---
kind: "section"
citation: "54 U.S.C. § 100502"
title: "54"
title_heading: "National Park Service and Related Programs"
number: "100502"
heading: "General management plans"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/54/100502"
units:
  - "Subtitle I — National Park System"
  - "Division A — Establishment and General Administration"
  - "Chapter 1005 — Areas of National Park System"
---

# §100502. General management plans


General management plans for the preservation and use of each [System unit](/usc/54/100102.md?p=6), including areas within the national capital area, shall be prepared and revised in a timely manner by the [Director](/usc/54/100102.md?p=1). On January 1 of each year, the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) shall submit to Congress a list indicating the current status of completion or revision of general management plans for each [System unit](/usc/54/100102.md?p=6). General management plans for each [System unit](/usc/54/100102.md?p=6) shall include—

- (1) measures for the preservation of the area’s resources;
- (2) indications of types and general intensities of development (including visitor circulation and transportation patterns, [systems](/usc/54/100102.md?p=5), and modes) associated with public enjoyment and use of the area, including general locations, timing of implementation, and anticipated costs;
- (3) identification of and implementation commitments for visitor carrying capacities for all areas of the [System unit](/usc/54/100102.md?p=6); and
- (4) indications of potential modifications to the external boundaries of the [System unit](/usc/54/100102.md?p=6), and the reasons for the modifications.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 113–287, § 3, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3098.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 100502 | 16 U.S.C. 1a–7(b). | Pub. L. 91–383, § 12, as added Pub. L. 94–458, § 2, Oct. 7, 1976, 90 Stat. 1942; Pub. L. 95–625, title VI, § 604(3), (4), Nov. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 3518, 3519; Pub. L. 103–437, § 6(c), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4583; Pub. L. 105–391, title IV, § 415(b)(2), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3515. |