Outlandish Pombo bill puts parks, coastlines on the market Statement of Sara Zdeb, legislative director

Contactos: 
Sara Zdeb – 202-222-0728

House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-Calif) today unveiled budget reconciliation legislation that would open protected coastlines to oil and gas drilling, sell 15 national parks to private developers, sell corporate naming rights to national park buildings and require advertising on park vehicles and facilities.  Below is a statement by Sara Zdeb, Friends of the Earth’s legislative director:

 

“Richard Pombo has outdone even himself with this outlandish proposal.  If he has his way, oil rigs will desecrate our coastlines and developers will pave our national parks.  

 

“Under Richard Pombo’s pave-the-parks plan, Americans may soon be enjoying their summer vacations at the Wal-Mart Grand Canyon and the Exxon-Mobil Mount Rushmore.  Our national parks should be protected for future generations, not sold to the highest bidder.

 

“What’s worse, the bill would lift a 25-year ban on offshore drilling on America’s most pristine coastlines.  If Richard Pombo has his way, oil rigs will be coming soon to coastlines from California to Florida to the Carolinas.”

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