[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 19, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 2984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1243]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of Draft National Park Service Management 
Policies

AGENCY:  National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:  Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY:  The National Park Service (NPS) is proposing to update the 
policies that guide the management of the national park system. The 
policies are being updated to keep pace with changes in laws, 
regulations, socio-economic factors and technology, and with new 
understandings of the natural and cultural resources that the NPS is 
responsible for protecting within the national parks. Public comment is 
invited for a 60-day period, which closes March 20, 2000.

DATES:  Written comments will be accepted until March 20, 2000.

ADDRESSES:  Draft Management Policies is available on the Internet at 
http://www.nps.gov/refdesk/policies.html. Hard copies may be reviewed 
in the Department of the Interior library (at the C Street entrance of 
the Main Interior Building); at all units of the national park system; 
and at NPS regional offices in Philadelphia, PA; Washington, DC; 
Atlanta, GA; Denver, CO; Omaha, NE; San Francisco, CA; and Anchorage, 
AK. Requests for single copies of the draft, and written comments, 
should be sent to Bernard Fagan, National Park Service, Office of 
Policy, Room 2414, Main Interior Building, 1849 C Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Bernard Fagan at (202) 208-7456.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  The NPS has completed a comprehensive 
review and revision of the policies that currently guide the management 
of the national park system. The policies are compiled in a book called 
Management Policies, last published in 1988. Park superintendents, 
planners, and other NPS employees use management policies as a 
reference source when making decisions that will affect units of the 
national park system. The policies are being updated to keep pace with 
changes in laws, regulations, socio-economic factors and technology, 
and with new understandings about the natural and cultural resources 
that the NPS is responsible for protecting within the national parks. 
Some of the policies (e.g., those dealing with planning, wilderness 
preservation, and wildland fire management) in the 1988 Management 
Policies have been updated more recently by means of ``Director's 
Orders,'' which have been issued following a public notice and comment 
period.
    Management Policies includes the National Park Service's 
interpretation of the key legislation that underlies the policies, and 
chapters that address: Park planning; park protection; interpretation 
and education; use of the parks; park facilities; commercial visitor 
services; and the management of natural resources, cultural resources, 
and wilderness.
    The NPS hereby invites comments on the draft policies from any and 
all who may be interested. Comments will be accepted during a 60-day 
period which ends March 20, 2000. Comments should be specific as to how 
a policy might be changed or strengthened.
    All comments will be reviewed, and appropriate suggestions will be 
incorporated into the revised final version of Management Policies. The 
final document will be available to the public via the Internet and in 
printed form. A notice of availability of the final document, and an 
explanation of how comments were addressed, will appear in the Federal 
Register.

    Dated: January 13, 2000.
Loran Fraser,
Chief, Office of Policy.
[FR Doc. 00-1243 Filed 1-18-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P