Rights of Way

The National Park Service (NPS) revises regulations governing the application, processing, and issuance of right-of-way (ROW) permits for lands and waters administered by the NPS. A ROW permit authorizes the use of such lands and waters for the operation and maintenance of infrastructure associated with utilities such as fiber, water lines, power lines, and cellular antennas. The revisions align NPS processes more closely with those of other Department of the Interior (DOI) bureaus by allowing for a pre-application meeting, identifying a common standard application form, and broadening methods the NPS can use to determine fair market value. This rule clarifies the process for permitting construction related to a ROW permit, makes updates that reflect current technology and standard practices, and integrates applicable laws that have been implemented since the regulations were first promulgated in 1980.