RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                       MORNING REPORT

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

Day/date: Tuesday, October 16, 1990

INCIDENTS

90-364 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Drug Eradication Operation

Over the course of the period from early July to late September, park
rangers Jeff Judd and Paul Ducasse participated full time in Operation
Wipeout, a DEA-sponsored marijuana eradication effort. Also participating
were state enforcement officers, Hawaii County police officers and members
of the military. The task force made a dozen arrests for cultivation and
distribution of marijuana and eradicated 500,000 plants. Two of the
arrested suspects were growing about 2,700 plants within an area 200 yards
from the park's jurisdictional boundary but within its legislative boundary.
Observers feel that the task force had a major impact on illegal marijuana
cultivation on Hawaii. (CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO,
10/11).

90-365 - Statue of Liberty (New York) - Larceny Arrest

Last July, Evelyn Hill, Inc., the concessioner on Liberty Island, reported
the theft of $9,000 to park rangers, who began an investigation into the
incident. The cash was subsequently recovered, and two concession employees
were arrested and charged with the theft. During recent plea bargaining
sessions with the United States Attorney's Office in Manhattan, one of the
two plead guilty and agreed to provide evidence concerning his partner's
involvement in the larceny. (Telephone report from Tom Bradley, Deputy
Superintendent, STLI, 10/12).

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Alaska Region - The first reimbursement to the NTS for actions taken in
response to the Valdez oil spill has been received from Exxon. Checks for
approximately $2.2 million were processed by the Coast Guard in September,
and the funds were transferred to the Service on October 2nd. The money
will be deposited in the new oil spill emergency fund which has been
established by DOT to offset on-going and future costs for responding to oil
spills. The money, which was recovered through the provisions of Section
311(k) of the Clean Water Act, represents the largest single reimbursement
to any Interior bureau made so far as a result of an oil spill. (Telefax
report from Dan Hamson, Oil Spill Office, ARO, 10/9).

FIRE ACTIVITY

No NICC fire report today.

STAFF STATUS

- Division Chief: Dabney on AL (10/15-10/19).

- Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Marriott at meeting in Atlanta
  (10/16-10/18).

- Branch of Fire: Hurd and Gale in Marana, Arizona (10/15-10/19); Broyles
  at National Safety Council meeting in Portland (10/14-10/19); Botti on
  fire review at Yosemite (10/13-10/18).

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone:  FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
Telefax:    FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977
CompuServe: WASO-RANGER (Branch of R&VP); WASO-FIRE-WO (Branch of Fire)
SEAdog:     1/650