National Park Service and Related Policies
The management of the National Park Service (NPS) and NPS programs is guided by and consistent with the Constitution, public laws, treaties, proclamations, Executive Orders, regulations, and directives of the Secretary of the Interior and the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. All NPS policy must be consistent with these higher authorities when establishing its own inter-agency policy.
The NPS Directives System consists of internal instructions and guidance documents to ensure that NPS managers and staff have clear information on NPS policy and on required and/or recommended actions. It is intended to reflect the NPS’s organizational values of teamwork, delegation to the most effective level, empowerment of employees, accountability, and reduction in overall paperwork. The Directives System is composed of 3 "levels" of documents:
- Level 1 consists of the policies that appear in the book entitled Management Policies, and which set the broad framework, provide direction, and prescribe parameters for making management decisions.
- Level 2 is Director’s Orders, which articulate new or revised policy on an interim basis between publication dates of NPS Management Policies. They also provide more detailed interpretation of Management Policies and outline requirements applicable to NPS functions, programs and activities, and are a vehicle by which the Director may delegate specific authorities and responsibilities. The main target audience for Director’s Orders is superintendents, for whom they serve as an "executive summary" of important policies and procedures
- Level 3 materials include handbooks, reference manuals and other documents containing comprehensive information in support of field and programmatic operations. A typical handbook or reference manual will include relevant legislation, regulations, management policies, other instructions or requirements issued through a Director’s Order, as well as examples, illustrations, recommended practices, forms, etc.
Management Policies |
|
The 2006 edition of Management Polices focuses exclusively on the management of the National Park System. It is the primary source and foremost authority in the Park Service's directives system. The directives system was established to provide NPS management and staff clear and up to date information that will help manage parks and programs effectively. Management Policy HTML Version This is a great resource to find any policies relating to the National Park Service. |
|
Directors Orders |
|
Directors Orders are comprised in the second tier of the Park Service's directives system. The directives system provides the National Park Service several sources of detailed written guidance to help managers make day-to-day decisions. Servicewide Natural resource career field specific
|
|
Department of the Interior |
|
Departmental Manual |
|
