Background
On Jan. 20, 2021, the President signed Executive Order 13991, Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing (E.O. 13991). E.O. 13991 directs federal agencies to: immediately take action, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to require compliance with [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines with respect to wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, and other public health measures by: on-duty or on-site Federal employees; on-site Federal contractors; and all persons in Federal buildings or on Federal lands.
As stated in E.O. 13991, it is the policy of the Administration to halt the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by relying on the best available data and science-based public health measures. Such measures include wearing masks when around others, physical distancing, and other related precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
On Jan. 24, 2021, the Office of Management and Budget issued to provide guidance to federal agencies on implementing E.O. 13991. M-21-15 contains model safety principles that apply CDC guidelines related to maskwearing and physical distancing to the federal workplace and are designed to be used by federal agencies as a starting point for updating their COVID-19 workplace safety plans. The guidance for superintendents in this Memorandum draws upon these principles to help ensure that visitors to the National Park System do not threaten the health and safety of NPS employees, volunteers, partners and contractors, or other park visitors.
On Jan. 29, 2021, the Acting Secretary of the Interior issued a memorandum entitled. This memorandum reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to an urgent, robust, and professional response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Memorandum requires all onsite employees, contractors, and volunteers to wear a mask or face covering at all times while in Department buildings or on federal public lands when physical distancing of 6 feet or more is not possible.
Decision
To implement Executive Order 13991 and subsequent guidance, persons over the age of two years old visiting Guilford Courthouse National Military Park will be required to wear masks in the following areas, except when actively eating or drinking, in the following areas:
* All common areas and shared workspaces in buildings owned, rented or leased by the National Park Service, including, but not limited to, park visitor center, administrative offices, and all other facilities.
* Masks must be worn in outdoor areas where social distancing (staying at least six feet apart) cannot be reasonably maintained.
Masks must cover the nose and mouth and fit snugly around the nose and chin with no large gaps around the sides of the face. Masks not designed to be protective, masks with ventilation valves, and face shields do not meet the requirement.
Other measures will not suffice due to the nature of this management issue. Accordingly, the National Park Service determines publication as rulemaking in the Federal Register is unwarranted under 36 CFR § 1.5(c). Pursuant to 36 CFR § 1.5(c), this determination is available to the public upon request.
The original, signed version of the Record of Decision on February 9, 2021 is available at the park visitor center.
Tags: guilford courthouse national military park
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
