Planning and compliance efforts are guided by a variety of official National Park Service documents:

National Park Service Management Policies 2006:

• Chapter 2: Park System Planning
• Chapter 4: Natural Resources
• Chapter 5: Cultural Resources
• Chapter 6:Wilderness Resources

National Park Service Directives:

• Director's Orders # 2: Park Planning is now superseded by Chapter 2 of Management Policies 2006 listed above
• Director's Orders # 12: Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact Analysis, and Decision-making
• Directors Order #28 and Reference Manual #28: Cultural Resources
• Directors Order #41 and Reference Manual #41: Wilderness Management
• Director's Orders # 75A: Civic Engagement and Public Involvement
• Director’s Order #77 and Reference Manual #77: Natural Resources

The following document provides a very brief overview of the National Environmental Policy Act and abbreviations frequently used in the planning process:

Understanding NEPA and NEPA Abbreviations