2006 NPS Management Policies
More than 45,000 commenters responded to the proposed draft Management Policies during the
127-day review period that ended February 25, 2006. Those comments were read, processed, summarized and organized by National
Park Service staff in the Office of Policy and the Environmental Quality Division. The results were then considered by a National
Park Service review team* that met in Denver the week of April 10, 2006. Based on the comments received, the review team prepared
extensive edits to the draft. The revised text was subsequently evaluated by a number of park managers and subject matter
experts who suggested further refinements. The National Leadership Council suggested additional improvements.
A special committee representing the National Park System Advisory Board met with Deputy Director
Steve Martin and key NPS staff May 23 and May 24, 2006, to discuss the revised draft. The committee then reported back to
the full Board, which discussed and endorsed the committee's recommendations at its June 9, 2006, meeting. The Board's recommendations
were then considered by the Director and other NPS senior managers and incorporated as appropriate.
An internal Servicewide review was completed July 10, 2006. At the close of the comment period
a review committee met to consider the comments and make any further edits to improve the draft. A final revised draft was
then reviewed by the National Leadership Council before being presented for the Director's consideration and approval. Director
Mainella approved the final document August 31, 2006.
The final document is now available on-line at http://www.nps.gov/policy/MP2006.pdf. Hard copies have been printed and are available for purchase at $18.00 each through the US
Government Printing Office's on-line bookstore at http://bookstore.gpo.gov/collections/nparkmgmt.jsp. A 20-page "User's Guide" to the new edition of Management Policies is on-line at http://www.nps.gov/policy/mp/Userguide.pdf.
As a general matter, the 2006 edition is very similar in content to the 2001 edition. However,
the 2006 edition:
1. Is more public service oriented and positive, with increased emphasis on the NPS's commitment
to provide for the enjoyment of this generation and future generations.
2. Further emphasizes that park managers must provide visitors from all walks of life the
opportunity for meaningful educational and recreational experiences-experiences that inspire and lead to visitor enjoyment
and a greater sense of resource stewardship.
3. Demonstrates that enjoyment of the parks supports the federal policy of promoting the health
and personal fitness of the general public.
4. Decisively retains the NPS's ultimate responsibility for resource protection, making decisions,
and exercising key authorities.
5. Provides a clearer definition of "appropriate use" of parks, which will enable park managers
to determine how resources can best be conserved while providing a positive visitor experience.
6. Provides a solid definition of "unacceptable impact," which clarifies that protecting park
resources requires NPS do more than simply avoid impairment.
7. Defines and sets a high standard for "professional judgment," which park managers must
exercise when making decisions.
8. Provides stronger wording to protect park scenery from unsightly telecommunication antennas.
9. More fully addresses NPS legal authorities (under CERCLA, the Oil Pollution Act, the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act, the Clean Water Act and the National Park System Resource Protection Act) to protect and restore
all park resources that have been damaged by others.
10. Includes a new section on civic engagement, and emphasize this as an important concept
throughout the document. This reflects NPS's commitment to making sure that the various publics are included in the significant
decisions that affect the parks.
11. Includes a new section on cooperative conservation, stressing the NPS's desire to work
with others to better accomplish the NPS mission.
12. Includes new wording to promote cooperation with federal, state, local and tribal governments,
as well as individuals and organizations, to create seamless networks of parks and thus enhance biodiversity and a greater
array of educational and recreational opportunities.
13. Includes a new section on NPS's relationship with American Indian tribes, stressing in
particular the "government-to-government" nature of that relationship.
14. Includes a new section committing the NPS to maintain open, collaborative relationships
with Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Caribbean Islanders.
15. Includes a new section on the Service's cooperation and coordination with the tourism
industry to support and promote appropriate visitor use.
16. Include new sections on the NPS's diving operations and public health program.
17. Includes a major commitment to pursue the best contemporary business practices. Under
the heading of management excellence, the policies address human resources, diversity, accessibility, management accountability,
and financial sustainability.
18. Includes new text acknowledging that a natural soundscape is important, but may not be
practicable in some parks (or locations). Also, text has been added to recognize that human-caused sounds are an appropriate
part of visitor expectations and experiences in some parks.
19. Clarifies that national wild and scenic rivers managed by the NPS automatically become
units of the national park system. Also clarifies that some, but not all, of the national trails managed by the NPS are units
of the national park system. Any river or trail that is part of the national park system is subject to the Management Policies.
20. Recognizes additional management challenges and trends that occur on a national scale,
such as Homeland Security, new recreation uses, and technological advances.
21. Incorporates new or relevant changes in laws and Executive orders, such as the Federal
Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, and Executive orders such as "Federal Real Property Asset Management," "Preserve America"
and "Facilitating Cooperative Conservation."
22. Updates and improves upon the Service's park planning processes.
23. Updates and clarifies many of the terms that were used in
2001, and add over 25 new terms to help the reader better understand critical concepts for managing units of the national
park system.
The NPS welcomes opportunities to explain the new Management Policies
and discuss their practical implications for managing the national park system. For further information contact the Office
of Policy at 202-208-7456, or via e-mail at waso_policy@nps.gov.
NPS
