Boating and Water Use Activities

The National Park Service (NPS) is revising rules that regulate boating and water use activities in areas administered by the NPS. The rule is intended to address changing visitor use patterns, changing technologies, compelling boating and water safety issues, and the evolution of related statutory authorities. The goal is to provide for greater consistency with United States Coast Guard (USCG) regulations and state laws and regulations and to establish rules which will be more clearly understood by the visiting public, and which can be more effectively communicated and enforced by NPS personnel. Promulgation of the final rule will eliminate many requirements which are ineffective or out of date and will provide flexibility in managing safety, resource preservation, and public use needs throughout the National Park System.