General Management Plan Sourcebook

The General Management Planning Dynamic Sourcebook focuses on how to effectively prepare a park general management plan (GMP) and an accompanying environmental impact statement or environmental assessment. Drawing on NPS Management Policies 2006, Park Planning Program Standards, and the experience and insights of park planners, the sourcebook provides suggestions about approaches, methods, and tools that planning teams can use in conducting general management planning and producing plans. Multiple examples and links to useful sample templates and references are included for most sections of a GMP, highlighting questions and information that planning teams may want to consider. A wealth of information is included in the sourcebook's appendixes on planning data needs and sources, public involvement, Washington consultation and coordination procedures, and National Environmental Policy Act compliance requirements, among other topics.

The first round of revisions (completed in the fall of 2009) have been incorporated and available in the following pdf files.

Table of Contents

• Download Full Sourcebook
• Why the NPS Plans
• Purpose of Sourcebook
• Part One: General Considerations
  • Chapter 1:  Overview of GMP Planning
  • Chapter 2:  GMP Program Mangement
  • Chapter 3:  Project Initiation
  • Chapter 4:  Legal Requirements for GMPs
  • Chapter 5:  Public Involvement for GMPs
• Part Two: Developing the GMP
  • Chapter 6:  Foundation Statements
  • Chapter 7:  Development of GMP Alternatives
  • Chapter 8:  User Capacity
  • Chapter 9:  Estimating Costs of Alternatives
  • Chapter 10: The GMP/NEPA Document: Affected Environment, Environmental Consequences, Consultation and Coordination
  • Chapter 11: Identification of the Preferred Alternative and the Environmentally Preferred Alternative
  • Chapter 12: Draft Plan Review, Final EIS, ROD, EA, FONSI, and Final Plan
• Appendixes
  • Appendix A: WASO Consultaion and Coordination Procedures
  • Appendix B: Project Initiation
  • Appendix C: Examples of Legal Requirement Sections
  • Appendix D: Public Involvement
  • Appendix E: Foundation Statements
  • Appendix F: Alternatives
  • Appendix G: User Capacity
  • Appendix H: Examples of GMP Cost Estimating Tools
  • Appendix I: Impact Analysis
  • Appendix J: Choosing by Advantages and Environmentally Preferred Alternative
  • Appendix K: Project Completion
  • Appendix L: Planning Data Needs and Sources
  • Appendix M: Annotated List of Applicable Laws, Executive Orders, and Policies
• Bibliography
• Glossary