Brian Martin

6/13/19

Dear Mr. President,

I would like to inform you on the current state and future of preserving our National
Parks. A recent Harvard study shows that “85 percent of U.S. National Parks have levels of air
pollution that are hazardous to human health”. This effects not only the ecology and biodiversity
of the parks but threatens to shut them down. The pollution is seen during the summer months
when peak travel is done with thousands of families visiting them every year and making it
unable for them to enjoy the parks without putting their health at risk. What this means is less
money to employ park rangers and efforts to protect the land as well as political lobbying to get
legislation to pass bills in favor of the parks well-being and preservation. The study linked the
high carbon emissions to “nearby oil and gas drilling sites, coal mines, power plants, vehicles,
and agriculture activities”. These treasured lands that every president has vowed to protect and
leave untouched since Teddy Roosevelt are in danger more than any other time. It is your turn to
do your part to leave the parks to our future generations to appreciate the beauty and quality of
our great nation.
Not all national parks are considered to be in ‘wilderness’ but are still miles away from
the hustle and bustle of urban human life and the effects are still seen even this far from
developed areas at unhealthy levels and not safe for any life to be exposed to without detrimental
side effects. If the parks are unhealthy then what are our major cities PPM levels and what is
doing to millions of Americans health? Health care in the United States is costing our tax payers
billions every year and with more and more Americans suffering from respiratory issues the cost
is expected to rise in the future if not addressed immediately. The longer Americans can live and
be healthy equals a productive and better nation for all Americans and can be the worlds super
power again. Smoking cigarettes has dropped ten-fold in the last couple of decades but lung
cancers and all cancers for that matter have risen in this time period as well as carbon dioxide
emissions indicating a direct link between the two. Smoking cannot be linked to all of the cases
of cancer, which leads to the need to find what is causing the rise. Answering that question could
go on for years but simple looking at what has changed since the 80’s; the foods that we
consume and the air we breath are the most obvious factors.
What I am asking of you is to approve and write legislation that will eliminate carbon
emissions and keep our National Parks clean and healthy as well as the quality of all American’s
lives. Without our natural resources that we have relied on for years to build our great country,
we would have to rely on foreign nations for our lumber, water, and all other resources that
nature provides for us. It’s not merely an expectation to keep our air clean and our National
Parks but it is good business as well because like mentioned earlier it will cut health care and
provide thousands of jobs in the renewable and clean energy sectors that many other developed
countries have already surpassed us in. I am simply just one voice out of millions and I am
representing the working middle class of America and their viewpoint on our pollution and it is
 Brian Martin

an American thing to enjoy the outdoors on our well deserved time off and being able to truly
appreciate the beauty to its full potential should be on your list of top priorities.
Thankyou for listening and using your valuable time to hear my proposition.

Sincerely, Brian Martin.