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Summary:
The National Park System includes 388 diverse units administered by the National Park Service (NPS) of the Department of the Interior. Units generally are added to the National Park System by act of Congress, although the President may proclaim national monuments on land that is federally managed for inclusion in the system. Before enacting a law to add a unit, Congress might first enact a law requiring the NPS to study an area, typically to assess its national significance and other factors. The Secretary of the Interior is required to prepare annually for Congress a list of areas recommended for study, as well as certain lists of areas previously studied. Significant areas also can be preserved outside the National Park System through programs managed or supported by the NPS. This report will be updated if the processes, criteria, and concerns change.
