkiesVisiblepollution,orhaze,consistsoftinyparticlesandgasesintheairthatmakeithardertosee thingsinthedistance.Hazepollutioncutsdownonhowfaryoucanseeandhowcleartheviewsareatnationalparks.

Ouranalysisfoundthatnotonesinglenationalparkofthosereviewedinthelower48isfreeofhazepollution—and at89percentofparks(370parks),visibilityimpairmentiseitheramoderate or significant concern (304and66parksrespectively).Onaverage,visitorstonational parksmissouton50milesofscenerybecauseof airpollution—adistanceequivalenttothelengthofRhodeIsland.

Whentheairatanationalparkisn’tclean,visitationdropsbyatleast8percent,harminglocaleconomiesandindicatingthatairqualitydirectlyaffectspublicuseandenjoymentofournationalparks.Yosemite,Everglades,AcadiaandJoshuaTreenationalparksarejustafewofournation’sgreatestwildplacesthatexperiencewidespreadeffectsfromairpollutionevenifsometimestheydon’tappeartobepolluted.Nationalparksandwildernessareasshouldhaveclearair,butsadlymanystrugglewithhazyskies.Manyprotectedareasarestillcenturiesawayfromachievingnaturallycleanairquality.

Air quality in metropolitan areas

has significantly improved

since the 1990s.

National parks have not experienced

a similar rate of improvement.

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33OF AMERICA’S MOST-VISITED

NATIONAL PARKS ARE AS POLLUTED

AS OUR

LARGEST CITIES

At eighty-nine percent of parks (370 parks), visibility impairment is either a moderate or significant concern (304 and 66 parks respectively).

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is, well, smoky. The term refers to the bluish mist that naturally hangs over the mountains, rather than the white or yellowish haze pollution that is

commonly seen at the park. It’s the fate of this human-caused haze that makes the Great Smoky Mountains a symbol of both the successes of the Clean Air Act and the continued need for progress.

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION 13

Temperatures in national parks are warming at twice the rate of the U.S. as a whole, threatening the very existence of namesake features at

Glacier, Joshua Tree and Saguaro National Parks.

Effects of Climate ChangeTheeffectsofclimatechangevaryacrossnationalparksbutcoverallgeographiclocations,includingcoastalareasaffectedbyrisingoceansandincreasinglypowerfulstorms,andmountainrangesexperiencingwidespreadmeltingofglaciersandlowersnowpack.Frommicroorganismstolargemammals,wildlifespeciesarestrugglingtoadapt.Nationalparksareparticularlyvulner-abletochangesinclimatebecauseoftheirsensitivenaturalenvironmentsandrelatedriskofexposuretothingslikeincreaseddrought,flooding,firesandinvasivespeciesaswell assensitivityofplants,animals(andtheirsometimes-limitedabilitytoadapttonewhabitat),water,glaciers,andhistoricandculturalresources.

In analyzing scientific studies, we found that climate change is a significant concern for 80 percent of our national parks (335 parks). These parks are experiencing changes in climate through extreme trends in temperature, precipitation, or early onset of spring.

Manyuniqueandsensitivewildlifespeciesfaceplummetingpopulationsandpossibleextinctionastheystruggletocopewiththerapidityofchange.

Forexample,EvergladesNationalParkispartofauniquesubtropicalpeatlandenvironmentthatrequiresexcessfreshwatertosupportthemyriadlifethatthrivesthere.Becausewaterdepthmeansahealthy,thrivingecosystemanddrivesessentialpeataccumulation,risingsealevels—ofevenjustafewcentimeters—caninundatefreshwaterhabitats.Asaresult,raretropical

alongthepark’shistoricNisquallyRoad.Astheglacierretreats,itleavesbehindboulders,sedimentanddebristhatwashesmoreeasilydownstreamduringstorms,tear- ingaparttheriverbanksthatformthebaseoftheroad.

orchidsandherbs,pineforests,andfreshwatermarshesareatriskthatinturnsupportmanyspeciesofwildlife,birdsandamphibians.

InMt.RainierNationalPark,meltingoftheNisquallyglacierisdirectlyresponsibleforinfrastructuredamage

Risks to National Parks as a Result of Climate Change

DROUGHT FLOODING WILDFIRES INVASIVESPECIES

As temperatures rise in Yellowstone National Park, pine beetle

populations are exploding. As the beetles feast, more whitebark pine trees are dying than ever before.

Since pine seeds are a critical source of nutrition for Grizzly bears, the

death of these trees threatens their survival and the larger food chain.

InamodestneighborhoodontheoutskirtsofBakersfield,California,thedrivingrhythmofaZumbaclasspulsesthroughtheairofStiernPark.GemaPerezfoughthardtocleanupthisparknearherhome. Sheloveshercommunityparksandnearbynationalparks,too.StiernParkusedtohostgangs,drugsandtrash.NowkidsplayonthenewplaygroundwhileGemaleadstheirmomsthroughworkouts.They’reallbreathingheavily.

Onaclearday,GemacanseeacrosstheSanJoaquinValley—theSierraNevadatotheeast,theCaliforniaCoastRangestothewest.Butmostdays,allsheseesishaze.“Twoorthreetimesamonththerearepeoplewho

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can’tjoinusforZumbabecauseoftheair,”Gemasays.

Onaclearday,whenGemaandherfamilyvisitnearbynationalparkslikeSequoia,KingsCanyonandYosemite,shecanseethevalley’svastdairies,liketheonewhereherhusbandworks.Shecanseethousandsofacresofalmondsandtangerines,aswellasoilfieldsandrefineries,truck-filleddistributionhubsandheavystreamsoftrafficonInterstate5andHighway99.

Therearen’talotofcleardays.

ThebowloftheSanJoaquinValleycontainssome oftheworstairpollutioninthenation.ItblanketsBakersfieldandCésarE.ChávezNationalMonument.Itrisesintothedeceptivelygreennationalparks thatoverlooktheValley,obscuringscenicviewsandrollingoverthemountainsintoJoshuaTreeNationalParkacouplehundredmilesaway.MostvisitorstoSequoiaandKingsCanyonaremissingupwardof 90milesfromtheviewstheyshouldbeabletoenjoy.

Still, Gema’s family loves to escape to national parks several times a year to play, picnic, hike and camp. “The parks,” she says, “are a place to be free, to breathe clean air. We believe the air is clean because there are so many trees there, so far from the cities. I think a lot of us are wrong in that.”

Amongcities,LosAngeleshasthenation’sworstozonepollution.Attimes,ozonepollutionisevenworseinSequoiaNationalPark,200milesnorth ofLosAngeles.InbetweenliesBakersfield.

GemaandherfamilymovedtoBakersfieldnearlytwodecadesago.Hercommunityistightlyknit.Butitisnonethelessadisadvantagedplacewhereindustriespushintoneighborhoods.Dangerscomeinmanyforms.OneofGema’sdaughterssurvivedanattemptedkidnapping.Herotherdaughterdevelopedasthma.Agriculturalworkerslikeherhusbandfrequentlycomehomefromworkwithredandwateringeyes.

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION

She fought for her neighborhood park. That was just the beginning.Community activist Gema Perez experiences air quality challenges in California’s San Joaquin Valley and nearby national parks

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION14

Gema Perez’s Story

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION 15

“Decision-makerspaylessattentiontoourareas,”Gemanotes.“Wegotoareasthataremoreaffluentandwhiteandweseethedifferences.Thedecision-makers,theyarenotinterested—orarenotaware—oftheconditionsindisadvantagedcommunities.”

Alongsideothermothers,shebeganorganizing tomakehercommunitysaferandhealthierandeventuallyformedtheGreenfieldWalkingGroup.“Weneededtobephysicallyactiveandhaveasafeplacewherewecouldcometogether,”Gemaexplains.Todayhergroupisavitalpartnerinimprovingcommunityhealth.AccordingtoGema,thatincludestheair:“Sometimestheopenairhurtsourthroats.It’ssomethingthatwe’velearnedtodealwith,but weknowit’saffectingus.”

GemahasmetwithherelectedrepresentativesandtestifiedbeforetheCaliforniaAirResourcesBoard,askingforbetterregulations.“Theywerelistening,”shesays.“ButIhavenotseenanychanges,especiallyintheoilindustry.”

SotheGreenfieldWalkingGroupcontinuestopartnerwithlike-minded organizations,encouragingpeoplefromothercommunitiestospeakup,too.Gemasays,“Thatwaytheycanseeweareallexperiencingproblemswithairpollution—fromourcommunitiestoournationalparks.”

Hyperlinks on this and following pages are highlighted in green. For those reading the

printed version, please see the corresponding online pdf at npca.org.

TheTrumpadministrationhasgrosslylimitedpublicprocessandenvironmentalreviewofnewoilandgasleaseswhile

fast-trackingdevelopmentproposals,includingonefromtheBureauofLandManagementinCaliforniathatwouldopen1.6millionnewacrestodrilling.TheproposedplancouldleadtothedevelopmentoffrackingsitesnearYosemite, SequoiaandKingsCanyonNationalParks,CésarE.ChávezNationalMonument,andSantaMonicaMountainsNationalRecreationArea,furtherdegradingairqualityinGema’scommunity. Theadministrationhaslikewiseofferedarecordnumberofleasestodevelop oil and gas, already50percentmoreinitsfirsttwoyears thantheObamaadministrationdidineightyears.ManyleasesareacrossWesternpubliclands,includingintheUintahBasin,anareathatincludesDinosaur National Monument andalreadyexceedsnationalozonestandards.

FromAlaskatoVirginia,newpipelines and relateddevelopmentfuelournationaldependenceonoilandgas.TheproposedAlaskaLiquefiedNaturalGaslinewouldcarryandprocessgasfromtheNorthSlopetosouthcentralAlaska,releasingemissionsthatmaythreatenairqualityinDenali,GatesoftheArcticandLakeClarkNationalParks.ThehighlycontentiousandcontroversialAtlanticCoastPipelineposesdirectthreatstotheBlueRidgeParkwayandtheAppalachianTrail.

Oilandgasproductionemitsmethane,volatileorganiccompounds,nitrogenoxidesandotherpollutantsthatharmourairandexacerbateclimatechange.Theadministration’srollback

of methane pollution ruleswouldincreaseemissionsbymorethan40percent.EvenRoyalDutchShelliscallingontheadministrationtotightenrulesandregulateexistingandfuture methanepollution.Fortunately,statesincludingWyoming,Pennsylvania,Colorado,CaliforniaandNewMexicohaveinitiativestoreducepollutionfromtheoilandgassector.

NPCAistakingastandinthesematterstoholdgovernmentandpollutersaccountablebyengaginginpublicrulemakingsandstatepolicyinitiatives,empoweringcommunitiestospeakupagainstharmfulpolicies,usingstoriesandimagerytoexplaintheriskstoparks,andfilinglegalaction toupholdthelaw.

Solutions: Holding Government Responsible and the Oil and Gas Industry Accountable for its Pollution

Previous Page (Top Left): Gema Perez stands in front of the playground in Stiern Park, Bakersfield, CA ©Mark Rose • (Top Right): Hazy skies over Sequoia National Park, CA ©Haveseen | Dreamstime Right: Oil rigs and drilling infrastructure ©Hanhanpeggy | Dreamstime

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION

Amy Roberts’ Story

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“Lowersnowpackinthewintersimpactstheamountofwaterinriversinthesummers.We’reindroughtconditioninsummeralotearlier.”

ClimatechangeiswhatkeepsAmyupatnight,andnotjustbecauseshe’stheexecutivedirectoroftheOutdoorIndustryAssociation.“Climatechangeimpactsourindustry,”shesays.“Butit’salsoa threattohumanity.Airqualityintheparksisjustonesymptom.”

BackhomeinColorado,thesamepollutionsourcesthatdriveclimatechangearecreatingsmog—it’svisibleinRockyMountainNationalPark,oneofthecountry’smostvisitedparks.Theviewsareoftenobscuredbyairpollutionfromoilandgasdevelop-ment,coalplantsandminingontheFrontRange, aswellasfromnearbyDenver.

“Energydevelopmentdoescreatejobs,butitcanalsobeshort-termorcyclical.Itmaypermanentlyscarthelandscapeandaffecttheviewshed,”Amysays.

“If you preserve these areas for sustainable use like recreation, that returns long-term economic value. The businesses that come to these rural areas to support outdoor recreation are less boom and bust.”

TheOutdoorIndustryAssociationthatAmyleadsrepresentsmorethan1,300businessesnationwide.They’repartofanoutdoorrecreationeconomythatproduces$887billioninconsumerspendingand7.6millionjobs,alotofthatinandaroundnationalparks.

AmyrecentlyheardaninterviewwithaguidefromColoradoMountainSchoolabouthowclimbsliketheonesnearLongsPeakaredependentongoodsnowconditions.Anavidclimber,Amyhasseenforherselftheworseningchangestheguidedescribed.

Shehearsit,too,frombrandambassadorathletessuchasConradAnkerandJimmyChin,recounting,

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTIONPOLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION

TheacridsmellandstinginghazeofwildfiresisnothingnewtoAmyRoberts.ShegrewupontheFrontRangeoftheRockyMountains,andmostrecentlyhasseenandsmelleditoutsideherofficeinBoulder,Colorado.ButtosmellitinOregonwhilehikingMountHoodNationalForest—amuchwetterandmoretemperatearea,nowdrought-stricken—that’snew.Fromthebaseoftheglacier,Amycanseeit,too.Hazeshroudswhatshouldbeanawe-inspiringview.

“It’sprettyclear,thenumberofwildfireswe’reseeingisconnectedtoclimatechange,”Amyobserves.

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Wildfires. Haze. Melting ice. How one industry is affected by air pollution and climate change. The Outdoor Industry Association’s Amy Roberts in Colorado has an insider’s view of recreation, her local national park and consumer activism

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION 17

“They’vebeengoingtotheseparksforyearstoclimbandexploreandreportingbackthatriversaren’trunningashighastheyusedto,snowfieldsandglaciersarereceding.Thosechangesmakeactivitiesmoredangerous.Rockfallismoreprominent,snowfieldsaren’tasstabletoclimbonandparksareclosedduetowildfire.Winterstartslateandendsearly.Whenyoudon’thavethatsnowpack,thenriversaren’tfull,andsummeractivitiesaroundpaddling,raftingandfishingareallimpacted.”

Thelossofrecreationalopportunitiesimpactsmorethanjustguidesandgearsuppliers.Hotels,gearretailersandrestaurantsingatewaycommunitieslikeRockyMountain’sEstesParkareaffected,too.Fewerclimbersmeanfewervisitorsneedingaplacetostayandeat.Fromairpollutiontoshrivelingsnowfieldsandriverstowildfires,boththecausesandthesymptomsofclimatechangeareimpactingOutdoorIndustryAssociationmembersandtheircommunities.

Lookingback,someofAmy’sfavoritechildhoodmemoriescamefromhikingwithherunclesinRockyMountain.Memorieslikehersarenowsharedwidelyonsocialmedia.Socialmediaalsomakesitmucheasierforbrandstoreachconsumers,enablingadialoguethatwasn’tpossiblewhencommunicationwasmoreone-way.

“Ourindustrywasestablishedbycompanieswhosefoundersbelievetheyhavearesponsibilitytothelandscapeandtopreservenationalparksforfuturegenerations.They’rewillingtostepoutandspeakto

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION

theirconsumersaroundtheimportanceofvotingonclimatechangeissues,thenationalmonumentsdebateandaskingtheirrepresentativestoproperlyfundtheNationalParkService,”Amysays.

Sheconcludes,“OurNationalParkSystemissouniquelyAmerican.Cleanairinourparksissomethingweshouldallbeabletorallyaround,bothRepublicansandDemocrats.”

CoalplantsfromNebraskatoTexascontinuetomuddyskiesfromRockyMountaintoBigBendNationalParks.AcrosstheInter-

mountainWest,themassiveenergycompanyPacifiCorpownsmultiplecoalplants,includingHunter and Huntington in Utah.Theseplantsspewclimatepollutionandharmairqualityineightoftheregion’smosticonicnationalparks,includingBryceCanyon,CanyonlandsandArchesNationalParks.InWyoming,PacifiCorp’sDaveJohnson,JimBridgerandWyodakcoalplantsdegradetheairqualityinYellowstoneandGrandTetonNationalParks.

Thesearejustsomeofthepowerplantsharmingparks—parksthatthebusinessesoftheOutdoor

Solutions: Fighting Coal Pollution to Make Way for Clean Energy

IndustryAssociationrelyon.Overthepastseveralyears,NPCAhaslitigatedandnegotiatedwithenergycompaniesandotherstakeholderstoretireandtransitionmorethan25coal-firedpowerplants,makingspaceforcleanenergy.Mostrecently,anagreementbetween NPCA, Sierra Club and the

energy company Entergy resulted in a settlement thatwillbringtwoArkansascoalplants,amongstthedirtiestinthenation,offline.ThiswilldeliverimprovedairqualitytoplaceslikeBuffaloNationalRiverandHotSpringsNationalPark.

NPCAwillcontinuetotakeactionstoreducedirtycoalplantpollutioninsupportofcleanenergybyholdingthegovernmentandpollutersaccountableforcomplyingwithournation’scleanairlaws.

Previous Page (Top Left): Amy Roberts ©Outdoor Industry Association • (Top Right): Chasm Lake on Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO ©John Sternig | Dreamstime Right: Coal-fired power plant ©Jim Parkin | Shutterstock

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There’sastorytheystilltellinthedenseurbanneighborhoodsaroundKenilworthParkandAquaticGardensinWashington,D.C.,aboutaboywhodiedinalandfillthatusedtoloombetweentheaquaticgardensandtheshoreoftheAnacostiaRiver.In1968,whileplayingwithfriendsinthelandfill,theseven- year-oldgotcaughtintheopen-airtrashfiresthatusedtoburnhere.

From1942to1970,blacksmokebillowedoverhomesandschoolsinthelow-incomecommunitiesofcolorthatsurroundedthatlandfill.Thetoxiccloudsblewinthroughopenwindows.

AkiimaPricewasbornnearhere.“Asachild,”sheremembers,“wemovedfromanapartmenttoasuburbantownhousewherepeopleweretryingtomoveupandoutofpublichousing.Therewasadirtfieldbehindourhouse,andweplayedinthatdirtfieldandasewertunnel.Wesawfoambutdidn’tknowitwaswaste.Weplayedandcaughtbutterflies.”

TodaythelandfillisgoneandAkiimaisback,workingasacontractorwiththeNationalParksFoundation.ShehelpsconnectthesurroundingcommunitieswiththebeautifullyrevitalizedaquaticgardensandAnacostiaPark,bothpartofNationalCapitalParks-East.

“Historically, there’s a disconnect between the people and the parks,” she explains. “These communities suffer from pretty jarring statistics around crime and poverty.”

Akiimahasdevelopedpark-basedprogramsthatrangefromreconnectingex-prisonerswiththeirfamiliesto

gospelchoirperformancestoafter-schoolanddaycampsforchildren.Thecampsprovideenvironmentaleducation,fieldtripsandexperientiallearning.Theagendaalsoincludessomethingtoeat.Forsomechildren,itmaybetheironlyfoodoftheday.“Theyputnetsinpondsandseewhat’slivingthere,”Akiimasays.“Ortheyjustcomeandhaveamealandjustbe...”

Butwhilethelandfill’sdriftingsmokeplumesareathingofthepast,theairisstillnotclean.Six-lanehighwayschokeofftheparksandcommunitiesAkiimaisbringingtogether.Overhead,jetstakeofffromanddescendtowardReaganNationalAirport.Freighttrainsrumblebetweenrowhouses.Trucksdownshiftintoindustrialsitesnexttoapartmentsandchurches.

AccordingtoAkiima,whenachildneedsfoodandsafety,concernsaboutairqualityaresecondary. “Thecleanairpartisontheside,”shesays.“Thenaturalexperienceyouhavewhenyoucomeintoagreenspace,that’sthebiggestthing.Alotofpeopleleadstressedlives.Alotofitisgettingoutofyourenvironment,theoptionofasafespace.”

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION

Akiima Price’s Story

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION18

Clean air in parks matters – even when you’re hungry. Organizer Akiima Price knows the realities of connecting underserved communities of color to DC’s urban parks

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION 19

Duringthelasttwoyears,theEPAhasconsistentlylimitedanddowngraded

scienceinpolicymakingandenforce-ment.Theagencyistakingsteps to limit

consideration of peer-reviewed science in developingrules,hamperingtheabilityoffederallandmanagerssuchastheNationalParkServicetoassesstheimpactofpollutiontonationalparks.Meanwhile,theagencyisundercuttingscientificintegritybyremovingscientistsfromairqualityadvisorycommitteesandreviewpanels,replacingthemwithpoliticiansandindustryrepresenta-tives,ordisbandingsomepanelsentirely.Thesescience-drivenadvisorybodiesweredesignedtooperateindependentofpoliticalandcorporateinfluencetoensurethatscience—notpoliticsormoney—governshealthandenvironmentallaws.

TheTrumpadministrationisalsorollingbackrulespreviouslysupportedbyscience.Forexample,EPAisundercuttingpublichealthprotectionsfrommercuryandotherairbournetoxinsby dismantling a rule thatrequirespowerplantstosharplylimittoxicpollution.Industryhascompliedwiththerulesince2016,anditsharplydrovedownmercurypollution.Thispollutioncausesneurologicaldefectsinbabiesandchildrenathighlevels,andatlowerlevels,itcanharmbrain,heart,kidneyandlungfunctionforpeopleofallages.Thesetoxinsalsoacidifyourwaterwaysandharmwildlife.Theagencyhasalsoproposeddelayingimplementationofaruleto

Butaddacompromisedenvironmentontopoffoodinsecurityanddanger,andtogethertheyconspiretomakechildren’slivesexponentiallyharder.Pollutedairmakesaparkunsafeforachildwithasthma,whichoccursathigherratesamongchildrenlivinginpoverty.“Therehavebeentimesthekidswithasthmacan’tcometocampintheparkbecausetheirparentswon’tletthemoutside,”Akiimasays.“Wejustdon’tdocertainthingsinthesummermonthsbecauseoftheheatandairqualityfactor.OnCodeReddayswearenotgoingtohavecamp.”

So,whileitmaybeespeciallyimportantfordisadvan-tagedchildrenandtheirfamiliestogetoutsideandexperiencenature,itisn’talwayshealthyforthemtodo so.

Thehistoryofpollutingactivitiesaroundtheparks inthispartofthecityistypical—pollutersclusterincommunitieswithoutavoice.“Somepeoplegethotandmad,”Akiimasays.“Butmostassumethat’sjustthewayitis.They’resousedtobeingdisrespected.”

Thesolution,shebelieves,startswithbuildingadiversenetworkofpartners,includingtheparks,thepeople,environmentalgroupsandsocialserviceorganizations.Shedescribestheprocess:“Ifwecantakeafamilythat’sworkingwithafoodprogramandconnectthemwithawatershedgroupforarivertrip,theycometoseetheparkastheirfeel-goodplace.Andtheycareaboutwhathappenstoit.”

Asconstituenciesforurbanparksgrow,theythenadvocateforcleanairinthoseparks.Andthatempowersvulnerablecommunitiestoadvocateforcleanairforthemselves.

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION

reducewoodstoveemissionsthatwouldresultin anearly70percentreductioninfineparticlepollutionandvolatileorganiccompounds,despitethefactthatmanufacturersarepoisedtomeetthe2020deadline.

NPCAisbackingfederallegislationinsupportofscientificintegrity,opposingrulesanddirectivesthatlimittheroleofscienceinpolicymaking, andusingourplatformstodemonstratethewayscientistsandsciencearefundamentaltonationalparkprotection.

Solutions: Maintaining Scientific Integrity in Federal Rulemaking

Previous Page (Top Left): Akiima Price in Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Washington DC ©Ismael Gama | NPCA • (Top Right): Summer scene in Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens during Lotus and Water Lily Festival ©krblokhin | iStock • Above (Top Right): Pollution monitors in parks help track air quality ©Phuchit | Dreamstime • (Bottom RIght): Ranger addresses volunteers replanting native longleaf pine trees that are vital to the ecosystem in Big Thicket National Preserve, TX. ©Angela Gonzales | NPCA

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park’sdiversity—oldgrowthrainforests,snow-cappedpeaks,tidepoolsonthebeach.Olympicseemspristine.Buttakingintheviewfromanalpinehillside,henoticeshazeobscuringthedistance.AtnearbyMountRainierNationalPark,heseessignswithinformationonairpollution.

Chrisdidn’tdiscoverhisloveofnaturalplacesuntilcollege.Hisimmigrantparentshadfocusedonworkingtogivetheirchildrenopportunitiesineducationandjobs,notoutdoorrecreation.Butthenacollegebuddyinvitedhimtoafamilycabinnearanationalpark,and he realized,

“You feel at peace with yourself away from the distractions of our modern lifestyles. It’s a chance to connect with friends and myself and unplug from the day to day.” He went on to complete his college degree in finance. But his passion became conservation.

Chrisfollowedhispassionacrossthecountry,servingasanambassadorforTexasStateParks,buildingbridgesandtrailsatCraterLakeNationalPark,andnowworkingfortheNationalParkService’sCulturalLandscapesprograminSeattle.

Onahikewithhisnewworkteam,oneofhisco-workersbringsalongherbabygirlinabackpackcarrier.Thebabylooksaroundatthetrees,cooingandbabbling.ToChris,shesoundsawe-struck—aresponsethathecanrelateto.Histhoughtsturntothefuture:“That’sdefinitelysomethingIwould wanttofosterinmyfamilyoneday.”

Buttheshadowofclimatechangehangsoverthathope.Astheplanetwarmsandecosystemschange,somespeciesarealreadyfacingextinction.Scientistsprojectthatby2030or2040,theglaciersinNorthCascadesandotherparkswillbegone.

Chriswishesthingscouldstayastheyarenowforhisownfuturefamily.“ButIknowtherealityis,it’snot

Anoilrefinery’scomplexmazeofpipesandflarestacksroarontheshoresofthevastPugetSound.BPCherryPointisWashingtonstate’slargestrefinery,emittingfumesasitprocessessomeofthedirtiestcrudeoilfromaroundtheworld.Totheeast,threatened baldeaglessoaraboveNorthCascadesNationalPark.Downthecoast,ChrisLiuhikeswithafriendthroughOlympicNationalPark.

ChrisisonhiswayupfromTexasforanewjob,andhisfriendisalongfortheride.Olympicisthefirstplacethey’vestoppedsincecrossingthestateline.Campinginthebackcountry,Chrisisastoundedbythe

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION

His generation didn’t break the climate. But here’s why he hopes they can fix it. Conservationist Chris Liu looks to the future—his own and for national parks in the Pacific Northwest

Chris Liu’s Story

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POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION 21

By2021,allstatesmustcreatenewplanstocomplywiththeCleanAirAct’sRegionalHazeRule.Theseplansmustdetailhow

polluterswillberequiredtoreducetheiremissionstocleanuphazyskiesinnationalparksandwildernessareasacrossthecountry.Theseemissionreductionsmustoccurby2028,whichisaboutwhentheclimatescientistsontheIntergovern-mentalPanelonClimateChangeestimatewemustsharplylimitpollutiontoavoidtheworsteffectsofclimatechange.

Unfortunately,theEPA’snew,non-bindingdirectivesopendoorsforstatestoignorecontrollableairpollutionbyshiftingblameforairqualitydegrada-tionfromsourceslikecoalplantsandoilandgasdevelopmenttoothersourcesofpollution,suchaswildfiresandinternationalemissions.PassingthebucktoothercountriestoabsolveU.S.pollutersfromaccountabilityisunacceptableandwillresultindirtierairinournationalparks.EPAhasalsostated intentions to “streamline” the process forstatehazeplans,alikelysignalforlimitingpublicinput.Theseactionscouldneedlesslythreatenparkwaters,wildlifeandlandscapesandforeverchangehowpeoplelikeChrisLiuexperiencetheseplaces.

InWashingtonstate,British Petroleum’s Cherry

Point refinery,alreadyacontributortohazeatNorthCascadesandOlympicNationalParks, isexpandingandshouldbeafocusinupcomingstate’shazeplan.Likewise,inNorthDakota, thenewlypermittedDavis refinery threatens TheodoreRooseveltNationalPark’sairquality.

goingtostaythesame,”hesays.“Ifeelbadforotherspecieswhocallthisplacehome.Ifeelbadfortheparks.Butnationalparksaresupposedtobeprotectedatthehighestlevel.They’rethecanaryinthecoalmine.Makesyouwonderhowbadthingsareoutsidetheparkswherethingsaren’tsowell-protected.”

Lessthan100milesfromOlympicandNorthCascades,theBPCherryPointrefineryhasreceivedapermittoexpand.Chrissoonlearnsthatthepermitfailstorequirethebestpollutioncontrolmeasures,whichwouldhavereducedharmfulairpollutionattheparks,nottomentionnearbycommunities.

“Whenyouhavearefinerysoclosethatitharmstheairqualityoftheareabyemittingdangerousfumes,itdoesn’tseemrightthatwewouldallowthattocontinue,letalonegetworse,”Chrissays.“Idon’tlikethatthestateissuedapermittobuildmore—andaffectingmyabilitytoenjoytheparksinthefuture.”

Sometimes,anolderpersonwillapologizetoChrisforleavinghisgenerationaworldthat’sfacingsuchdauntingclimatechallenges.

ButChrisdoesn’tliketopointfingers.“Wejusthavetomoveforwardandtryourbesttofindsolutions,”hesays,anddescribesthepathforward:“Wehavetoacknowledgethatwhatthescientistsaresayingisreal.Beingengagedwithourpoliticalrepresentativesisimportant.Ourgenerationhasnewinnovativeideas.Wehavethedrive—ourkidsandgrandkidscan’tenjoythesamekindofworldifwedon’tdowhatwehavetodotofixit.”

And in California’s Central Valley, industrial agricultureandmanyotherpollutionsourcescontributetosomeoftheworstairinthenation,whichinturncontributestoregionalhazeinsurroundingnationalparks.

Thankfully,theCleanAirActcurrentlyremainsintact,andstatesmustcomplywithit,whichmeansparkpollutionmustbereduced.Becausethesourcesofpollutionthatharmhumanhealth,parkskiesandtheclimateareoftenoneandthesame,statesandstakeholderscouldcreatecomprehensiveplanstotacklemultipleproblemsefficientlywithintheregionalhazeplanningframework.Suchplanscouldmakecoalplantretirementsenforceable,establishsharplimitsonoilandgasemissions,andadvanceothermecha-nismstoreduceairpollutioninClassIairsheds.

NPCAwillcontinueprotectingnationalparksbyidentifyingthesourcesofpollutionharmingparksandadvancingpolicy,technicalandlegalsolutionsformitigatingtheseproblems.

Solutions: Using National Parks as a Catalyst for Pollution Reduction

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION

Previous Page (Top Left): Chris Liu in Washington, DC ©NPCA (Top Right): Summer landscape atop Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park, WA ©Jerryway | Dream-stime Above Right: Diablo Lake in North Cascades National Park, WA ©Galyna Andrushko | Dreamstime

Harriet Tubman’s Story

Therhythmofthetideshasalwaysbeenpartof thedailylivesofthepeopleinthisplace.AmandaFenstermaker,thecounty’sdirectoroftourism,liststhem:“FirsttheNativeAmericans,thentheEurope-ans,thenenslavedAfricansandtheirdescendantslikeHarrietTubman.

So, the landscape holds a deep history and is a natural platform to discuss both cultural and environmental issues.

“But,”sheadds,“weknowanecdotallyfromresidentsthatthelandscapeischanging.”Onethingleadstoanother:Airpollutionleadstoclimatechange,whichleadstosealevelrise,whichleadstoinconvenientlyfloodedroads,thenlossofculturalsitesandeventuallyanentirelandscape—anditshistoryalongwithit.

Somewhereinthislandscape,around1822,HarrietTubmanwasbornintoanenslavedfamily.Shegrewupworking:checkingmuskrattraps,laboringinfieldsandforests,haulingtimberonthecanal.In1849,she

escaped.Travelingmostlyaloneatnight,shemadeittoPhiladelphia.Shesecretlyreturnedhere13timesoverthenext10years,navigatingthemarshes,fieldsandforestsasaconductorontheUndergroundRailroad.Sheriskedherlifetohelpfriends,familyandstrangersescapenorthtofreedom.

DuringtheCivilWar,sheservedtheUnionArmyasanarmedscoutandaspy.Sheledanarmedexpeditionthatliberatedmorethan700enslavedpeople.Afterthewar,shefoughtforwomen’ssuffrageaswellastherightsofminorities,thedisabledandtheaged.

Onehundredandoneyearslater,Congresssetasidesomeofthelandscapesheescapedfrom,designatinganationalparktocelebrateherlegacy.

ForAnnaSierra,awomaninthetypicallymale-dominatedfieldofemergencymanagement,HarrietTubmanrepresentswhatwomencandowhentheytakeituponthemselvestobeempoweredanddotherightthing.SierralikestoeatherlunchinHarrietTubman

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION

OnMaryland’sEasternShore,asweepingexpanse ofmarshlandstretchestomeetthesky.Eachdayasthetiderollsin,watercreepsacrossanincreasingnumberofroads,cuttingoffruralvillages.Intime,thewatersilentlyslipsawaybeforereturningwiththenexthightide.

Twentyyearsago,theseroadswereusuallydry.Today,residentswholiveinsouthernDorchesterCountyplantheirdrivestoworkaroundthetides.Somearedispatchersinthecounty’s911callcenter.“Floodingisawayoflifenow,”saysAnnaSierra, whooncedirectedemergencyserviceshere.

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION22

This is how parts of American history disappear. How climate change is affecting the legacy of Harriet Tubman, the Underground Railroad and a national park’s land-scape on Maryland’s Eastern Shore

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION 23

UndergroundRailroadNationalHistoricalPark.Shelikestositthereandjustbe,absorbingthatinspiration.

“HarrietTubmanisanAmericanhero,”agrees Dr.SacobyWilson,anassociateprofessoranddirectorofcommunityengagement,environmentaljusticeandhealthattheUniversityofMaryland-CollegePark.

Butevenbeforetheparkwascreatedin2014toupholdHarrietTubman’slegacy,risingsealevels hadalreadybeguntofloodtheroadsandthreatenthesitesandlandscapesthattellherstory.

“IfwelosethoseheritagesitesalongtheUndergroundRailroad,”Wilsonwarns,“we’relosingpartofAmericanhistory.Whenweforgetthepast,we’redoomedtoforgettheevilsofthepastandwhatittooktoovercomethem.Thisparkisabeaconforwhatweneedtodayandforourfuture.Wewouldn’tletanyoftheparksthatpreservethehistoryoftheRevolutionaryWardisappear.WeshouldprotecttheHarrietTubmanUndergroundRailroadNationalHistoricParkthesameway.”

DorchesterCountydoeshaveafloodmitigationplan.Ithasidentifiedprojectstoprotectwhat’satriskofbeinglost,fromculturalsitestovulnerablecommu-nities.“Butsadly,”Sierrapointsout,“thoseprojectstakemoney,andDorchesterisprettyimpoverished.We’reverylimitedfromafinancialperspectiveinwhatwecanaccomplish.”

Andso,eachday,thewatercreepshigher.

“Climatechangedoesn’tcauseenvironmentalinjustice.Itrevealsit,”saysWilson.“Wemustinvestinfightingclimatechange,andwemustdoabetterjobofequityindisasterpreparation,responseandrecoverytoprotectpeoplewhodon’thaveavoice.HarrietTubmanfoughtforthemostvulnerable.Byfightingforthispark,we’rehonoringHarrietTubman’sspirit.”

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION

Overthepasttwoyears,theEPAhastakenstridentactionstoadvancetheTrumpadministration’s“energydominance”

agendabydismantlingcommonsenserulestolimitgreenhousegaspollutionfromdirty,outdatedenergysources.In2017,theTrumpadministrationmoved towithdrawtheUnitedStatesfromtheParisAgree-ment—aglobaltreatycommittingnationstoavarietyofmeasures,includingdevelopingrenewableenergy,reducingcarbonemissions,sequesteringpollutionthroughconservationofforests,andbuildingclimateresilience.Fortunately,others aresteppingforwardtomakeupforthisbackwardmove:17individualstatesandover500cities,countiesandtribalcommunitieshavecommittedtomeettheseParisAgreementgoals.

EPA is rolling back regulationsthatplacesoundandnecessarylimitsoncarbondioxidepollutionfromexistingpowerplants,thelargeststationarysourceofclimatepollution,andrepealingrequire-

Solutions: Changing the U.S. Direction on Climate Change

Previous Page (Top Left): Harriet Tubman Statue in Boston, MA ©Heidi Besen | Shutterstock • (Top Right): Eastern Shore Maryland wetland ©Jcmiller73 | Shutterstock Above: Glacier National Park’s Salamander Glacier sits on a ledge above the greatly diminished Grinnell Glacier. 1938 ©T.J. Hileman, courtesy of Glacier National Park Archives 2015 ©Lisa McKeon | USGS

mentsfornewpowerplantstohavethebestemissioncontrols.Theagencyisalsoweakeningnationalstandardsforpollutionfromoilandgasdevelopment,includingmethane,apotentgreenhousegas,andvolatileorganiccompounds,despiteoverwhelmingpublicsupporttocontrolandprofitfromthiswastedgas.TheEPAisguttingcleancarrules—popularwithAmericansandevenvehiclemanufacturers.Thesestandardsaimedtocleanupvehicletailpipepollutionandremovingthemcouldresultin6billiontonsmoreclimate-warmingpollutionintheatmosphereby2025.

NPCAworkstodefendcriticalcleanairandclimatelawslikethese.Wecallonourmembersandsupporterstoengageinpublicpolicymakingprocessesandtellstoriesofhowourparksandpeoplewholovethemarehurtbypollution. NPCAisalsoencouraginglawmakerstokeepourcommitmentstotheParisAgreementaswedemandachangeinournation’sdirectiononclimatepolicy.

PARKS AT RISKThe changing climate poses a threat to the fundamental character of national parks.

Glacier National Park’s glaciers, for instance, are rapidly

melting and are expected to disappear altogether within a few decades.

1938 2015

Solutions for Clean Air and a Healthy ClimateIV

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION 25

Achieving solutions for clean air and a sustainable climate requires all of our participation. Here are some actions national parks are taking:

n TheNationalParkServiceconsistentlymonitorstheairqualityinover350nationalparks.Usingavarietyofmonitoringdevices,theagencytracksozone,thebuildupofsulfurandnitrogeninwatersandsoils, andvisibilityconditionsandtrends.Italsomonitorsotherpollutantssuchasmercuryandothertoxins.Airmonitoringiskeytounderstandinghowpollutionaffectsparksandvisitors.

n TheNationalParkServicestudiestheeconomic, nature, visibility and human health impactsofpollutiononnationalparksandtranslatesitsfindingsintouseableandusefulinformationforthepublic.Forexample,theagencytweets airqualityhealthadvisoriesforcertainparksandexplainshowanimalsshowsymptomsoftoxicmercuryexposure.

n TheNationalParkServicehas participated in and supported robust efforts by NPCA and city transit agencies,to improve publicaccessfortraditionallyunderrepresented,diverse,urbanJamaicaBay-areacommunitiesinNewYorktoGatewayNationalRecreationAreabyincreasingpublictransportationoptions,whichwillinturnreducesingle-usevehicles.

n AtThomasEdisonNationalHistoricalPark,theNationalParkService,withhelpfromNationalParksFoundation, installed electric vehicle charging stations forvisitoruse.

n AtAcadiaNationalPark,thelocalcommunityandparkworkedtogethertoestablishashuttleserviceatthepark.Thisdecreasedmorethan2.5millionprivatevehicletripsattheparkandpreventedmorethan23,000tonsofgreenhousegasesemissionssince1999.

n Threepilotprogramsareunderway,atGrandTeton,YosemiteandDenaliNationalParks,tosubstantiallyreducelandfillwaste.Since2017,theparksandtheirconcessionaireshaveoffsetover9,000millionmetrictonsofgreenhousegasemissionsbydivertingwastefromlandfillsthroughrecycling,compostingandavoideduse.

n InFlorida,theNationalParkServicepartneredwithFloridaPowerandLighttoestablishthe“Everglades

Solar Initiative”inwhichsolarpanelswereinstalledontheSharkValleyVisitorCenterinEvergladesNationalPark.

Right (Top to Bottom): The Homestead Trolley provides free guided rides to Everglades and Biscayne National Parks, FL ©Al Diaz | NPCA • Electric car charging station at Ernest Coe Visitor Center in Everglades National Park, FL ©John Adornato II | NPCA • Children take part in citizen science project, Gateway National Recreation Area, NY ©Ed Lefkowicz • Community efforts in reducing waste at Denali National Park as part of the Zero Landfill Initiative, AK ©Denali Education Center

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION26

Left (Top to Bottom): NPCA advocates on Capitol Hill for Spring 2019 Lobby Day ©NPCA • Bike rider at Golden Gate National Recreation Area, CA ©Pniesen | Dreamstime • Residential solar installation ©Luckydoor | Dreamstime • East Central High School service-learning weekend in Big Bend National Park with NPCA, TX ©Chloe Crumley | NPCA

6. Write an op-ed or letter to the editor demandingEPAreturntoitsmissioninserviceoftheenvironmentandpublichealthbyabandoning roll-backs,implementingtheClean AirActandadvancingregulationstostaveofftheworstofclimatechange.

7. Lookforopportunitiesinyourday-to-daylifetocarpool, walk, bike, or take a bus or train instead ofdriving.

8. Consider installing solar panels onyourhomeandsupportingNPCAatthe same time!

9. Get involved with NPCAbyattendinga civic voice workshop, becomingamemberorvolunteeringwithus.

10. Vote!

1. Write to Congress and tell them torightthedirectionofournationalairandclimatepoliciesandholdEPAaccountabletoitsmissiontoprotectpublichealthandtheenvironment.

2. Urge local, state and federal government representatives to return to the tenets oftheParis Agreement andspeedupthetransitionawayfromcoalandgastorenewableenergy.

3. Call New Mexico’s governor toencourageherstate’snewefforts toreducemethanepollutionfrom oilandgasdevelopmentandask Utah’s governortojointhegrowinglistofstatesaddressingthisclimateproblem.

4. Submit written comments on proposedstateandfederalrulemakings,speakingoutforparkprotection,cleanairandahealthyclimate.Join NPCA’s email list tolearnaboutopportunities.

5. Testify at a public hearing onastateorfederalruletotellyour storyofwhycleanairandahealthyclimatemattertoyou.Follow NPCA on social media to learn aboutopportunities.

Achieving solutions for clean air and a sustainable climate requires all of our participation.

Here are 10 actions you can take to protect national parks:

Resources and Analytical Methods

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION

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The national park air and climate analysis in this report relies on data from a variety of studies regarding park conditions.

Hazy Skies

VisibilitydataarefromtheNationalParkService.Theagencycalculateditsvisibilityestimatesbyaveragingdatabetween2012and2016fromeachvisibilitymonitoringsitewithatleastthreeyearsofcompleteannualdata.Usingthesedata,theanalysisevaluateshowfaryoucanseeinnationalparkswithouthazepollutionversusactualairqualityconditionsfrom2012to2016.The“floor”isthestateofnaturalvisibility.Itiscomparedagainstathree-yearaverageofmonitoredvisibilitydata.Whethervisibilityonaparticulardayislittle to no concern, moderate concern or a significant concerndependsonthedifferencebetweenthefloorandthemonitoredvisibilitydata.

Adeciview(dv)isthemeasurementforhowfarout youcansee.Ifasourceofpollution,suchasacoal-firedpowerplant,isresponsibleformorethan1dvofairqualitydegradation,itissaidto“cause”visibilityimpairment.However,apollutingsourcemaybepartiallyresponsibleforhazyskiesforcontributionsof0.1dvofimpairmentorlower.Ifthedifferencebetweenthefloorandthemonitoreddataisgreaterthan8dvbetweenanaveragedayandahazyday,itislistedassignificant concern;between2and8dvisamoderate concern;andlessthan2dvislittle to no concern. ThisisdetailedinNPS’sAirQualityAnalysisMethodsdocument.

Unhealthy Air

TheNationalParkServicecompilesinformationaboutthelevelsofozone—alsoknownassmog—intheparks.

Theagencyusesinterpolationtoassesssomeparkunitsbecausetheagencydoesn’thaveairmonitorsatalloftheparks.Theagencyusesdistanceweightingofdataineffortstorepresentparksthatdonothavemonitoringdata.Forparkswithoutamonitor,theagencydescribesimpactsas“trends.”Whereparkshaveamonitor,impactsaredescribedas“conditions.”

ThisreportusestheNationalParkService’sinterpo-lationtoestimatethefive-yearaveragefourth-highestmaximumeight-houraverageozoneconcentrationsinpartsperbillion(ppb),astandardmeasurethathasbeendevelopedtoreflectthelevelofthreattohumanhealth.TheEPAfinalizedthemostrecentnationalambientairqualitystandardforozoneof70ppbin2015—meaningthatifozonelevelsareabovethoseconcentrations,ozoneisdeemedunhealthyaccordingtoarobustbodyofscience.Forourhealthanalysis,ifthefive-yearaveragevalueisgreaterthanorequalto71ppbitislistedassignificant concern;between55and70isamoderate concern;andlessthanorequalto54islittle to no concern. This is detailed in the NationalParkService’sAirQualityAnalysisMethodsdocument.ThisapproachcomesfromEPA’sAirQualityIndex,andtheNationalParkServiceusesthesamecutpointsasEPA.

Harm to Nature

Naturedataisbasedoninformationregardingozoneandnitrogenandsulfurwetdeposition.Theozonemetricmeasureshowozoneaffectsvegetation,givingheavierweighttothelevelsofozonemostlikelytoaffectplantsaswellasthetimeswhenthatdamage

islikelytooccur(e.g.,duringthedayandduringthegrowingseason).Thismetricisbetteratestimatingtheharmtovegetationthanthehumanhealthstandard.Nitrogenandsulfurwetdepositionaremeasuresofhowmuchofthesepollutantsaredepositedontothegroundwhentheyarewashedoutoftheairbyrain,snow,orotherprecipitation.Highlevelsofwetdepositionofthesepollutantscancauseacidification,over-fertiliza-tion,andotherchangestosoilandwaterchemistry;thesechangescanaffectthenumberandtypeofplantsandanimalsthatareabletosurviveinthearea.

Theratingisasummarycompilationofthesethreedatasetsandreflectstheworstratingoftheparkinanyofthesethreecategories.Forexample,iftheparkislistedassignificantconcernfornitrogenwetdeposition,butmoderateconcernforsulfurwetdepositionandozone,itislistedassignificantconcernfornature.

Effects of Climate Change

Climatedatainthisreportcomesfromthreestudiesdealingwithclimatechangeinnationalparks.Twostudiesincludemeasuresoftemperatureandprecipi-tationrelativetohistoricconditions(seeResourcessection*).Athirdstudy,looksattwometricsrelatedtoearlyspringonsetcondition—firstleafindexandfirstbloomindex—inrecentyearsascomparedtohistoricconditions.

Aparkislistedassignificant concernifastatisticallysignificantorextremetemperatureorprecipitationtrendorspringonsetconditionisidentifiedinanyofthethreestudies.Becausethethreestudiesusedifferentmetricsandyearsofdata,theratingsreflectthefindingshowingtheworstimpactsofclimatechangeatagivenpark.Thisassessmentfollowstherubricusedintwoofthethreestudiesassessingexposuretoclimatechangeinthatametricisconsideredextremeifrecentconditionsaregreaterthanthe95thpercentile

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION28

Analytical Methods

orlessthanthe5thpercentileofhistoricconditions;ifalessextremechangewasnoted(75-95thpercentileor5-25thpercentile),theconditionislistedasmoderate concern.

No Data

Thisreportassessesallavailabledatalistedaboveforall417nationalparksassessed.However,therearesomedatagapsforsomeparks.Therearethreereasonsforparkshaving“nodata”:interpolationonlyworksforthecontiguousUnitedStates,limitingtheabilitytoassessislandandAlaskaparks;therewerenodataprovidedfortrails;andahandfulofnewerparksdonothavedatabecausedatacollectionprocessespredatedparksbeingaddedtosystem.

Ratings

Weassignedlevelsofconcernforeachparkbasedonthecriteriadescribedabovewithineachofthefourcategories:harmtonature,hazyskies,unhealthyairandeffectsofclimatechange.Thesummaryfigureof96percentreflectsthedegreeofharmfromairpollutionandclimatechangeacrossallofthe417nationalparksassessed,indicatingthehighestleveltowhichanyoneissuerisesatthepark-e.g.,ifaparkisrankedasbeingofsignificant concerninanyonecategory,thatparkisincludedasbeingofsignificant concern in the summaryfigure.

Ouranalysisusesthemostrecentlyavailabledatatorepresentcurrentconditions.Thedamagedescribedtoplants,animals,humanhealthandavarietyofothernaturalandculturalresourcesishappeningrightnow,acrossourparks.Thereporthighlightspresentdayconcernsfacingnationalparksandourcommunities,demonstratingboththeneedandopportunitytoachievecleanairandahealthyclimate.

For a complete listing of national park ratings, please visit https://www.npca.org/pollutedparks.

POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION

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Acknowledgements

Front Cover: Visitor enjoys view in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO ©Margaret619 | Dreamstime Page 2: Visitors enjoy scenery in Grand Canyon National Park ©Mykola Lukash | Dreamstime Page 3: Bald Eagle in Grand Teton National Park, WY ©Sburel | Dreamstime Page 4: Solar panels outside visitor center in Grand Canyon National Park ©JeffGoulden | iStock Page 6: Young child on boulder in Joshua Tree National Park, CA ©Zeljkokcanmore | Dreamstime Page 7 (Bottom Photos) Sequoia Trees in Sequoia National Park, CA ©Hot Shots Worldwide | Dreamstime • George Washington’s winter headquarters at the Valley Forge National Historical Park, PA ©Delmas Lehman | Dreamstime • Gettysburg National Military Park and Battlefield, PA ©Refocus | Dreamstime Page 8: Hiker in North Cascades National Park, WA ©Galyna Andrushko | Dreamstime Page 10: (Top infographic): Sequoia National Park, CA ©Paffy1969 | Dreamstime • Joshua Tree National Park, CA ©Welcomia | Dreamstime • Mojave National Preserve, CA ©William Silver | Shutterstock • Kings Canyon National Park, CA ©Zabphotographie | Dreamstime (Bottom Infographic - Left to Right): Runner ©Mimagephotography | Dreamstime • Fishing ©Feverpitched | Dreamstime • Bicyclists ©Tom Wang | Dreamstime • Girl with asthma ©Wavebreakmedia Ltd | Dreamstime Page 12 (Top): Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN ©NPCA Infographic (Top): Los Angeles skyline, CA ©melpomen | 123rf (Bottom): Vista point at Moro Rocks in Sequoia National Park, CA ©Maria Feklistova | Dreamstime Page 13: Top (Left): Whitebark Pine cones ©Andrei Gabriel Stanescu | Dreamstime • (Right): Grizzly Bear ©Dennis Donohue | Dreamstime Bottom (Left to Right): Drought stricken Eleanor Lake on Sylvan Pass, Yellowstone National Park ©Henryturner | Dreamstime • The Potomac River at Great Falls, MD ©3000ad | Dreamstime • Kudzu ©Jerry Whaley | Dreamstime Page 24: Enjoying water sports at Gateway National Recreation Area, NY ©Michel Falco Page 27: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN ©Nickolay Khoroshkov | Dreamstime Page 29: Solar panels on the Visitor’s Center in Zion National Park, UT ©Jim Parkin | Dreamstime Page 30: Green city powered by renewable energy sources ©Adrian825 | Dreamstime This Page: Gateway National Recreation Area, NY ©Michael Falco Back Cover: Grand Teton National Park, WY ©Snehitdesign | Dreamstime

Remaining photos are identified on their corresponding pages.

StephanieKodish,Primary authorUllaReeves,Contributing authorNathanMiller,Data analystAngelaGonzalesContributing authorJenniferErrick,Editor KristinHenderson,Stories authorKelleyAlbert, Designer

©May2019POLLUTED PARKS: HOW AMERICA IS FAILING TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PEOPLE AND PLANET FROM AIR POLLUTION

Credits

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