Environmental Groups Call On Independence National Park To Stop Sale Of Bottled Water
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A coalition of environmental groups is calling on Independence National Park to stop selling bottled water.
Caroline Wooten of the group Corporate Accountability International delivered petitions to Independence Park headquarters on Wednesday, calling for a ban on the sale of bottled water.
"We're here today to encourage parks to stand up for the environment," Wooten said, "and send the message that water, like our parks, is not for sale and deserves long-term investment."
The group says 14 national parks, including the Grand Canyon, have stopped bottled water sales. Independence Park spokeswoman Jane Cowley says there is no federal rule, that it's up to individual park superintendents to decide.
"Before the park could ban the sale of disposable plastic water bottles in the park," Cowley said, "the Superintendent would have to initiate an impact analysis to determine if the pros outweigh the cons."
Cowley says any study would look at the cost of installing water filling stations, and whether banning bottled water sales would make a significant dent in the waste stream.
