This page highlights draft policies that are open for public comment and recently approved policies.
Open for Comment
The NPS is accepting public comments on the following draft Director's Orders. They will be revised based on the comments received.
Director's Order #20: Agreements is available for comment until Monday, January 27, 2025. Please submit your comments using the online Comment Form Director’s Order #20 updates policy and procedures for formalizing relationships with other Federal and non-Federal entities through these agreement
- Federal Intragovernmental Agreements
- Reimbursable Service Agreements with Non-Federal Entities
- Financial Assistance Agreements
- Cooperative Management Agreements
- General Agreements
- Funding Agreements with Self-Governance Tribes
The Director’s Order describes the purpose of each agreement type, authorities governing their use, and clarification about responsibilities and delegations of authority to approve agreements. It also clarifies the proper use of General Agreements and Cooperative Management Agreements, instruments unique to the NPS that, unlike other legal instruments, lack clear statutory and regulatory guardrails outside of this policy. Director’s Order #20 will supersede and replace the policies and procedures in the previous edition, dated July 23, 2003, and any other conflicting guidance.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joshua Wilks, Deputy Bureau Financial Assistance Chief, NPS, NPS_DO20@nps.gov, 202-354-1985.
Director's Order #42: Accessibility of National Park Service Facilities, Programs, Services, and Activities is available for comment until Thursday, January 9, 2025. Please submit your comments using the online Comment Form.
Director’s Order #42 updates policy and procedures for making visitor use opportunities (facilities, transportation systems, information and communication technology, interpretive and educational programs and services, and commercial services) accessible and inclusive to visitors with disabilities. It provides direction to NPS managers and employees on:
- current accessibility laws, regulations, and standards, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Department of Justice guidance on other power-driven mobility devices and service animals;
- roles and responsibilities for providing equitable and inclusive park and program experiences to visitors with disabilities;
- prevention and correction of practices or actions that discriminate against people with disabilities; and
- training and technical support to ensure NPS employees, volunteers, and employees of organizations acting on behalf of the NPS have the knowledge and skills to communicate with and serve people with disabilities.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeremy Buzzell, Accessibility Program Manager, National Park Service, at jeremy_buzzell@nps.gov, or by telephone at 202-768-4894.
Public Disclosure of Comments: Before including your address, telephone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Just Approved
December 13, 2024
Policy Memorandum 24-05: Use of the Arrowhead Symbol in the Youth and Young Adult Programs Insignia
This Memorandum introduces a new graphic identifier – the Youth and Young Adult Programs (YAYAP) Insignia – that visually showcases the official involvement of individuals in YAYAP. YAYAP contribute to the future of the NPS and encompass a full range of youth-oriented developmental programs and projects conducted in national parks, local communities, NPS support offices, and in collaboration with partner organizations. The Memorandum provides guidance on permissible and prohibited uses of the YAYAP Insignia, the approval process for requests outside of the specified categories, and the technical specifications associated with the Insignia’s use.
December 11, 2024
Director's Order #70: Governance and Management of the National Park Service Digital Experience
This Order, together with the NPS Digital Community site (NPS Intranet site), provides updated policies and procedures for creating and sustaining an exceptional digital experience for NPS employees, our partners, and the public. It supersedes and replaces the January 8, 2001, edition and Policy Memorandum 11-02 (Social Media - Interim Policy).
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: December 26, 2024