Help Defend Funding for Trails!

Recreational trails funding from the federal transportation bill is critical for creating and caring for the country’s trails. But right now these programs are in serious trouble. Please call your U.S. Representative TODAY and urge them to defend funding for trails, walking, and biking.

Over in the Senate, the Environment and Public Works Committee has already approved a transportation bill that would essentially eliminate the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) by stripping the program of its dedicated funding.

This week the House of Representatives' Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will review another version of the transportation bill, called the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act. While the House bill would protect RTP funding, it would still seriously jeopardize bike and pedestrian programs such as the Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to Schools, despite their benefits to our health, air quality, and local economies.

Take Action: Please call your Representative TODAY with these simple messages:

• Please ensure that funding for the Recreational Trails Program remains in the “American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act.”
• Please support dedicated funding for biking and walking programs including the Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to Schools.
• Tell your Representative why trails — and the ability to bike or walk — are important to you!
  

Then please email us at conservation@outdoors.org to let us know you’ve called.

Tell Your Legislators to Protect Maine’s North Woods!

We continue to push back against efforts in the Maine legislature to weaken the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC), which oversees planning and development for Maine's 10 million-acre North Woods. While the legislature tried unsuccessfully to abolish LURC in their last legislative session, they instead created a study committee to review LURC. The committee’s report (PDF) has several bad provisions – one which allows county commissioners to appoint themselves as LURC Commissioners without legislative confirmation, and another that allows counties to “opt-out” of LURC. Both provisions undermine the effectiveness of LURC’s oversight of Maine’s North Woods.

The AMC strongly opposes these provisions but we need your HELP! Please contact your legislator TODAY and tell them that you want the North Woods protected against inappropriate development so that future generations can continue to hike, paddle, and recreate in this special part of Maine!

Take Action: Call or email your legislators and ask them to protect the North Woods from poorly planned development by opposing efforts to weaken LURC. The legislature should retain the ability to confirm new LURC commissioners, and counties should not be able to opt-out from LURC’s jurisdiction. Tell them that you really care about Maine’s North Woods and want to see that it remains intact for wildlife, sustainable forestry, and recreation – not carved up by piecemeal development.

For more information, contact AMC’s Maine Policy Associate Lindsay Bourgoine at lbourgoine@outdoors.org or (207)-899-0150.

Help Keep NJ in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

In three years, New Jersey generated nearly $52 million for clean energy projects by participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). For outdoor places and people who enjoy them, cleaner energy means less air pollution impacting natural areas and our lungs.

Yet New Jersey Governor Chris Christie wants to pull out of RGGI despite its many benefits to our health and the outdoors.

Please help keep New Jersey on a course for cleaner air by contacting your state legislators and urging them to keep New Jersey in RGGI.

RGGI is an important and effective 10-state initiative to reduce carbon pollution from power plants in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. It has also generated more than $778 million for clean energy investments throughout the region. In New Jersey alone nearly $30 Million in RGGI funds has been spent for zero-interest loans for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Pulling out of RGGI would end this funding in NJ and undermine state and regional progress toward cleaner air.

Please email your legislators today.

Learn more about RGGI >>

Power Line Threatens The Delaware Water Gap

Have you ever spent time hiking on the Appalachian Trail from AMC's Mohican Outdoor Center to Sunfish Pond and stopped to take in the amazing view from Raccoon Ridge? That view is in jeopardy because of a proposed high-voltage power line (known as the Susquehanna-Roseland Transmission Line).

The National Park Service took a big step in protecting this view and all the special qualities of the Delaware Water Gap by clearly stating in its draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that the project would have detrimental impacts if it is built as planned.

Please join AMC in opposition to the line by submitting comments or attending a public hearing. Help us protect the Delaware Water Gap and the Mohican Outdoor Center. Learn more about the project >>

TAKE ACTION
Will you join us in protecting the Delaware Water Gap? Support the National Park Service’s (NPS) conclusion that the Susquehanna-Roseland power line will have detrimental impacts and should not be built through the park! Comments are due to the NPS by January 31, 2012.

• Speak out at a public hearing on January 24th, 25th, or 26th. Find the times and locations on the National Park Service’s website.

• Submit comments online by January 31st, 2012.

Read more about AMC's efforts in the Mid-Atlantic Highlands >>

NH Residents: Tell Congress to Support the Androscoggin Headwaters

Congress is currently making decisions on the 2012 budget for national conservation programs, which includes funding for the Androscoggin Headwaters protection project in and around Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge in northern New Hampshire.

The 31,300-acre Androscoggin Headwaters property is one of the largest unprotected ownerships remaining in New Hampshire. Funding this year will help the US Fish & Wildlife Service purchase 4,532 acres within the Refuge, and permit the State of New Hampshire to acquire a permanent working forest conservation easement over an adjacent 12,627 acres of commercial timberland.

Protection of this property will help to diversify and balance northern New Hampshire’s tourism and timber economies, which are based on the enjoyment and careful management of our abundant natural resources.

The project will also ensure permanent public access for hiking, birding, fishing, and other traditional recreation activities.

Take Action
NH Residents: write a letter to Senators Shaheen and Ayotte and Representative Bass. It’s simple and easy, and your voice counts to support New Hampshire’s outdoor heritage.

Petition the White House to Support the Outdoors

Now is the time to speak up for protecting the land, water and trails you love. Given the uncertainty of the federal budget situation, we need to make sure that the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which is funded through oil and gas drilling revenues, not taxpayer dollars, remains intact. LWCF is the most important source of funds for protecting outdoor recreation areas like the New England National Scenic Trail, the White Mountain National Forest, the Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, and the Highlands of PA, NJ, CT and NY.

Now there is a new way to show support for LWCF and the outdoor places it helps to protect. The White House has created “We the People,” a new online feature to petition the White House for action. Please sign the LWCF petition and ask the White House to act to ensure full, dedicated, and permanent funding for LWCF. The goal is to get 25,000 individual signatures by December 16, 2011. This is very doable if we all take a few minutes and get friends and family to act NOW!

Through the LWCF, up to $900 million of the $6 billion in annual revenue from offshore oil and gas drilling leases is supposed to be spent on protecting America's special places, creating state and local parks, and conserving working forest lands. Unfortunately, LWCF funds have been increasingly diverted from their intended uses.

Take Action: Sign the petition and forward this to your friends (anyone over 13 years old can sign).
1. Go to the petition on the We the People site.
2. Scroll down and click on “Create an Account” and fill in the form.
3. Follow directions and you’ll receive a confirmation email.
4. Go back to the web page and sign the petition.

Read more about the places your action will help protect >>

That’s it! And thanks.

Northeast Senators Stand Up for Clean Air and a Healthy Outdoors

Last week, an overwhelming majority of Northeast and Mid-Atlantic U.S. Senators voted for clean air and a healthy outdoor environment when they defeated a resolution that would have overturned the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule.

The Northeast can suffer from poor air quality when winds deliver pollutants across state borders to our coastal and mountain regions. This rule will help downwind states meet clean air standards by targeting power plant pollution from upwind states.

AMC research has shown that even healthy hikers suffer declining lung function when they breathe polluted air, in part because when people exercise they breathe more air.

It is very important to let our Senators know we appreciate their vote, and urge them to continue to prioritize clean air and a healthy outdoor environment.

Below is the list of Senators who voted for clean air. Please take a moment to call and thank your Senators for their NO vote on S.J. Resolution 27, and their support for clean air and healthy outdoor recreation. Ask them to continue to defend our air quality. You can call through the Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224 3121.

• Collins (R-ME) Snowe (R-ME)
• Shaheen (D-NH) Ayotte (R-NH)
• Leahy (D-VT) Sanders (I-VT)
• Kerry (D-MA) Brown (R-MA)
• Lieberman (ID-CT) Blumenthal (D-CT)
• Reed (D-RI) Whitehouse (D-RI)
• Schumer (D-NY) Gillibrand (D-NY)
• Lautenberg (D-NJ) Menendez (D-NJ)
• Casey (D-PA)
• Carper (D-DE) Coons (D-DE)
• Mikulski (D-MD) Cardin (D-MD)

Will Sunday Recreation Change in PA?

Pennsylvania has a long tradition of promoting outdoor recreation, including hiking, paddling and hunting. Since 1873, Pennsylvania has limited hunting to Monday through Saturday, creating a tradition supportive of all outdoor recreation pursuits. That may change though, as the state legislature is now considering a bill that would amend Chapter 34 of the Pennsylvania code and allow the Game Commission to extend hunting to Sundays.

The current arrangement allows all recreationists to enjoy Pennsylvania’s public lands year-round. Changing this approach may discourage many people across Pennsylvania from exploring our cherished outdoor spaces during game season. As many state legislators are on the fence as to whether or not they should support changing the 138-year old restriction on Sunday hunting, now is the time to weigh in.

Take Action: The bill, HB 1760, is currently in the Game and Fisheries Committee, but could move out of committee at any time. Call your state Senator and Representative to express your views on changing Pennsylvania’s 138-year old tradition and allow hunting on Sundays.

Find contact information for your state Senator and Representative >>

Clean Air is Worth Fighting For!

Post on Senator Scott Brown's Facebook page, asking him to "Vote NO on S.J. Resolution 27 and stand up for the health of Massachusetts families and the beautiful outdoor lands we value so much." Here in Massachusetts, we value healthy forests, lakes & streams, and clear mountain views. But when upwind power plants spew out air pollution, Massachusetts gets the acid rain, haze pollution, and ozone that can foul our waters, block mountain views, and damage our lungs. EPA is working to solve these problems with the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) that will require upwind states to clean up at no cost to Massachusetts. Learn more >>

Comment on the New Plan for Middlesex Fells

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is seeking public comment on the Middlesex Fells Draft Resource Management Plan. The plan will establish policies and guide future decisions about trails, allowable recreational uses, and natural resource protection.

Now is the time for everyone who visits the Fells and enjoys its many diverse features to share their thoughts on the draft proposals. Comments are due November 14. Read more about the Fells and the Resource Management Plan>>

TAKE ACTION
Review and discuss the plan with friends and colleagues, and send your comments to DCR by November 14th. Comments may be submitted via email to rmp.comments@state.ma.us or by mail to Fells Trail Comments, 136 Damon Road, Northampton, MA, 01060.

Speak Out about NH's Outdoors!

Now is your chance to speak out about the future of outdoor recreation in New Hampshire. On October 5 and 6, NH Listens will be holding listening sessions across the state to allow citizens to share their thoughts on the challenges, opportunities, issues, and needs relating to local and state outdoor recreation. The citizen input from these sessions will be used to develop priorities and guide recreation spending for the NH Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), which is currently under revision by the State.

What do you love about NH's outdoor recreation opportunities? What could be improved, and how? Share your knowledge, personal experiences, and ideas to help inform the priorities and policies of the people and agencies managing these resources. Click here for more information.

The future of your favorite recreational activities is in many ways driven by this process. Please attend and be heard.

Take Action
NH Outdoor Recreation Conversations: October 5, 2011, 5:30–8:30 pm

All sites will be open at 5 pm and a light dinner will be provided. All sites are handicapped accessible. Registration is required. Click here to register.

North Country: Berlin—White Mountains Community College

Mt. Washington Valley: Conway—Conway Library

Seacoast: Portsmouth—Portsmouth Library

Merrimack Valley: Manchester—Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester

Lake Sunapee Region: West Lebanon—Kilton Public Library

Monadnock Region: Keene—Keene Recreation Department

NH Outdoor Recreation Conversations: October 6, 2011, 5:30–8:30 pm

Lakes Region : Laconia—Laconia Senior Center

Learn About Draft Plan for Middlesex Fells Reservation at Sept. 14 Meeting

After six months of public meetings and comments, next week the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is set to release the draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the 2500-acre Middlesex Fells Reservation just north of Boston. The draft plan will serve as the guide for recreation and natural resource management at the Fells.

DCR is slated to present an overview of the plan’s contents and recommendations at a public meeting in Medford on September 14. After the meeting, the full draft plan will be available to the public on the DCR website for a 60-day comment period.

If you enjoy the Fells and care about its resources, we urge you to participate in the planning process, since it will determine the future management of this unique urban treasure.

Take Action: Attend the public meeting on September 14 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm to hear about the plan for the Fells.
Where: McGlynn School Auditorium,
3001 Mystic Valley Parkway, Medford, MA
Click here for directions.

Follow Up: DCR will accept written comments on the draft plan for a period of 60 days following the meeting. Comments may be submitted via email to rmp.comments@state.ma.us or by mail to Fells Trail Comments, 136 Damon Road, Northampton, MA, 01060.

Read more about trails and resource planning at the Fells, including AMC's past comments >>

Land for Maine's Future is Out of Money

In July, the Land for Maine's Future (LMF) Board committed all remaining conservation, recreation and farm dollars from the 2010 bond package. Now, there is no more money available for future projects or for the fifteen projects that received zero dollars during this last round.

For more than two decades, LMF has benefited the state's long-term economic health by conserving such key assets as working farms, forests, and waterfronts, as well as significant tourism and recreation sites all across Maine.

Despite many efforts over the past legislative season, no bond package was formulated. Next year, the Legislature will again consider whether to approve a bond package. It's essential to future land conservation efforts to have a bond package that includes substantial funding for LMF.

Maine Residents: Take Action!
With the session over, now is a great time to contact your legislators and invite them for a walk at a local LMF funded property. View a map of these projects >>
If you can’t take a walk, please call or e-mail your legislators. You can let them know:

The Land for Maine’s Future program has an outstanding record of success in protecting Maine’s natural legacy.

• The Land for Maine's Future program (LMF) has conserved lands in each of Maine's 16 counties.
• LMF provides an economic boost by conserving working farms and forestlands.
• LMF has guaranteed public access to hundreds of thousands of acres and dozens of water bodies.
• LMF has secured mountain summits, salt marshes, rivers, lakes, ponds, and coastal shorelines.
• LMF addresses the diverse interests of Maine citizens – those who fish, hike, farm, raft, bike, boat, hunt, snowmobile, and camp – in short, all who value the rich natural heritage that is Maine.
  

Land for Maine's Future program has a history of broad, bi-partisan support.

• More than 59% of Maine voters supported the 2010 ballot initiative.
• Democratic and Republican legislators have consistently shown strong support for LMF.
  

Speak Out For Cleaner Air

When we get out for a hike, bike, paddle or other exercise, we deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing we are breathing fresh, clean air. Yet, even rural mountains such as Mt. Monadnock in New Hampshire or Shenandoah National Park in Virginia can experience ozone concentrations as high as those found in urban areas.

Unfortunately, ozone — a component of smog — is a particularly troublesome pollutant for those pursuing outdoor recreation. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers those exercising a “sensitive group” since we breathe greater volumes of air, and breathe more deeply when exercising. As a result, recreationists are warned to limit outdoor activities during high ozone events, which happen several times each summer. In order to protect public health and our environment, when the issue of tightening national ozone standards is at hand we need to speak up.

Now is the time for President Obama to speak up for clean air and support the most protective new ozone standard under consideration: 60 parts per billion for health and 7 parts per million-hours for the environment.

If you agree and value clean air in the mountains and in your backyard, President Obama needs to hear from you TODAY!

TAKE ACTION: Call President Obama today at 202-456-1111 or reach out to him via Facebook or Twitter using our sample posts below. Urge him to support healthy outdoor exercise by issuing a strong ozone standard.

Post on the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s Facebook page.

Sample Facebook Post: Mr. President - As a recreationist I urge you to support strong ozone standards. I value getting outside to recreate, especially in the summer, but when ozone pollution is too high the EPA recommends that people like me limit outdoor exercise. Please support the most protective ozone standards being considered so that I can stay healthy and enjoy getting outdoors.

Sample Tweet: Please support strong new ozone standards and protect healthy #outdoors recreation @BarackObama.

Feedback: Let us know how it goes! Email us at amcconservation@outdoors.org.

Take a Stand for Your Land, Water and Trails

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is facing unprecedented cuts in the budget bill now moving through the House of Representatives.

Headed to the House Floor next week, the Interior Appropriations bill would cut LWCF funding down to $61 million from its authorized level of $900 million a year — an 80 % cut from this year's level and lower than any other year in the program's 45-year history.

This program does not use taxpayer dollars as LWCF funds are authorized by law from dedicated funding from offshore oil and gas leasing revenues from public resources. These funds should be used for what they were intended — to protect America's natural treasures.

Cuts to LWCF mean almost no money to purchase land or easements from willing sellers that will add protection to our national wildlife refuges, national scenic trails, parks, forests, trails, wild and scenic rivers, and other federal lands; reduce funding to maintain working forests and ranches; and nearly eliminate funding for grants to state and local parks, open space and recreation facilities.

All across the country ready-to-go projects will have to be put on hold indefinitely, if not lost forever. Learn about AMC's projects of interest in the Northeast >>

Learn more about the outdoor opportunities LWCF has created in your State >>

Take Action:
Act now: Ask your U.S. Representative to oppose cuts to LWCF when the Interior Appropriations bill comes to the House Floor for a vote. Also ask to vote against any harmful amendments that further cut or eliminate the LWCF or Highlands Conservation Act funding.

Please tell your Representative to voice support for restoring LWCF funding because it is important to your state and comes from dedicated oil and gas leasing revenues, not taxpayer dollars.

Locate your U.S. Representative's phone number and call today!

You can also follow your Representative on Twitter and Facebook and share your thoughts through a tweet or facebook post.

Sample Tweet: Stand up for our Land, Water and Trails — Restore Land and Water Conservation Funding in the FY12 Approps Bill.

Sample Facebook Post: As Congress takes up the FY12 Interior Appropriations bill I urge you to stand up for our Land, Water and Trails — Restore Land and Water Conservation Funding. This will protects parks, trails, river and other amazing places across the nation.

Enter "Greener Homes, Cleaner Mountains" Contest

Enter AMC's "Greener Homes, Cleaner Mountains" contest by pledging to take 3 easy actions to reduce your energy costs AND your carbon footprint for cleaner air! Prizes up for grabs include books & AMC destination stays.

All you have to do is commit to actions like air drying your clothes, car pooling / using mass transit on your next hiking trip, signing up for AMC's Conservation Action Network, etc. Enter today!

NJ Residents: Support Clean Energy - Keep New Jersey in RGGI!

NJ Residents: Join us to speak out in support of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), an important NJ clean energy program. RGGI is a successful, market-driven, emission reduction program that reduces energy use and fosters energy efficiency in our state. Governor Chris Christie recently announced his intention to pull New Jersey out of this carbon reduction program by the end of the year.

On Monday, June 20th, AMC members are invited to join business leaders and residents in Trenton for a rally on the Statehouse steps at 11:45am to show support for RGGI and clean energy. Clean and efficient energy generation means less air pollution, and dirty air is a significant health concern for those who recreate outside.

Some of the successes achieved in New Jersey through the RGGI program include: creating or saving over 18,000 jobs; growing the economy of the region by more than $2.3 billion; helping New Jersey businesses generate over 167,000 megawatt hours of clean energy per year – equal to the amount of energy consumed by 19,600 households per year; and reducing annual carbon dioxide emissions by 84,000 metric tons. To learn more about how RGGI has helped ensure clean air and a healthy environment for the Garden State and the region, click here.

The average New Jersey resident using $100/month worth of energy pays about 42 cents more on their bill because of RGGI.

Take Action: Attend the Rally on June 20th: If you are interested in attending the Statehouse rally on June 20th, email Mark Zakutansky or call 610-868-6915. If you are available before and after the rally, we will be meeting with State Legislators to discuss the need for and value of keeping New Jersey in the RGGI program.

Email Governor Chris Christie: If you cannot attend the rally on June 20th and want to take action today, email Governor Chris Christie to express your support for keeping New Jersey in the RGGI program. To customize and send a letter, click here.

NH Residents: Cannon Leasing is Ill-Conceived!

The NH House and Senate must finalize the 2012-13 state budget by next Wednesday, June 15th. The Senate-passed budget includes an ill-conceived provision requiring the leasing of Cannon Mountain, an integral part of Franconia Notch State Park, by 2013.

This major policy shift was included with no public hearing process in the House, and little discussion in the Senate. It ignores the ten year strategic plan for NH parks, which includes a process for considering alternative park management strategies.

This provision threatens the integrity of Franconia Notch State Park by proposing to lease Cannon with no fact-based analysis of its impact. The proposal ignores the complexity of the park's funding history, its status as a monument to veterans, and the fact that Cannon Mountain has been generating revenue in recent years, including a $1 million surplus in 2011.

Whether or not leasing Cannon makes sense, requiring it in the budget cuts off public discussion and precludes full study of the pros and cons.

Take Action: AMC has a history of taking action to protect Franconia Notch. Please call your State Senator and House Member(s) today and urge them to eliminate the provision to lease Cannon from the biennial budget. Time is of the essence! Click here to find your State Senator and Representative(s).

Massachusetts Residents: State Parks Budget at Risk - Ask Your Senator To Restore Funding!

Many Massachusetts residents and visitors depend on state parks run by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) as special places for hiking, swimming, camping, and cycling. Recent budget cuts put access to these summer outdoor traditions at risk.

The budget for Massachusetts state parks and recreation areas has been reduced by approximately 30 percent during the last few years, resulting in the loss of nearly 200 staff at DCR and the reduction of many services the agency provides. The Massachusetts House of Representatives restored a small portion of DCR’s operating budget, but the Senate did not include that funding in its original budget. An amendment to the Senate budget would now restore $500,000 to help ensure our parks are staffed, safe, and clean.

We need to urge Massachusetts State Senators to restore this funding because we depend on our parks, beaches and pools to stay active and healthy. Without additional funds, some campgrounds, pools and beaches will be closed and those that stay open will have their seasons shortened by several weeks; park ranger and interpretive staff will be cut; beach trash collection will be reduced; forestry services and police details will be cut; and DCR will have a diminished ability to complete its legislative mandate of establishing Resource Management Plans for its facilities.

This amendment is will be debated this week, so time is of the essence. Your voice is important to your senator, so please call today.

Take Action: Call your State Senator and ask them to support restoration of funding for DCR parks and programs by supporting the Senate amendment for line item 2810-0100. You also can mention your favorite state park or other area that you are most concerned about.

NOTE: You can participate in upcoming workshops to help DCR determine how it will manage its parks in the future. Click here for details and the schedule for the seven workshops around Massachusetts in May and June.

Maine's North Woods Needs You Today!

For more than 35 years, the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) has overseen development and land use in Maine's 10.4 million-acre North Woods. A bill now in the Maine legislature would eliminate LURC, doing away with orderly development and planning across the region and threatening one of Maine’s most iconic and economically valuable natural resources.

Maine’s North Woods is the largest contiguous forest east of the Mississippi River, and for hundreds of years these lands have provided timber products, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities that are unmatched in the eastern United States. LURC was created in 1971 to oversee planned development and to help ensure that these multiple natural resource values would be available for the enjoyment and benefit of future generations. By abolishing LURC, the bill, LD 1534, threatens the integrity of Maine’s North Woods and compromises the future of our largest industries: forestry and tourism.

Take Action
Maine residents: please urge your State Senator and Representative to keep the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) intact and ensure a sustainable future for Maine’s North Woods. We invite you to share with your legislators why Maine’s North Woods is important to you.

Please call your legislators. You can find their phone numbers here.

We also invite you to attend a public hearing of LD 1534, which will be held on Tuesday, May 17th at 1:00pm at the State House in Augusta. For more information on how you can testify and help, please contact Lindsay Bourgoine, Maine Policy Associate at lbourgoine@outdoors.org.

Read more about the Land Use Regulation Commission here >>