Federal Land Acquisition and Management Practices.

The National Park Service, Department of the Interior, followed a general practice of acquiring outright ownership of all lands in the National Park System. However, in April 1979, the Service revised its land acquisition policy to give greater consideration to protecting areas through the use of easements, zoning, and cooperative agreements with State and local governments. Although some progress has been made in using alternatives, the Park Service continues to purchase almost all land outright.