The NPS decision leaves an unpleasant surprise for Al Gore

The National Park Service’s (NPS) meeting was surprised with a directive delivered from Al Gore’s cabinet this afternoon. The bill proposed several instructions on the protection of National Park forests for slowing climate change.

“Approving the bill, which took place in the early 2000s with Al Gore’s presidential term, would have great benefit to the current situation,” said the Grand Teton National Park superintendent.

However, specific clauses that needed amending caused discontent within the committee. The first would amend the language of a clause, from any company suspected of releasing toxic waste to only companies investigated by the EPA or a House of Congress and proven to have toxic waste.

The superintendent from Biscayne National Park said, “[The clause would] save the NPS a lot of time and resources by blocking unsubstantiated leads.” Guided by that logic, the amendment passed with a large majority.

One of the biggest points of disagreement pertained to the clause detailing that those given explicit allowance by the federal government would be able to handle the plants and animals. Several members encouraged a change to permission “given by the NPS” because they believed the NPS should hold the power.

“Rather than one person deciding, it would be ideal for the entire board to weigh in on giving permission,” stated the superintendent from Denali National Park. Despite the benefit to individual parks’ personal interests and opinions, the amendment failed after voting.

A similar clause, however, which referred to the government providing permission for handing and having the authority to ban those noncompliant, was stricken from the document.

The last amendment, “Make America Green Again,” would give permission for green energy companies to utilize unused, uninhabited, and untouched land.

“The amendment would further our [NPS] own goals for slowing climate change,” said Death Valley superintendent.

The Yosemite superintendent, on the other hand, feared that the classification of land as untouched would be ambiguous and risky. Despite this division, the amendment passed.

Of course, passing amendments is not the same as passing a directive. As the board moved to vote for the amended bill, early supporters like Grand Teton and Death Valley turned against the bill because, according to them, it would endanger the future and diminish the firm protections the NPS sought by giving too much power to the federal government.

The result was close but it was sure: 8 for, 9 against, and 2 abstained. The directive failed and the news was delivered to Al Gore’s presidential cabinet, who had been touring a National Park.