Wednesday, Feb 1, 2006
The National Park Service (NPS) has recently released for public comment a proposed update of NPS Management Policies, which provides park managers policy guidance to achieve the Service?s mission to conserve park resources while providing for their enjoyment by present and future generations.
NPS Management Policies have been reviewed and updated many times in the past, most recently in 2001. The current revision to the Management Policies was the product of a series of meetings among NPS and DOI officials. Nearly 100 NPS career professionals were involved in drafting or reviewing the changes over the past few months. The draft was undertaken in response to interest from Congress in seeing the NPS review its policies and interest from the Department of the Interior in ensuring achievement of both the NPS visitor enjoyment and conservation mission. Park managers had also urged revisions that addressed the changing needs and circumstances of parks; for example, increased population pressures on parks, a more sophisticated business climate, vastly improved information technology; and changing demographics.
The revised management policies also: ? Provide clear definitions, for the first time ever, of ?unacceptable impacts? to resources and ?appropriate uses? of parks, enabling park managers to more clearly anticipate and articulate how impairment of resources can best be prevented. ? Provide more flexibility and tools to park managers and recognize that each park has unique needs. ? Recognize new challenges facing the NPS. ? Encourage management excellence by using better baseline scientific data, cooperative conservation, civic engagement, and good business practices. ? Provide guidance in response to changing recreation uses and technology.
A reading copy of the draft NPS Management Policies is available at Park Headquarters during normal business hours. The document is also available online for download and comment at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/waso. Public review and comment is key to the NPS planning process, your input is welcome.
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