Interior Department tells staff not to confirm details concerning deaths in national parks: report

The Interior Department reportedly prohibits employees from directly notifying the public about deaths within the national park system. 

The directive came in a memo sent in December, which tells park staff and others who communicate with the media that they are no longer permitted to confirm deaths or details about severe injuries, according to The Washington Post. 

A spokesperson for the interior told the Post that the guidance was "developed to create a more consistent approach to incident communications across the Department and is not intended to conceal fatalities or delay information." 

The department, the spokesperson said, continues to provide safety information and information about incidents, while "respecting investigative processes, privacy considerations, next-of-kin notifications, and, in some cases, requests from family members not to release identifying information." 

Each year, an average of 350 people die in national parks, according to Park Service data.