MAINE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS • November 13, 2020
Moments ago, Secretary David Bernhardt announced that the Interior Department would issue new orders that will impose unnecessary, top-down requirements that will potentially delay the National Park Service’s ability to address its over $5 billion backlog of land acquisition needs. In reaction, Phil Francis, Chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, explained: “By large, bipartisan margins, Congress voted to pass the Great American Outdoors Act and fully fund the highly popular Land and Water Conservation Fund. Interior Sec. David Bernhardt’s latest efforts to sabotage the successful implementation of LWCF by not adequately addressing the National Park Service’s land acquisition backlog - and adding additional layers of bureaucracy - is an unconscionable violation of Congress’ intent.