Quigley Concludes Climate Change Tour of Denali, Re-Introduces Reducing Waste in National Parks Act
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), Co-Chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), concluded his Eight Climate Change Tour of Denali National Park and Preserve by re-introducing his Reducing Waste in National Parks Act. Quigley led four members on a three-day tour of the Park, during which they learned about the significant impacts of climate change on Denali and all of Alaska. Quigley’s Reducing Waste in National Parks Act will help preserve our National Parks by restoring Obama-era guidance banning the sale of single-use plastic water bottles in national park facilities, where possible.
“One thing that my visit to Denali has taught me is that every step we can take to preserve our National Parks is worthwhile. I have advocated for reinstating a ban on single-use plastic bottles in our parks since the Trump administration ended this common-sense waste reduction measure. While I am pleased that the Department of Interior under President Biden has announced a plan to phase out single-use plastics over the next ten years, we need to codify this measure to ensure it remains the law of the land regardless of who is in the White House,” said Quigley. “Congress has a responsibility to do everything in our power to ensure that our national treasures will still be around for future generations to enjoy.”
"Single-use plastic has no place in our national parks. Plastic pollution detracts from the beauty and history of the parks, and there's no need for it when sustainable alternatives exist. Single-use plastics can last for centuries despite being used for only a few seconds," said Christy Leavitt, Campaign Director at Oceana. "We applaud Rep. Mike Quigley for his commitment to plastic-free parks and taking meaningful action to keep this persistent pollutant out of treasured places. Plastic is pervasive and found in every corner of the world — our national parks should be plastic-free.”
During his Climate Change Tour of Denali, Quigley and Representatives Ted Lieu (CA-36), Katie Porter (CA-47), Sean Casten (IL-06), and Kim Schrier (WA-08) saw the impacts of climate change on our National Parks firsthand and learned from the National Park Service about the tactics they have deployed to combat the effects of climate change and the measures that could be implemented going forward to help adapt to coming climate impacts. The Reducing Waste in National Parks Act is just one federal initiative that will help these experts in their mission to preserve our nation's precious natural treasures.
Photos and videos from Quigley’s Climate Change Tour in Denali are available HERE.
In 2017, the Trump administration reversed Obama-era guidelines that allowed the National Park Service to ban the sale of single-use plastic water bottles in parks where possible. As a result of the original ban on plastic water bottles, 23 out of 417 national parks implemented restrictions on bottled water sales and National Parks experienced real success in reducing plastic waste. Zion National Park in Utah eliminated the sale of 60,000 water bottles, or 5,000 pounds of plastic waste, by installing bottle-filling stations and selling affordable reusable bottles in their concession stands. Last year, the Department of Interior announced a ten-year plan to phase out the use of single-use plastics on public lands. Quigley has urged the Department to move as swiftly as possible to implement that phase-out.