RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/Date:  Thursday, November 19, 1992

Release:   0800 EDT

INCIDENTS

92-608 - War in the Pacific (Guam) - Follow-up on Typhoon Hunt; Typhoon Gay

The eye of Typhoon Hunt passed across the northern part of Guam at about
1:30 p.m. on November 18th (November 17th in the continental U.S.).  Maximum
sustained winds were estimated at 75 mph, with gusts to 95 mph.  Damage to
the park and the island as a whole was minimal.  The park closed all
facilities and offices at 8 a.m. that morning and all employees were sent
home on administrative leave.  The park reopened all facilities at 7 a.m.
the following day.  Typhoon Gay is now approaching the area, and is expected
to reach "super typhoon" strength (sustained winds of 175 mph) when it
reaches the Guam area.  The storm is still too far away to accurately
predict the track, but it is expected to pass through the Guam-Saipan area
early next week.  Updates will be provided as appropriate.  [Ed Wood,
Superintendent, WAPA, 11/19 (area date)]

92-611 - Shenandoah (Virginia) - Hunting Violations

On November 16th, the first day of deer rifle-hunting season in Virginia,
three hunters were caught hunting white-tail deer well within the park's
boundaries.  C.H., 42, of Culpepper, and A.C., 30, of
Rapidan, were cited for hunting in the park and had their weapons
confiscated.  C.H.'s son, age 13, was also in possession of a weapon and
hunting with his father, but was not cited.  When the group first saw ranger
Bob Martin, who was in full camouflage, they immediately unloaded their
rifles in a covert manner.  When Martin contacted them, they immediately
stated that they didn't know they were in the park.  After securing their
weapons, Martin escorted them to the location where they said they'd entered
the park, and found that the boundary markings in the area were clearly
posted.  According to C.H., the trio had hunted in the park for nearly three
hours.  [Bob Martin, DR, SHEN, 11/16]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Theodore Roosevelt (North Dakota) - Bison Round-up

Between November 10th and 15th, members of the park's staff conducted a
round-up to cull bison from herds in the North and South Units.  They
captured 497 animals (165 in the north, 332 in the south) and processed them
through each unit's wildlife handling facilities.  A total of 294 animals
were culled and shipped to the three affiliated tribes on the Forth Berthold
Reservation in North Dakota.  The park's two bison herds now total
approximately 337 animals (95 in the north, 242 in the south).  Blood
samples were drawn for brucellosis testing, blood typing and DNA genetics
work.  Results are pending.  In addition, blood serum for future disease
testing was sent to the NPS serum bank for storage.  Staff from all
divisions were employed in the round-ups along with two contract
helicopters, contract horseback riders, two private veterinarians, a state
veterinarian and several tribal members.  The operation was completed in six
days, during which the newly-constructed South Unit multi-species wildlife
handling facility was christened.  Two animals died and two minor employee
injuries occurred during the event.  [Roger Andrascik, RMS, THRO, 11/18]

Great Smoky Mountains (Tennessee/North Carolina) - Red Wolf Release

On October 9th, a family group of red wolves, including M341, a four-year-old
male, F378, his three-year-old mate, and their four six-month-old pups,
was released from a pen near Cades Cove.  All six animals are radio-collared
and are being tracked intensively, as were their experimental predecessors. 
Unlike the earlier group, however, there are no plans to recapture this
family, which will make them the first red wolves to reside permanently in
the Smokies since at least 1905.  They also have the distinction of being
the first wolves to be reintroduced into any NPS area.  A second family
group will soon be released into the northwestern section of the park, but
away from the open, pastoral Cades Cove area.  That family, also made up of
a mated pair and four six-month-old pups, has been in a park acclimation pen
since June.  Plans developed jointly by the park and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service call for the gradual release of a few additional pairs each
year until biologists determine that the park's carrying capacity has been
reached.  [RM, GRSM, 11/18]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1) EPA Environmental Ed Grants - The WASO Division of Interpretation has
information on EPA's environmental education grants for 1993.  While the NPS
is not eligible to receive these grants, the following entities are: local
or tribal education agencies, colleges or universities, not-for-profit
organizations, and non-commercial broadcasting entities.  You can, however,
work cooperators, such as schools and cooperating associations, to apply for
grants.  Pre-applications must be submitted to EPA by January 15th.  If
you'd like to receive an information packet with grant criteria and
application instructions, contact Debra Kelly in the Division of
Interpretation (202-523-5270).  [Diane Jung, ID/WASO]

2) Commercial Filming - The Policy Office in WASO has received a number of
comments concerning commercial filming in national parks and is now in the
initial stages of updating and revising the applicable regulations (36 CFR
5.5 and 43 CFR 5.1) and guideline (NPS-21).  On December 9th and 10th,
several NPS field personnel with expertise in administering commercial
filming permits and individuals from the film industry will meet in
Washington.  Prior to the meeting, we would like to invite NPS field staff
with experience in commercial filming to provide comments on those issues or
topics which need to be addressed or changed in NPS-21.  They ask that
written comments be sent by fax (202-208-4260) or cc:Mail (WASO Policy) by
Friday, December 4th, in order to give them sufficient time to review the
comments and prior to discussing them at the meeting.  If your area has
specific park guidelines pertaining to commercial filming, Policy would
appreciate receiving a copy.  They also want to identify people who should
be consulted during the guideline revisions.  If you have experience with
commercial filming - whether motion picture or still - and would like to be
involved in the revision process, please let them know.  Please pass this
information on to any individual in your area with expertise in commercial
filming.  For further information, contact Peggy Sandretzky in the Office of
Policy (202-208-4027).  [Peggy Sandretzky, OP/WASO]

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: Brady at Alaska chief rangers' conference (11/19-11/20).

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Dickerhoof, Smith and Marriott at
law enforcement conference at FLETC (11/16-11/20); Halainen and Martin at
DOI emergency incident response/all-risk management meeting (11/17-11/18);
Martin at same conference (11/18-11/20).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Gale at DOI emergency incident response/all-risk
management meeting (11/17-11/18); Botti and Berg at FIREPRO steering
committee meeting (11/16-11/20).

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