RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/Date:  Wednesday, March 31, 1993

Broadcast: By 0830 ET

                         *** NOTE ***

Because of the imminent arrival of the summer season and increased incident
and fire activity, the morning report release time has been moved up to 0830
Eastern Time.

INCIDENTS

93-59 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Volcanic Activity

Over the past week, a finger of lava has been moving towards the Lae Apuki
village site to the east of Kamoamoa.  Lava has reached the ocean in front
of the village and covered many major archeological features.  There's no
indication that the flows will stop, and it's believed that the site will be
completely covered within a few days.  The loss is significant, since it's
the last remaining prehistoric/historic Hawaiian village site east of the
Keahou landing site located on the western boundary of the Kalapana
extension.  All the other major village and occupation sites along this 16-
mile stretch of coast have been seriously compromised or covered by lava
flows over the last 22 years.  Biological losses have also been substantial,
as significant stands of a dozen native species have been overrun.  [Jim
Martin, CR, HAVO, 3/29] 

93-153 - NCR Areas (Virginia/Maryland/DC) - Follow-up on Oil Spill

As of yesterday morning, the oil from Sunday's 350,000-gallon spill had
flowed down the Potomac as far south as Alexandria, Virginia.  The largest
oil slick - about 100 yards long by 300 yards wide - was reported in the
vicinity of Theodore Roosevelt Island, which is administered by George
Washington Memorial Parkway.  A light sheen of oil was also reported inside
the Tidal Basin near the Jefferson Memorial; booms have been in place at the
basin inlet since early afternoon on the 29th.  Staffs from the parkway, C&O
Canal and National Capital Parks are taking part in site evaluations along
the river's shorelines and are searching for wildlife affected by the spill. 
Reports have been received of dead fish along the shoreline south of the
District of Columbia, but none have been confirmed.  A contract wildlife
rehabilitator has been brought in; Sharon Taylor, an NPS veterinarian, is on
scene and working with them.  [John Howard, NCRO, 3/30]

93-154 - Great Smokies (Tennessee/North Carolina) - Follow-up on Search 

The search for 13-year-old B.L. continued yesterday.  Three
helicopters - one with a helitack crew - flew the area, specialized tracking
teams with air scent dogs searched near the point last seen (PLS) and in the
Rainbow Falls area, ground searchers followed trackers to search the high
probability search area around the PLS, and perimeter blocks were maintained
on all trails.  Despite these efforts and two alerts near the PLS, no trace
of B.L. was found.  The search will continue today.  About 150 people from
eight federal, state and local agencies are participating in the search;
just under 100 are from the NPS. [Incident Management Team, GRSM, 3/30]

93-157 - Golden Gate (California) - Rescue

Rangers received a report of two stranded persons in distress on Seal Rocks
near the Cliff House on the morning of March 30th.  Rangers Strickfaden,
Milestone and Park Police officer DeVlught responded in a rescue Zodiac. 
They maneuvered the boat through ten-foot swells, tricky cross currents and
rough surf and rescued surfers H.L. and R.S.  Both were
uninjured.  They said that they'd been surfing when the currents began to
pull them into the rocks near the shore and that they were forced to abandon
their surfboards.  They'd been on the rock for about 45 minutes when
rescued.  [Charlie Strickfaden, GOGA, 3/30]

93-158 - Dinosaur (Colorado) - Search

When M.G., R.G. and S.G. of Denver, Colorado, failed to return from
a backcountry trip to the park on the evening of Sunday, March 28th, family
members notified the park and a search was begun for the trio.  County
officers were contacted, and it was determined that the three had tried to
drive into Echo Park on Saturday morning.  Due to severe weather conditions
on the 29th (the park received two inches of rain between Saturday and
Monday), only paved road junctions could be checked.  On the morning of the
30th, however, a break in the weather occurred and a helicopter flew the
area.  The G.'s vehicle was found stuck near Echo Park, and the three
men were subsequently found in an abandoned sheepherder's cabin about seven
miles away.  They'd abandoned their vehicle on the 28th and had attempted to
bike and hike out of the park, but eventually sought refuge in the cabin. 
All were in good condition.  They were flown out by helicopter.  [Dan Moses,
CR, 3/30] 

93-159 - Buffalo (Arkansas) - Probable Drowning

On March 27th, a party comprised of two men and two women set up camp near a
bluff at the Lock Head Barn area.  When one of the women awoke shortly after
the group retired that evening, she found that her companion was missing. 
They searched the area and found his body in the water about 40 feet below
the bluff.  Investigating rangers believe that he was preparing to go to
sleep when he fell, since his boots and watch were found at the campsite. 
An investigation is underway.  The county coroner will conduct an autopsy. 
[Bob Howard, BUFF, 3/29]

UPCOMING IN CONGRESS

The following is a revision of yesterday's Congressional update.  The
information on the upcoming recess has also been revised.  The House will 
recess on the 5th and return on the 13th; the Senate goes out on the 4th and
comes back on the 19th.

March 31

House Natural Resources Committee [Miller]: The committee
will consider the following bills: H.R. 486, adding Truman
Farm Home to Harry S Truman NHS; S. 328, to provide for
the rehabilitation of historic structures within the Sandy
Hook Unit of Gateway NRA; S. 326, to revise the boundaries
of George Washington Birthplace NM; H.J. Res. 156,
dedication of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum; and H.R.
698, protection of Lechuguilla Cave, Carlsbad Cavern NP.

April 1

House Merchant Marine Subcommittee on Environmental and
Natural Resources [Studds]: Hearing to consider how the
nation's biological resources are being managed and why
species dependent upon wetlands and public lands in
Endangered Species Act.

April 29

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior [Yates]:
Hearing on FY 94 appropriations for the NPS.

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: Brady instructing at managing the protection function
training course (3/29-4/1).

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Henry meeting with aircraft
overflight contractor (3/29-3/30) and at seminar on fire management in
wilderness and parks (3/30-4/2).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Erskine, Broyles, Norum and Botti at seminar on
fire management in wilderness and parks (3/29-4/1).

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone: Branch of R&VP - 202-208-4874
           Branch of F&A (WASO) - 202-208-5572
Telefax:   Branch of R&VP - 202-208-6756
           Branch of F&A (WASO) - 202-208-5977
cc:Mail:   Branch of R&VP - WASO Ranger Activities
           Branch of F&A (WASO) - WASO Fire and Aviation