RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/Date:  Wednesday, March 25, 1992

INCIDENTS

92-87 - Everglades (Florida) - Commercial Fishing Conviction

On March 16th, T.S., 19, of Copeland, Florida, was found guilty of
unauthorized commercial fishing in the park.  Under the terms of a plea
agreement, T.S. was required to pay a fine of $370, forfeit his 580-yard
gill net, valued at $1,500, and donate $3,024 to the park.  The latter
figure represents the commercial value of the fish he possessed when he was
caught.  Since the money will come as a donation, it could go directly to
the park rather than to the general treasury.  The park has established a
special donation account which will be used to defray the costs of
processing the case and for other law enforcement purposes.  T.S. was
seen fishing with a gill net from a commercial boat by ranger Craig
Thatcher, who was flying patrol in a surveillance plane.  Thatcher notified
ranger Darleen Koontz, who apprehended T.S. while he was retrieving his
net from the water.  Upon seizure of the vessel, it was determined that
T.S. had caught about 4,000 pounds of fish from park waters.  [Telefax
from Mark Lewis, LES, EVER, 3/24]

92-88 - Everglades (Florida) - Search

Rangers from the Florida Bay District joined Monroe County officers on March
23rd in a search for an elderly man who lived in Key Largo, just outside the
park.  Shortly before dark, ranger Linda Cramer found the body of L.S.,
L.S.77, in the water near the shoreline within the district.  L.S.
had a history of strokes, and was believed to have Alzheimer's Disease. 
Investigators suspect that L.S. wandered from his home and subsequently
died of natural causes.  The body was transported by patrol boat to the
ranger station, where it was picked up by the county coroner's office.  The
county is heading the investigation into L.S.'s death.  [Telefax from
Mark Lewis, LES, EVER, 3/24]

92-89 - Carlsbad Caverns (New Mexico) - Rescue

The park's search and rescue team conducted a high-angle rescue of a victim
with a broken leg from a backcountry cave on the night of March 22nd.  A
military helicopter was employed in the effort.  No further information
available.  [NPS National Wildland Fire Summary, 3/24]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1) As noted in the February 27th morning report, we are interested in
obtaining copies of a variety of park law enforcement procedures in order to
evaluate them as possible models for new sections of NPS-9, the Service's
law enforcement 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

2) WASO's Wildlife and Vegetation Division and the University of New Mexico
cosponsored a workshop in Albuquerque in late February to look at strategic
ecological research needs in the NPS.  Participants included a park
superintendent and both NPS and academic scientists.  The workshop focused
on defining a unique role for the Park Service and NPS units in ecological
research, particularly in the areas of global change, biological diversity
and ecosystem sustainability.  These three key areas were also cited as
priorities by the Ecological Society of America, the nation's largest
society of professional ecological scientists.  The workshop participants
examined the scientific basis for existing policies, particularly in regard
to their utility in the future; discussed specific emerging management
issues for park managers; analyzed priority research needs in ecological
science; and proposed a research agenda for the future.  The final report is
due out shortly.  [Lissa Fox, Wildlife and Vegetation, WASO]

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: Brady at Southeast Region chief rangers' conference,
Chattanooga, TN (3/23-3/27).

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin at meeting on Alaska lands
issues, Denver, CO (3/23-3/26); Coffey at meeting in Charlottesville, NC
(3/23-3/27); Schamp on law enforcement aviation review, Western Region
(3/23-4/4); Halainen on review of uniform boot problems, Shenandoah (3/26).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Spruill on law enforcement aviation review,
Western Region (3/23-4/4); Erskine at Forest Service international response
conference, Denver, CO (3/23-3/25); Farrel at Congressional briefing
seminar, WASO (3/23-3/27); Berg and Botti at FIREPRO steering committee
meeting, Santa Fe and Bandelier, NM (3/23-3/27); Norum at information
meeting with steering committee for wilderness fire management, Missoula, MT
(3/25-3/27).

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