** Reopened national parks cause concern about coronavirus spike
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Monday, May 18, 2020
Yellowstone National Park, National Park Service ([link removed])
Over the past week, some of America's most popular national parks have reopened their gates after being closed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Zion ([link removed]) , Grand Canyon ([link removed]) , and Yellowstone ([link removed]) national parks have started to reopen to the public, while others, including Canyonlands and Arches ([link removed]) , are preparing to open by the end of May. Many are concerned that the risks that caused parks to close in the first place have not been sufficiently mitigated. Gateway communities are still at risk for coronavirus outbreaks, and it is unknown
([link removed]) whether park employees have been given enough protective equipment to keep them safe. In a letter to the heads of the National Park Service and Interior Department on Friday, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raúl Grijalva stated ([link removed]) , "Evidently, the safeguards the NPS has implemented to protect employee and visitor safety at reopened sites are wholly insufficient to protect public health."
On the first day the Grand Canyon reopened, there were two dozen people ([link removed]) crowded at overlooks on the South Rim by 7:30am. Opening days in Zion saw over 4,000 visitors ([link removed]) , many traveling from other states. By reopening parks, often without restrictions that limit crowding, there are serious concerns about the impact on park employees, gateway communities, and visitors.
** Virtual public hearings insufficient for tribal communities
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On Friday, the Bureau of Land Management held the second of several virtual public hearings ([link removed]) , this one regarding oil and gas drilling near Chaco Canyon. Many commenters protested both ([link removed]) oil and gas development in the park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as the online process. From New Mexico to Alaska, tribal groups affected by the BLM's actions often do not have enough WiFi access to participate, effectively cutting them out of the process.
Quick hits
** Drought and coronavirus could make wildfire season even more challenging
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Deseret News ([link removed]) | Associated Press ([link removed])
** National park reopenings raise fears of coronavirus outbreaks
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The Guardian ([link removed]) | NPR ([link removed]) | The Hill ([link removed]) | Associated Press ([link removed]) | Moab Sun News ([link removed])
** Public hearings on Zoom have Native Americans worried they won't be heard on oil projects
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Washington Post ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed]) | Durango Herald ([link removed]) (opinion)
** Trump administration gutted offshore oil and gas air standards
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E&E News ([link removed])
** David Bernhardt's corruption is still happening
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Slate ([link removed])
** Fears rise of 'serious consequences' from oil storage crunch
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E&E News ([link removed])
** Opinion: Colorado public lands are there for us when we need them most
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Grand Junction Daily Sentinel ([link removed])
** Opinion: Franklin Roosevelt Put Young People Back to Work. Let’s Do It Again.
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New York Times ([link removed])
Quote of the day
While our nation deals with the impacts from COVID-19, it has become more apparent than ever how much we rely on our open spaces and access to clean air and the wonders of the outdoors.”
—Paul Knaysi, Grand Junction Daily Sentinel ([link removed])
Picture this
** @NatlParkService ([link removed])
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#RecreateResponsibly ([link removed]) Find more graphics related to NPS COVID-19 response and social distancing at [link removed] ([link removed])
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