Diversify Temps, NPS Told

National Park Service managers have been ordered to increase the diversity of their temporary seasonal work force or "be marked down on performance appraisals," The Washington Times reported Tuesday.

The new rules were issued after the Interior Dept. suspended seasonal hiring at its agencies for two weeks last month because it was concerned that its summer work force lacked diversity.

Recent reports have shown that the average park's applicant pool is composed of 93 percent whites and 7 percent minorities.