RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

Attention: Directorate
           Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
           CC: RAD Information Net

Day/date:  Monday, November 27, 1989

INCIDENTS

89-336 - Cape Cod (Massachusetts) - Follow-up on Oil Spill

Surveys of the park which were conducted on the 16th led to the discovery of
four 20' and 6', 4" deep pools of oil near the Hatches Harbor inlet and
smaller patches of oil along the remainder of the six-mile section of beach
between the harbor and Long Point. Twelve dead oiled birds were picked up
at this time, and another 100 or so lightly oiled but generally unharmed
gulls were seen. A severe storm with gale force winds prevented further
assessments of the area that day. On November 17th, rangers discovered that
the storm had blown most of the oil into Hatches Harbor, a pristine, 200-
acre salt marsh. During the past year, park staffers have observed seven
different Federally-listed threatened or endangered species in the area of
the marsh, so there was a high degree of concern over potential impacts of
the oil to the harbor. Later that day, park staff and Clean Harbors, an oil
clean-up contractor, began collecting oil in the harbor and were able to
successfully remove much of it. The park also received confirmation on the
17th that the oil had come from a 1200-gallon spill which occurred in the
Cape Cod Canal on the 13th, and ESCO Oil, whose tanker had spilled the oil,
immediately assumed full responsibility for the incident. A representative
from the company met with the park superintendent and agreed to provide any
needed support. The cleanup continued on the 18th. Oil was retrieved by
hand and with rakes and pitch forks; a gasoline-powered brush cutter was
used to cut oil-covered grasses. Although a number of dead, oiled green
crabs were found in the marsh, most of the oil did not penetrate into marsh
sediments and apparently did not seriously impact the marsh's invertebrate
populations. Cleanup operations were completed the following day. ESCO has
agreed to remove any additional oil which may be found in the future. All
together, the park removed 70 bags of oiled debris and recovered 18 dead,
oiled birds. (CompuServe message from David Manski, RMS, CACO).

89-338 - Biscayne (Florida) - Airplane Crash

On the morning of November 17th, an F-15 or F-16 from Homestead AFB crashed
in shallow water in Biscayne Bay approximately three miles northeast of park
headquarters. At the time of the report, it was unclear whether or not the
pilot had survived. The aircraft was so highly fragmented that it's model
was also uncertain. The Air Force was in the process of beginning an
investigation, and the park was providing security for the area. There was
no damage to park facilities or resources. (Telephone report from Bill
Sturgeon, RAD/SERO).

89-339 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Probable Homicide

On October 10th, A.W.V. and a friend were reported missing when
their car was discovered in the park. On November 21st, a Mohave County
sheriff found A.W.V.'s body at an unspecified location on the west side of
the park. The sheriff's office is currently conducting a homicide
investigation into A.W.V.'s death. No further information is currently
available. (CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO).

FIRE SITUATION

Padre Island (Texas) - On November 15th, a thunderstorm triggered a fire on
the island which was not discovered until the following day, by which time
2,000 acres of grass and shrubs had burned. The fire was bounded on the
east by the Gulf of Mexico, on the west by the Laguna Madre, and on the
north and south by active and bare dune areas, so the park decided to simply
confine the fire from further spread. A rainstorm on the night of the 17th
quenched the fire, and it was declared out the following morning.
(CompuServe message from Steve Adams, CR, PAIS).

CALENDAR

Asterisks indicate new or revised entries:

November 28 - 30 - Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Program (SLETP)
Curriculum Conference, FLETC, Georgia. School coordinators will meet with
NPS staff to review curriculum in light of NPS-9 revisions and Servicewide
needs. Field input and suggestions welcome. Contact Bill Supernaugh (FTS
230-2246 or 912-267-2246).

November 28 - 30 - "Interpretation of Critical Resource Issues", Sheraton
Ocean Park Inn, Eastham, Massachusetts. Sponsored by the NARO Interpretive
Skills Team. The workshop will focus on the issues and techniques involved
in the interpretation of critical cultural and natural resource management
issues. Contact David Day, NARO, Division of Interpretation (617-223-5073).

February 25 - 28 - National Conference on Urban Entomology, University of
Maryland, College Park, Maryland. Contact Dr. Pat Zungoli, Department of
Entomology, Clemson University, Clemson, SO 29634-0365 (803-656-3111).

(Calendar appears in each Monday's morning report. If you know of a
conference, meeting or training session with Servicewide interest and
implications, please provide the specifics to Bill Halainen in Ranger
Activities).

STAFF STATUS

All hands on board.

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities