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Management of National Park Service ProgramsThis volume of Management Policies focuses exclusively on management of thenational park system. Beyond managing the national park system, the NationalPark Service administers a broad range of programs that serve the conservation andrecreation needs of the nation and the world. Examples include the following: National Register of Historic Places National Historic Landmarks Program National Natural Landmarks Program Land and Water Conservation Fund Grants Program Historic American Buildings Survey Historic American Engineering Record Historic American Landscapes Survey American Battlefield Protection Program National Maritime Heritage Grants Program Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program Tribal Heritage Preservation Grants Program Preserve America Grants Program National Heritage Areas ProgramAlthough these programs operate mainly outside the national parks, they form avital part of the National Park Service mission. Information about the policies andprocedures that govern these programs may be obtained from the appropriate NPSprogram managers (who are generally located in Washington, D.C.), or by visitingthe NPS web site at www.nps.gov.U.S. Department of the InteriorThe Department of the Interior protects and manages the nation’s naturalresources and cultural heritage; provides scientific and other information aboutthose resources; and honors its special responsibilities to American Indians, AlaskaNatives, and affi liated Island Communities.National Park ServiceThe National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and culturalresources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education,and inspiration of this and future generations. The National Park Servicecooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resourceconservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

ManagementPolicies2006 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service

U.S. GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL EDITION NOTICEUse of ISBN Prefi x. This is the Official U.S. Government edition of this publicationand is herein identified to certify its authenticity. Use of the 0-16-076874-8 ISBN isfor U.S. Government Printing Office Official Editions only. The Superintendent ofDocuments of the U.S. Government Printing Office requests that any reprinted editionclearly be labeled as a copy of the authentic work with a new ISBN.Legal Status and Use of Seals and Logos. The Arrowhead symbol of the National ParkService authenticates Management Policies 2006 as the National Park Service’s officialguide to managing national parks. The National Park Service symbol is protected under18 USC 701, 15 USC 1051 et seq, and regulations published in 36 CFR Part II. The useof the National Park Service Arrowhead symbol on any republication of this materialwithout the express, written permission of the Director of the National Park Service isprohibited. Any person using the National Park Service symbol in a manner inconsistentwith the provisions of 36 CFR Part II is subject to the penalties specified in 18 USC 701.For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing OfficeInternet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512-1800; DC area (202) 512-1800Fax: (202) 512-2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402-0001ISBN 0-16-076874-8

Table of ContentsManagement Policies1The Guide to Managing theNational Park SystemUnderlying Principles12Introduction3Law, Policy, and Other GuidanceHierarchy of AuthoritiesPolicy DevelopmentCompliance, Accountability,and EnforceabilityThe Directives SystemOther Sources of GuidanceNPS Program Policies3441.9.41.9.51.9.5.11.9.5.21.9.5.344551.10 Partnerships1.11 Relationship withAmerican Indian Tribes1 The 11.21.11.3Managing Information16Information Sharing16Proprietary Information16Information Confidentiality16Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities17Public Information and Media Relations 17Management Accountability17Financial Sustainability17Facilities18Budget Performance andAccountability ultationTrust Resources18191919191.1 The National Park Idea81.21.31.3.11.3.21.3.31.3.48889992 Park System Planning21102.1 General Principles2222102.1.12.1.2The National Park SystemCriteria for InclusionNational SignificanceSuitabilityFeasibilityDirect NPS Management1.4 Park .71.4.7.11.4.7.2The Laws Generally GoverningPark Management“Impairment” and “Derogation”:One StandardThe NPS Obligation to Conserveand Provide for Enjoyment ofPark Resources and ValuesPark Purposes and LegislativelyAuthorized UsesThe Prohibition on Impairmentof Park Resources and ValuesWhat Constitutes Impairmentof Park Resources and ValuesWhat Constitutes ParkResources and ValuesDecision-making Requirements toIdentify and Avoid ImpairmentsUnacceptable ImpactsImproving Resource Conditionswithin the Parks102.1.32.1.4222222102.2 Major Elements of Park Planningand Decision-making22112.3 Levels of Park Planning23111111121212131.6 Cooperative ConservationBeyond Park Boundaries131.7 Civic Engagement141.8 Environmental Leadership141.9 Management .1.51.9.1.62020Decision-makingScientific, Technical,and Scholarly AnalysisPublic ParticipationGoal Orientation1.5 Appropriate Use of the ParksHuman ResourcesCareer Development, Training,and ManagementSuccession PlanningWorkforce PlanningEmployee Safety and HealthWorkforce DiversityVolunteers in the Parks1.12 Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders,and Caribbean Islanders1.13 An Enduring al Management Planning23Statutory Requirements24Management Zoning24Planning Team24Science and Scholarship24Public Involvement24Alternative Futures25Environmental Analysis25Cooperative Planning25Wild and Scenic Rivers25Wilderness25Alaska Park Units26Periodic Review ofGeneral Management Plans26Program Management Planning26Strategic Planning26Relationship between the Strategic Planand the General Management Plan27Implementation Planning27Environmental Analysis27Park Annual Performance27Planning and Reporting273 Land Protection3.1 General3.2 Land Protection Methods3.3 Land Protection Plans29303030

IVMANAGEMENT POLICIES 20063.43.53.63.73.8Cooperative ConservationBoundary AdjustmentsLand Acquisition AuthorityLand Acquisition FundingCondemnation4 Natural Resource ManagementIntroduction4.1 General Management 2.4353636Planning for Natural ResourceManagement37Natural Resource Information38Evaluating Impacts on Natural Resources38Partnerships38Restoration of Natural Systems39Compensation for Injuries to NaturalResources394.2 Studies and Collections4.2.1313132323339NPS-conducted or -sponsored Inventory,Monitoring, and Research Studies40Independent Studies40Natural Resource Collections41Collection Associated with theDevelopment of Commercial Products 414.3 Special 1414141424242Research Natural AreasExperimental Research AreasWilderness AreasNational Wild and Scenic Rivers SystemNational Natural LandmarksBiosphere ReservesWorld Heritage List4.4 Biological Resource 4.4.54.4.5.14.4.5.24.4.5.34.4.5.44.4.5.5General Principles for ManagingBiological ResourcesPlant and Animal PopulationManagement PrinciplesGenetic ResourceManagement PrinciplesDefinition of Native and Exotic SpeciesManagement of Native Plantsand AnimalsNPS Actions That RemoveNative Plants and AnimalsRestoration of Native Plantand Animal SpeciesManagement of Threatened orEndangered Plants and AnimalsManagement of Natural LandscapesMaintenance of AlteredPlant CommunitiesHarvest of Plants andAnimals by the PublicManagement of Exotic SpeciesIntroduction or Maintenanceof Exotic SpeciesRemoval of Exotic SpeciesAlready PresentPest ManagementPestsIntegrated Pest Management ProgramPesticide UseBiological Control Agents andBioengineered ProductsPesticide Purchase and Storage4.5 Fire Management4.6 Water Resource Management4.6.14.6.24.6.34.6.44.6.54.6.6Protection of Surface Watersand GroundwatersWater RightsWater QualityFloodplainsWetlandsWatershed and Stream Processes4.7 Air Resource Management524.7.14.7.2Air QualityWeather and Climate52534.8 Geologic Resource 53545454544.8.2.24.8.2.34.8.2.4Protection of Geologic ProcessesShorelines and Barrier IslandsKarstGeologic HazardsManagement of Geologic FeaturesPaleontological Resourcesand Their ContextsCavesGeothermal andHydrothermal ResourcesSoil Resource Management545555564.9 Soundscape Management564.10 Lightscape Management574.11 Chemical Information and Odors575 Cultural Resource ManagementIntroduction5.1 Research5960605.1.15.1.25.1.3NPS Research60Independent Research61Identification and Evaluationof Resources615.1.3.1Inventories615.1.3.2Evaluation and Categorization625.1.3.2.1 National Register Nomination625.1.3.2.2 National Historic Landmark Designation 625.1.3.2.3 Nominations for World HeritageList Designation625.2 Planning63425.2.15.2.25.2.3636464435.3 ion and Preservation ofCultural ResourcesEmergency ManagementFire Detection, Suppression, andPost-fire Rehabilitation and ProtectionCompensation for Injuries toCultural ResourcesEnvironmental Monitoring and ControlPest ManagementVisitor Carrying CapacityCultural Soundscape ManagementPhysical Access for Personswith DisabilitiesHistoric Property Leases andCooperative AgreementsStewardship of Human Remainsand BurialsTreatment of Cultural ResourcesArcheological ResourcesPreservationStabilizationRehabilitation, Restoration,and ReconstructionProtectionArcheological Data RecoveryEarthworksSubmerged Cultural ResourcesCultural onstruction ofObliterated LandscapesBiotic Cultural ResourcesLand Use and Ethnographic ValueNew ConstructionEthnographic ResourcesResource Access and 970707071