- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Tuesday, October 20, 1992
- Date: Tues, 20 Oct 1992
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Tuesday, October 20, 1992
Release: 0830 EDT
INCIDENTS
92-449 - Gettysburg (Pennsylvania) - Follow-up on Special Event
The filming of "Killer Angels", a movie about the Battle of Gettysburg based
on the book by Michael Shaara, concluded on September 30th. Crews from
Turner Broadcasting Network had been filming the movie since July 28th, and
shot several major scenes on park lands under a special use permit and film
permit. An ICS team from the park managed the event. There was no serious
damage to any resource, and visitor inconvenience was held to a minimum.
Turner Broadcasting Network compensated the park for labor and materials
amounting to $22,000, mostly for labor to manage and monitor the event.
They also gave $50,000 to Friends of Gettysburg National Park, Inc., to
benefit park cultural resource management visitations. Mid-Atlantic Region
and three parks provided assistance to park personnel in monitoring impacts
to park resources, controlling traffic and crowds, and inspecting and
supervising black powder usage. It's expected that the film will preview in
the spring and be released as a four-hour-long mini-series next summer.
Principal actors were Martin Sheen, Tom Berenger, and Sam Elliott. Media
coverage was very high throughout the filming. [Mac Heebner, CR, GETT,
10/18]
92-451 - South Florida Areas - Follow-up on Hurricane Andrew
As of yesterday, there were 121 people (55 from the NPS) working on recovery
efforts under the all-risk team. Several projects were completed yesterday,
including cleanup of Long Pine Key Campground, landscaping of the Royal Palm
Visitor Center, repair of the Shark Valley entrance station, and repairs to
the well house at Everglades headquarters. Please note the special request
below regarding information on costs which your area may have incurred in
supporting the recovery operation. [Bill Blake, ARM team, 10/19]
92-559 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Follow-up on Death of Employee
There will be a memorial service for Dave Karraker, superintendent of
Albright Employee Development Center, at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 23rd,
at the park's Shrine of the Ages Chapel. The service will be followed by
interment of the ashes in the Grand Canyon cemetery and a luncheon at the
Shrine immediately thereafter. The family asks that contributions (in lieu
of flowers) be made to the "David Karraker Memorial Scholarship Fund" at
Grand Canyon High School or to the Employee and Alumni Association. If you
would like to contribute to the scholarship fund, please make your check out
to the fund and send them care of Marianne Karraker, PO Box 164, Grand
Canyon, AZ 86023, or to Albright Employee Development Center, PO Box 477,
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023. Dave had been in the Service for over 40 years, and
had spent the last two decades as, successively, superintendent of Mather
and Albright Employee Development Centers. [Flip Hagood, EDD/WASO; Ann
Baugh, AEDC/WASO, 10/19]
92-562 - War in the Pacific (Guam) - Typhoon Brian
As of yesterday afternoon, Typhoon Brian was about to strike Guam with winds
of from 100 to 125 mph. The park was securing facilities and suspending
operations effective at 1 p.m. local time. The entire staff was being
placed on administrative leave and was to be sent home as soon as island
preparedness was upgraded to Condition 1. Several employees who lost their
homes during Typhoon Omar in August asked for and have been granted shelter
in the park's maintenance building. Details will follow on future morning
reports. [Edward Wood, Superintendent, WAPA, 10/19]
92-563 - Yosemite (California) - Rescue
D.C. fell about 20 feet and sustained a compression fracture of a
vertebra while leading the 26th pitch of the Nose route on El Capitan at
7:30 a.m. on October 12th. His partners climbed to the top of El Capitan
and summoned assistance. Word of D.C.'s injury reached the park at 8:40
p.m., and a rescue party was flown to the scene the following morning.
Rangers Kelly McCloskey and Mike Ray were lowered approximately 900 feet to
D.C.'s location. He was stabilized and hauled to the top along with
McCloskey, who is a park medic. D.C. was flown to the Valley for
preliminary treatment, then taken to a hospital in Modesto via helicopter.
[Mike Lalone, YOSE, 10/16]
92-564 - Coronado (Arizona) - Drug Seizure
On October 14th, the Border Patrol seized 322 pounds of marijuana from a
vehicle two miles west of the visitor center and within the park. Rangers
were called to assist and gave chase to two males who fled on foot with the
vehicle's keys but left $900 behind in a coat pocket. At approximately the
same time, Mexican federales attempting to stop a late model station wagon
on the border 14 miles east of the park exchanged gunfire with two
individuals who fled into the United States. A Customs helicopter was
called in, but the two men are believed to have headed back into Mexico.
The station wagon contained 325 pounds of marijuana. The marijuana in both
incidents was identically wrapped and may have originated from the same
location near the Mexican border. [Bill Smith, CR, CORO, 10/16]
92-565 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Search; Probable Suicide
An unattended car was noted by patrol rangers at No-Name Point on East Rim
Drive on several occasions last week, and its license number was eventually
checked through NCIC. The report that came back said it was stolen, but the
ranger who contacted the registered owner in Florida found that the woman's
son, B.C., had disappeared with the car in the first week of
October. Rangers then entered the car, found a suicide note, and began a
search of the area for B.C.. His body was found on October 17th. Its
believed that he died from either a jump or a fall. The investigation is
continuing with the assistance of Coconino County officials. [Terrill
Gibbons, GRCA, 10/19]
92-566 - Rock Creek Park (District of Columbia) - MVA with Fatality
At 2:20 a.m. on Saturday, October 10th, a Volkswagen operated by 33-year-old
R.B. crossed the double line and struck a second Volkswagen head-on.
R.B. was pronounced dead at the scene. Both women in the second
vehicle had to be extricated from their car and are in serious but stable
condition with numerous injuries. Initial investigation indicates that
speed, a slippery road surface and alcohol all contributed to the accident.
[Lt. John Harasek, USPP, 10/15]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No field reports today.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
1) Hurricane Andrew Backfill Costs - The superintendents of the south
Florida parks affected by Hurricane Andrew need information on costs
associated with this effort. Your assistance is requested in documenting
the following costs if you provided any assistance to the incident:
* FY 1992:
Dollar cost in back fill overtime :______________
Dollar cost in Base Eight regular
time (for project employees only) :______________
Dollar cost in equipment and supplies :______________
* FY 1993:
Dollar cost in back fill overtime :______________
Dollar cost in Base Eight regular
time (for project employees only) :______________
Dollar cost in equipment and supplies :______________
NOTE: This information is needed by close of business on October 22nd.
Please fax it to Bill Blake at 305-242-7706. The superintendents and
incident commander all realize that you will have to estimate these costs,
and thank you in advance for your assistance. [Bill Blake, IC, ARM team]
2) Ranger Futures - Steve Shackelton in Ranger Activities in ARO is
soliciting case material for a study on knowledge level requirements for
park rangers. The material will be used in a research paper evaluating the
level of knowledge and experience necessary to effectively perform resource
protection activities which will be provided to the OPM classification teams
working with the Ranger Futures workgroup and will supplement their field
visits. He is looking specifically for cases which clearly demonstrate the
skills employed by rangers in investigating or preventing cases of crimes
against natural, cultural or human resources, particularly those which link
legal ability, technology, writing and speaking skills at a professional
level, complex case management, and resource expertise. No on-going
investigations should be included. Please use the following format to put
the case material in standard synopsis format:
Name:
Contact Phone:
Park or Region:
Case Number (if applicable):
Brief Case Narrative (less than a page in length if possible and stressing
value of resources and case complexities):
OPM is interested in those qualifications which are appropriate in today's
world for resource protection rangers. It will be possible to provide a
more accurate picture for the study if respondents can provide a variety of
case types and ranges of expertise required to resolve them. Responses are
needed by November 1, 1992 and should be sent via cc:Mail to Carrie Stroble
in ARO. Earlier responses will be helpful. [Steve Shackleton, RAD/ARO]
THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS
Although Congress is not in session, a status report, prepared by WASO
Legislation, is now available on bills which passed Congress before it
adjourned and have been cleared for the President's signature. "Received"
means the White House has received it from Congress; "Not received" means
the opposite. "Action due" means that the President must act on the bill
before the date specified. Failure to act constitutes a de facto veto. An
update will appear in a future Morning Report:
* African Americans Memorial [DC] (HJRes 320) - Signed 10/14. PL 102-412.
* American Discovery Trail (HR 6184) - Received. Action due by 10/27.
* Brown v. Board of Education NHS (S 2890), amended to include Dry Tortugas
NP, NPS Advisory Commissions, New River WSR study, and Boston Harbor
study - Not received.
* Cuyahoga land exchanges (HR 2181) - Received 10/16. Action due by 10/27.
* Dayton Aviation NHP (HR 2321) - Signed by the President on 10/16 and
now a new NPS unit.
* Delaware River WSR status (HR 3457) - Not received.
* Dry Tortugas NP (HR 5061) - Received 10/16. Action due by 10/27. Also
appears as amendment via Brown v. Board of Education.
* Elwha River ecosystem restoration (HR 4844) - Received 10/16. Action due
by 10/27.
* Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania and Appomattox expansions (S 225) - Not
received.
* Great Egg Harbor WSR (HR 5853) - Not received.
* Indiana Dunes NL expansions (HR 1216) - Received 10/16. Action due by
10/27.
* Japanese-American Veterans Memorial [DC] (HJRes 271) - Not received.
* JFK Center authorization (HR 6164) - Not received.
* Keweenaw NHP (S 1664) - Not received.
* Little River Canyon National Preserve (HR 3665) - Action due by 10/21.
* Lynn (MA) study (HR 2859) - Received 10/16. Action due by 10/27.
* Minute Man boundary adjustments (HR 2896) - Received 10/16. Action due by
10/27.
* New River WSR study (HR 5021) - Received 10/16. Action due by 10/27.
Also appears as amendment via Brown v. Board of Education.
* Nez Perce additions (HR 2032) - Not received.
* Olympic land exchange (HR 4489) - Received 10/16. Action due by 10/27.
* Port Chicago Naval Magazine Memorial (S 1439) - Not received.
* Revere Beach study (HR 2109) - Received 10/16. Action due by 10/27.
* Thomas Paine Memorial [DC] (HR 1628) - Signed by President on 10/13.
PL 102-407.
* Wild and Scenic Rivers Act amendment (HR 6179) - Received 10/16. Action
due by 10/27.
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin at NRPA conference,
Cincinnati, OH (10/19); Berkowitz at Southwest border conference, Austin, TX
(10/18-10/22).
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Broyles and Norum on annual leave (10/19-10/22);
Farrel at metro planners conference, Los Angeles (10/19-10/21) and
site visit, Channel Islands, CA (10/22-10/24); Crabtree at VMS systems
network meeting training, Denver, CO (10/19-10/23).
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
cc:Mail Branch of R&VP - WASO Ranger Activities
Branch of F&A (WASO) - WASO Fire and Aviation