This page highlights draft policies that are open for public comment and recently approved policies.
Just Approved
November 4, 2024
Director's Order #71C: Consultation with Indian and Alaska Native Tribes
On November 4, 2024, Director Sams approved the first-ever Director’s Order on Tribal consultation with Indian and Alaska Native Tribes. Together with Reference Manual 71C, it will provide guidance for consultation between the National Park Service and Tribes on a nation-to-nation basis. The NPS has a responsibility to consult with Tribal governments when undertaking activities or projects that may affect Tribal lands, interests, practices, or traditional use areas. Procedures and policies that give Tribal governments the opportunity for meaningful and informed input in the earliest stages of actions taken by the NPS – and throughout the process – are key to supporting Tribal sovereignty. For questions about the Order – which was the subject of Tribal consultation and was also made available for public review and comment – please contact Dorothy FireCloud, Native American Affairs Liaison, Office of Native American Affairs, at e-mail us.
Also Approved in 2024
October 15, 2024
Policy Memorandum 24-04: Affiliated Areas
This Memorandum sets forth guidance as to how the National Park Service designates and works with affiliated areas. Affiliated area designation is a valuable method for the NPS to acknowledge and support nationally significant resources and themes that are protected and intepreted by other entities or organzations. In keeping with past practice, such designation should be used sparingly and exercised with consistency and rigor. The Memorandum sets forth items to be addressed in the formal agreement between the Service and the management entity.
August 19, 2024
Policy Memorandum 24-03: Managing National Parks in an Era of Climate Change
This Memorandum clarifies direction and responsibilities for managing national park units and other NPS-administered areas as climate change alters resources and ecosystems, and affects infrastructure and visitor experiences. It affirms NPS commitments and obligations to respond to climate change impacts in collaboration with Tribes, State and local governments, Federal agencies, collaborators and stakeholders, and the public. In addition, it provides links to tools, case studies, and a variety of training modules.
August 19, 2024
Policy Memorandum 24-02: Landscape and Seascape Conservation and Ecological Connectivity through Cooperative Conservation
The Memorandum affirms NPS commitments and obligations to advance landscape and seascape conservation and connectivity of species and ecological processes. It provides guidance for collaborating with other Federal agencies, Tribes, State and local governments, partners, and other entities on shared cooperative conservation goals.
July 25, 2024
Policy Memorandum 24-01: Guidance for Implementing 36 CFR 2.6—Plant Gathering by Federally Recognized Tribes for Traditional Purposes (July 25, 2024)
This Memorandum is intended to:
- Clarify certain requirements in 36 CFR 2.6, including those related to NEPA compliance and Tribal treaty or statutory rights.
- Provide consistent implementation of the regulation Service-wide.
- Give park superintendents and other NPS managers better guidance on how to negotiate and enter into plant gathering agreements, including what types of information to collect, while being respectful of culturally sensitive information.
- Make it easier for Tribes to work with the NPS to enter into agreements.Recent Tribal consultation helped inform the policy.
This Memorandum does not amend or update the existing regulation, which would require a regulatory update through a separate process.
February 21, 2024
Director's Order #36: Housing Management
This Order, together with Reference Manual 36 (NPS Intranet site) provides updated policies and procedures for managing Government-funded housing. It replaces the August 5, 2009, edition.
Last updated: November 4, 2024