Use of Electronic Cigarettes to Fall Under Same Rules as Smoking Tobacco in National Parks

The National Park Service has issued a policy memorandum prohibiting the use of electronic smoking devices in all places where tobacco smoking is prohibited in national parks.

National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis said,

Protecting the health and safety of our visitors and employees is one of the most critical duties of the National Park Service. We are therefore extending the restrictions currently in place protecting visitors and employees from exposure to tobacco smoke to include exposure to vapor from electronic smoking devices.

The policy memorandum establishes National Park Service guidance on the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and is effective immediately. Under this guidance, the use of ENDS will not be allowed within all facilities and vehicles that are government owned or leased, and within all national park concessions facilities.