NPS Removes Unnecessary Regulations As Part Of Its Regulatory Reform

The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area recently announced that it was removing certain regulations that were outdated and no longer necessary.  The agency stated that its action was taken in response to Executive Order 13777, “Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda,” the purpose of which was to “alleviate unnecessary burdens placed on the American people.”  To carry out that EO, the National Park Service “is reviewing its regulations in order to identify those that should be repealed, replaced, or modified.”

The specific regulations which were removed included a rule that required visitors to register before doing any technical rock climbing.  The agency found that the practical result was that registration system triggered unnecessary search missions because it was “not used properly by the public.”  The agency noted that the rule was “operationally eliminated” (i.e., no longer enforced) 25 years ago.  The other rule generally prohibited commercial vehicles in the park unit, but those vehicles are now allowed if in accordance with applicable law.