RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Friday, April 28, 1989
INCIDENTS
89-59 - Kenai Fjords/Katmai/Aniakchak - Follow-up on Oil Spill
Katmai - Additional oil has been found on the beaches of Cape Douglas in the
northeast corner of the park. The largest documented area was a continuous
concentration of oil measuring 550 feet by 10 feet, with an average depth of
two to four inches. The team which found the oil patch also found and
photographed 108 dead, oiled murres on the beach and observed 20 oiled,
living gulls. A sample of the dead birds was taken for evidence. A heavy
mousse was also reported off shore which ran for 20 miles from Cape Douglas
south to Kiukpalik Island. A second Katmai boat reported mousse at the head
of Kaflia Bay near the middle of the park's coastline. No oiled birds were
observed.
Aniakchak - The team working in the park is documenting archeological sites,
establishing intertidal plots and conducting otter surveys.
Kenai Fjords - A Coast Guard helicopter flew over the park on the 25th and
reported that 80 percent of the shoreline in Nuka Passage has been affected
by oil, with a heavy sheen observed off the outer coast of Nuka Island.
Boom repair and James and McCarty lagoons continues. (John Quinley, PA,
ARO).
89-73 - Cape Cod - Follow-up on Oil Spill
The cleanup of the oil slick which was found along 3 1/2 miles of the
seashore's beaches on the 21st went very well. About 75 volunteers helped
shovel up the oil into plastic bags and remove it from the beach. After the
cleanup was completed, rangers began noticing more patches and globules of
oil/tar along eight miles of beach north of the Coast Guard Beach spit.
These patches, which ranged in size from two to 24 inches square and were up
to two inches thick, were found just above the high tide line. Samples have
been taken for identification, but they appear to be unrelated to the first
spill. Over 18 patches have been discovered and removed by park personnel.
A Coast Guard lab is currently testing oil samples from the first spill and
from 19 of the 21 ships which passed the coast over the 24 hours before the
spill occurred. The other two ships have not been located and are believed
to have departed for international waters. (Dennis Burnett, DR, CACO).
89-79 - Joshua Tree - Drug Lab Clean-up
On April 24th, a Metropolitan Water District patrol officer discovered the
remains of a PCP drug lab on the southwest side of the park. The chemicals
which had been used by the lab, which had the capability of producing 100
gallons per run, were found to be contaminating the area. A hazardous
materials specialist was called in, and a contractor was hired by the park
to clean up the site with a front end loader. Removal of the contaminants
was completed yesterday afternoon. Three other drug labs have been
discovered in or near the park in the last month. (Paul Henry, CR, JOTR,
via RAD/WRO).
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) Fire Situation -
a) National Park Service:
- Strawhouse Fire, Big Bend (1,200 acres) - The fire is now controlled,
even though a continuous line around the fire has not yet been
completed. A few hot spots remain near the line, but are not causing
any problems. The fire was started by lightning on April
22nd; when it was discovered on the 23rd, it had consumed 40 acres.
On the 25th, winds pushed the fire to 800 acres in several hours. Full
suppression efforts began on the 26th, and only five more acres
burned thereafter.
(Charlie Peterson, Acting CR, BIBE).
OFFICE NOTES
1) Brian Koula of the Division of Conservation and Wildlife, Office of the
Solicitor, passed away on Wednesday. Brian worked on many NPS projects,
including all regulatory issuances, rights-of-way, and much of the
litigation involving the NPS. Some of the major projects he was involved
with were the formulation of NPS-53, preparation of Alaska cabin
regulations, and the major revisions to 36 CFR which were completed in 1984.
His funeral will be held in Wisconsin; the family has not yet decided on
remembrances. (Jim Loach, RAD/WASO).
STAFF STATUS
Dabney, Ringgold and Healy at regional chief rangers' meeting in El Paso
through today, Hodapp in Denver through today, Kreis on lieu day. Butch
Farabee is acting chief, Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection; Dave
Butts is acting division chief.
Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities
Telephone: FTS 343-4874/6039 or 202-343-4874/6039
Telefax: FTS 343-5977 or 202-343-5977
CompuServe: WASO-RANGER