Allegations of Ethical Violations and Misconduct by NPS Superintendent

We investigated allegations that James Milestone, Superintendent of California’s Whiskeytown National Recreation Area (WHIS), National Park Service (NPS), solicited donations and inappropriately collected funds for the park partner organization Friends of Whiskeytown (FOW). We also investigated allegations that Milestone had park employees work on FOW projects while on duty, misused maintenance project funds, disregarded compliance rules and other requirements for a trail project, engaged in gender discrimination and sexual harassment, and misused a Government-owned vehicle. We substantiated the allegations that Milestone routinely violated Federal regulations and NPS policies and found that he demonstrated questionable leadership practices: • Milestone admitted that he had solicited and collected donations for the FOW and asked his subordinates and a park concessionaire to do the same. • Milestone violated ethics regulations by offering the services of WHIS employees and its lodging accommodations to the FOW for fundraising events. • Milestone ignored departmental policy and compliance requirements and improperly redirected funding for a proposed trail project. • Milestone communicated unprofessionally with his staff, including making inappropriate gender-based remarks. • Milestone routinely misused a Government-owned vehicle; we also determined that he demonstrated a lack of candor when he denied the misuse. We provided this report to the NPS Deputy Director, who is exercising the authority of the NPS Director, for any action deemed appropriate.