What's New in Policy?

This page highlights draft policies that are open for public comment and recently approved policies.

Open for Comment

The NPS is inviting the public to comment on the proposed Director’s Order #71C: Consultation with Indian and Alaska Native Tribes. The draft is available for comment until Monday, August 26, 2024. Please submit your comments to [e-mail] using the Comment Form.

Director’s Order #71C will:

• provide direction to NPS managers and employees with Tribal consultation responsibilities.
• help the NPS develop and maintain positive working relationships with Tribes, in a manner that supports Tribal self-governance.
• afford Tribal governments the opportunity for meaningful and informed input in the earliest stages of NPS actions.

The policies in Director’s Order #71C tier off and mirror 512 DM 4 and 512 DM 5, the Department of the Interior’s policy and procedures, respectively, for Tribal consultation. A reference manual (subsequent to the Director’s Order), with detailed information and procedures for implementing Director’s Order #71C, is being developed.

The draft Director’s Order applies only to consultation with Indian and Alaska Native Tribes. Separate Director’s Orders on consultation with the Native Hawaiian Community and Alaska Native entities will be developed and issued subsequently.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dorothy FireCloud, Native American Affairs Liaison, Office of Native American Affairs, National Park Service, at [e-mail], or [phone].

Public Disclosure of Comments: Before including your address, telephone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Approved in 2024

July 25, 2024
Policy Memorandum 24-01: Guidance for Implementing 36 CFR 2.6—Plant Gathering by Federally Recognized Tribes for Traditional Purposes (July 25, 2024)
This Memorandum is intended to:

• Clarify certain requirements in 36 CFR 2.6, including those related to NEPA compliance and Tribal treaty or statutory rights.
• Provide consistent implementation of the regulation Service-wide.
• Give park superintendents and other NPS managers better guidance on how to negotiate and enter into plant gathering agreements, including what types of information to collect, while being respectful of culturally sensitive information.
• Make it easier for Tribes to work with the NPS to enter into agreements.Recent Tribal consultation helped inform the policy.

This Memorandum does not amend or update the existing regulation, which would require a regulatory update through a separate process.

February 21, 2024
Director's Order #36: Housing Management
This Order, together with Reference Manual 36 (NPS Intranet site) provides updated policies and procedures for managing Government-funded housing. It replaces the August 5, 2009, edition.