Park Regulations Updated

Joshua Tree National Park has revised the Superintendent's Compendium, a list of park-specific regulations National Park Service superintendents are authorized to issue under the Code of Federal Regulations (36CFR sec.1.5).

The Compendium codifies park regulations "necessary for the maintenance of public health and safety, protection of environmental or scenic values, protection of natural or cultural resources, aid to scientific research, implementation of management responsibilities, equitable allocation and use of facilities, or the avoidance of conflict among visitor use activities."

The 2012 Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent's Compendium includes the following revisions:

• Closes five new and one expanded climbing/bouldering routes to protect sensitive cultural resources.

• Adds to the justification prohibiting public entry to mine adits and shafts to reflect negative impacts associated with white-nosed syndrome on bat populations.

• Modifies the weapons possession section to conform to the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009.

• Authorizes caching or storage of food supplies by backcountry and wilderness hikers for up to 14 days if properly tagged without being considered abandoned property.

A PDF file of the Superintendent's Compendium can be downloaded here. The 2012 revisions are adopted with the issuance of this press release. Warnings will be issued for the first 30 days.

Questions about the Compendium and the current revisions should be directed to Acting Chief Ranger Jeff Ohlfs at 760-367-5548.