RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

Attention: Directorate
           Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
           Ranger Activities Division Information Network

Day/Date:  Thursday, February 27, 1992

INCIDENTS

91-93 - Big Cypress (Florida) - Follow-up on Lacey Act Arrests

On March 22, 1991, five men were arrested by Big Cypress rangers for
violations of the Lacey Act pertaining to possession of snakes, alligators,
frogs and lizards.  Subsequent investigation revealed that they were
involved in collecting animals for the commercial market and that the
animals had a commercial value of about $350,000.  Rangers also seized a
large number of reptiles and amphibians, a small quantity of drugs,
videotapes depicting collection activities, log books and maps showing
collection sites, and paraphernalia associated with reptile collecting.  On
February 19th, N.W. of Traverse City, Michigan, who had previously
pleaded guilty to violating the Lacey Act, was sentenced to three years'
probation, with a special condition that he serve six months in a community
control facility.  He must also complete 100 hours of community service at
Sleeping Bear Dunes, and was ordered to pay $1,000 to the federal asset
forfeiture fund.  Three other defendants in the case - S.G.,
co-owner of Great Northern Reptiles, D.S. and S.E. - were
sentenced on the same charges last September: S.G. to six months in a
community control facility and 300 hours of community service; D.S. to
three years probation and 300 hours of community service; S.E. to three
years probation and 200 hours of community service.  Garvin also forfeited a
1981 Ford station wagon; Schneider and Eisele each S.G. $7,500.  Last
July, T.B., another co-defendant, was sentenced on a misdemeanor
violation of the Lacey Act to two years probation, a cash forfeiture, and
the forfeiture of items seized by the rangers at the time of his arrest. 
The cases were jointly investigated by the NPS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and
the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission.  [Naples Daily News
article, sent via telefax by Bill Carroll, CR, BICY, 2/26]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1) Revisions are currently underway to NPS-9, the Service's law enforcement
guideline.  Lt. Patrick O'Brien (USPP) has been detailed to Ranger
Activities to assist with the organization and review of recommended
revisions and the possible restructuring of the guideline's format.  We are
also interested in obtaining copies of a variety of park procedures in order
to evaluate them as possible models for new sections of the guideline.  If
you have what you consider to be good SOP's in place in any of the following
areas, please consider sending a copy to Major Jack Schamp in this office:

     * Accident investigations            * Bomb scenes
     * Barricade situations               * Internal investigations
     * Discharge of firearms              * Radio communications
     * Crime scenes                       * Vehicle maintenance
     * Undercover operations              * Hostage situations

We may also be seeking information on other park procedures in the future. 
Stay tuned.  [Jack Schamp, RAD/WASO]

2) Representatives from North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, National Capital,
Southeast and Midwest regions met in January with staff members from the
Division of Wildlife and Vegetation to discuss the need for a proposed
programmatic EIS for white-tailed deer management in Eastern parks.  Those
in attendance agreed that there'll be a need for such an EIS once a program
exists, but that the NPS has not yet reached that point.  They recommended
that a group be established to coordinate the development of information to
help those parks which are developing deer management plans.  [Lissa Fox,
Wildlife and Vegetation, WASO]

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Coffey at rights-of-way
regulations meeting, Philadelphia, PA (2/24-2/28); Henry meeting with air
tour operators, Las Vegas, NV, and Hawaii (2/24-2/28).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Hurd at fire prevention and education working
team meeting, Phoenix, AZ (2/24-2/28); Botti on annual leave (2/24-3/13);
Clark at meeting on prevention/education initiative, Phoenix, AZ (2/24-2/28);
Broyles at fireline safety committee meeting, Portland, OR (2/25-2/27).

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone:  Branch of R&VP - FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
            Branch of F&A (WASO) - FTS 268-5572/5573 or 202-208-5572/5573

Telefax:    Branch of R&VP - FTS 268-6756 or 202-208-6756
            Branch of F&A (WASO) - FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977

CompuServe: Branch of R&VP - WASO-RANGER
            Branch of F&A (WASO) - WASO-FIRE-WO

SEAdog:     Branch of R&VP - 1/650
            Branch of F&A (WASO) - 1/655