Director's Orders and Related Guidance

Director’s Orders are an “executive summary” of important policies and procedures. Director’s Orders that:

• interpret Management Policies,

• outline requirements for National Park Service functions, programs, and activities,

• delegate specific authorities and responsibilities to subordinate staff,

• may articulate new or revised policy between updates of Management Policies.

Reference manuals, handbooks, and other supplemental materials contain detailed procedures to carry out the requirements of Management Policies and Director's Orders. They are named and numbered to correspond with the associated Director's Order(s).

List of Director's Orders

The chart lists approved or assigned Director's Orders and related Level 3 guidance. An asterisk marks Director's Orders that are being developed or will be developed later. Learn more about the policy development process. The numbers assigned to some of the Director’s Orders on this list may be revised as the Directives system evolves in the future.

Sunset Dates: You will see that some older Director's Orders have sunset dates that have come and gone. These Orders are still valid, so National Park Service employees should continue to abide by them. When an older Director's Order is updated, the sunset date is replaced with wording that says the updated policy will remain in effect until revised, superseded, or rescinded.

Note About Access

Some documents and links are marked "internal access only." National Park Service staff must be connected to a secure NPS network or our VPN. All other users will encounter an error message.

Number	Title	Approval Date	Related Guidance (reference manuals, handbooks, and other supplemental materials)
1	NPS Directives System	11/14/2008	Policy Development Process Policy Waivers
2	Park Planning	1/11/2021	Reference Manual 2: Park Planning (RM-2) Management Policies, Chapter 2
3	Reserved
4	Diving Management	5/4/2003	[Manuals temporarily removed to correct digital accessibility issues] Reference Manual 4: Diving Safety and Operations Manual (RM-4) Field Manual 4: Diving Safety and Operations Manual (FM-4)
5	Paper and Electronic Communications	7/10/2000	NPS Washington Office Correspondence Manual (June 2018)
6	Interpretation and Education	1/19/2005; amended 3/3/2025
7	Volunteers-in-Parks	3/15/2016; amended 3/3/2025	Reference Manual 7 (RM-7)
8	Reserved
9	Law Enforcement Program	3/23/2006	Reference Manual 9 (RM-9, internal access only)
10A	Design and Construction Drawings	4/15/2003
10B	Drawing and Map Numbers	4/8/2010	Reference Manual 10B (RM-10B)
11A	Information and Technology Management	4/4/2005
11B	Ensuring Quality of Information Disseminated by the NPS	10/16/2002	Policy Memorandum 07-03: Interim policy pertaining to scientific and scholarly code of conduct, peer review, and information quality correction
11C	Reserved
11D	Records and Electronic Information Management	1/6/2012	Records and information management procedures and schedules (internal access only)
12	Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact Analysis, and Decision-Making	10/5/2011	NEPA Handbook
13A	Environmental Management Systems	1/1/2009	Reference Manual 13A (RM-13A)
13B	Solid and Hazardous Waste Management*
14	Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration	9/28/2004	Damage Assessment and Restoration Handbook
15	NPS Frequency Management Guidance	2/4/2015	Radio Communications Reference Handbook (RH-15, internal access only)
16A	Reasonable Accommodation for Applicants and Employees with Disabilities	5/4/1999; amended 3/3/2025
16B	Diversity in the National Park Service	Rescinded 3/3/2025
16C	Reserved
16D	Equal Opportunity and Zero Tolerance for Discrimination	12/28/2011; amended 3/3/2025
16E	NPS Anti-Harassment Policy	4/19/2018; amended 3/3/2025	Reference Manual 16E (RM-16E)
17	National Park Service Tourism	9/28/1999; amended 3/3/2025
18	Wildland Fire Management	1/16/2008	Reference Manual 18 (RM-18)
19	Reserved
20	Agreements	7/23/2003	Policy Memorandum 08-01: Review requirements for procurement contracts, grant agreements, and cooperative agreements (revised policy)
20 (DRAFT)	Agreements		Public comment period closed on January 27, 2025. The draft is being revised based on comments received.
21	Donations and Philanthropic Partnerships	12/28/2016; amended 8/31/2020, 5/18/2023, 12/5/2023, 11/21/24, 3/3/2025	Reference Manual 21 (RM-21)
22	Recreation Fees	5/14/2010	Reference Manual 22A: Recreation Fees (RM-22A, internal access only)
23	Reserved
24	NPS Museum Collections Management	9/3/2008	NPS Museum Handbook
25	Land Protection	1/19/2001	Reference Manual 25 (RM-25)
26	Youth Programs	11/08/2002; amended 3/3/2025	Youth Conservation Corps Reference Manual
27	Challenge Cost-Share Program*
28	Cultural Resource Management	6/11/1998	NPS-28: Cultural Resource Management Guideline Policy Memorandum 14-02: Climate Change and Stewardship of Cultural Resources
28A	Archeology	10/12/2004	Archeology Guide (Archeology Reference Manual)
28B	Ethnography*
28C	Oral History*
29	Reserved
30	Reserved
31A	Travel Procedures*
31B	Relocation Policies (Interim policy, effective 1/9/2015)		Policy Memorandum 13-01: Official Travel Driving Policy DOI Permanent Change of Station Policy Handbook
32	Cooperating Associations	6/7/2010; amended 3/2/2023	Reference Manual 32 (RM-32) Appendix to RM-32
33	Learning and Development	11/14/2008; amended 3/3/2025
34	Superintendent's Compendium*
35A	Sale or Lease of Park Services, Resources, or Water in Support of Activities Outside the Boundaries of National Park Areas	7/8/2004
35B	Cost Recovery for National Park Service Provided Utilities	12/31/2011	Reference Manual 35B (RM-35B)
36	Housing Management	2/21/2024; amended 3/3/2025	Reference Manual 36 (RM-36, internal access only)
37	Reserved
38	Real Property Leasing	1/19/2006	Reference Manual 38 (RM-38) RM-38 Memo: Waiver of Appraisals for Leasing Policy Memorandum 07-01: Leasing vs. Concession Contracts or CUAs
39	Ocean and Coastal Resource Management*
40	Dam Safety and Security Program	5/25/2010	Reference Manual 40 (RM-40)
41	Wilderness Stewardship	5/13/2013; amended 4/30/2024	Reference Manual 41 (RM-41)
42	Accessibility of National Park Service Facilities, Programs, Services, and Activities	9/12/2025	Policy Memorandum 18-02: Use of Service Animals by Visitors with Disabilities
43	Uniform Program	10/1/2000; amended 8/7/2018, 4/24/19, and 3/3/2025	Reference Manual 43 Policy Memorandum 18-01: Amendments to Director's Order #43 (8/7/2018)
44	Personal Property Management	2/8/2008	Reference Manual 44
45	National Trails System	5/24/2013	Reference Manual 45
46	Wild and Scenic Rivers	5/1/2015	Reference Manual 46
47	Soundscape Preservation and Noise Management	12/1/2000
48A	Concession Management*		Management Policies, Chapter 10 Policy Memorandum 07-01: Leasing vs. Concession Contracts or CUAs
48B	Commercial Use Authorizations*		Management Policies, Chapter 10 Policy Memorandum 07-01: Leasing vs. Concession Contracts or CUAs
49	Reserved
50A	Workers' Compensation Case Management	3/30/2003
50B	Occupational Safety and Health Program	9/3/2008	Reference Manual 50B, also PDF (RM-50B) Policy Memorandum 13-01: Official Travel Driving Policy NPS Loss of Human Life Response Handbook (2013) Interagency Serious Accident Investigation Guide
50C	Public Risk Management Program	5/7/2010; amended 3/3/2025	Reference Manual 50C (RM-50C, internal access only)
50D	Smoking Policy	6/29/2009	Policy Memorandum 15-03: Use of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems
51	Emergency Medical Services	9/19/2005	Reference Manual 51 (RM-51, internal access only)
52A	Communicating the NPS Mission	1/31/2001; amended 3/3/2025
52B	Graphic Design Standards*
52C	Park Signs	9/29/2003	NPS Sign Standards
52D	Use of the Arrowhead Symbol*		Special Directive 93-07: Use of the NPS Arrowhead Symbol
53	Special Park Uses	2/23/2010; amended 8/31/2020, 11/20/2020, 11/29/2023, 7/2/2025	Reference Manual 53 Reference Manual 53B: Rights-of-Way Policy Memorandum 15-02: Employee and Volunteer Participation in Commercial Filming Policy Memorandum 16-02: Significant Use Restrictions or Closures of Park Areas to Accommodate Special Events
54	Management Accountability*
55	Incident Management Program	1/2/2008	Reference Manual 55 (RM-55)
56	International Activities	4/2/2011; amended 3/3/2025
57A	Medical Standards Program	1/9/2014	Reference Manual 57A (RM-57A)
57B	Employee Fitness*		Policy Memorandum 14-03: Employee Health and Fitness - Interim Policy Reference Manual 57B (RM-57B)
58	Structural Fire Management	1/5/2022	Reference Manual 58 (RM-58) Other Structural Fire Related Guidance and Plans
59	Search and Rescue*
60	Aviation Program	7/3/2012; amended 10/20/2020	Reference Manual 60 (RM-60)
61	National Cemetery Operations	1/12/2021	Reference Manual 61 (RM-61)
62	Property Acquisition*
63	Geographic Names*		NPS Staff Directive 80-4: Geographic Name Proposals Director's Memorandum on Geographic Name Change Proposals Policies, Principles, and Procedures Domestic Geographic Names (U.S. Board on Geographic Names/Domestic Names Committee)
64	Commemorative Works and Plaques*
65	Explosive Use and Blasting Safety	5/25/1999
66	FOIA and Protected Resource Information*
67	Copyrights and Trademark*
68	Notification Protocol for Conduct of Employee Investigations	1/5/1998
69	Reserved
70	Governance and Management of the NPS Digital Experience	12/11/2024; amended 3/3/2025	Digital Community Site (internal access only)
71A	Relationship with American Indian Tribes	Superseded. See Management Policies, section 1.11
71B	Indian Sacred Sites*
71C	Consultation with Indian and Alaska Native Tribes	11/4/2024; amended 3/3/2025
72	Receiving or Generating Individual Indian Trust Data	10/29/2004
73	Reserved
74	Studies and Collecting*
75A	Civic Engagement and Public Involvement	8/30/2007; amended 3/3/2025
76	Legislative and Congressional Affairs	3/11/2005	Reference Manual 76, Part A: Legislative Support Data Package Guidance
77	Natural Resource Protection*		Reference Manual 77 (RM-77) Natural Resources Inventory and Monitoring Guideline (NPS-75)
77-1	Wetland Protection	10/30/2002	Procedural Manual 77-1 (PM 77-1)
77-2	Floodplain Management	9/8/2003	Procedural Manual 77-2 (PM 77-2)
77-3	Domestic and Feral Livestock Management*
77-4	Use of Pharmaceuticals for Wildlife	3/26/2021
77-5	Bioengineered Organisms*
77-6	Reserved
77-7	Integrated Pest Management*		NPS-77: Natural Resources Management Guideline (see Integrated Pest Management provisions, pages 217-259)
77-8	Endangered Species*
77-9	Fisheries Management*
77-10	NPS Benefits Sharing	12/19/13	Benefits Sharing Handbook
78	Social Science	10/7/2002; amended 3/3/2025
79	Integrity of Scientific and Scholarly Activities	9/19/2012
80	Real Property Asset Management	11/20/2006	Policy Memorandum 15-01: Addressing Climate Change and Natural Hazards for Facilities
81	Employee Surveys*
82	Public Use Data Collecting and Reporting*
83A	Public Health Protection and Disease Prevention	4/28/2023	Reference Manual 83A: Public Health—Protection and Prevention (RM-83A)
83B	Public Health Promotion—Healthy Parks Healthy People*
84	Library Management & Information Discovery Services*		Reference Manual 84* Special Directive 94-1: NPS Library Program
85	Reserved
86	Reserved
87A	Park Roads and Roadways*
87B	Alternative Transportation Systems*
87C	Reserved
87D	Non-NPS Roads	12/14/2000
88	Reserved
89	Acquisition and Management of Leased Space	3/5/2003
90	Value Analysis	10/2/2002; amended 12/9/2020
91	Reserved
92	Servicewide Workforce Management	3/30/2010; amended 3/3/2025	Human Resources Policies, Memos, and Advisories (internal access only)
93	Conflict Resolution	7/3/2001; amended 3/3/2025
94	Reserved
95	Energy and Minerals Management*
100	Resource Stewardship for the 21st Century	Rescinded 8/17/2017