RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/Date:  Friday, April 23, 1993

Broadcast: By 0830 ET

INCIDENTS

93-204 - Great Smokies (Tennessee/North Carolina) - Search

A search was begun on Tuesday for M.T., 24, a German national
who was last seen leaving the Clingmans Dome area around 1:00 p.m. that
afternoon.  M.T. intended to hike a loop circuit on the Appalachian,
Welch Ridge, Jonas Creek and Forney Creek trails, then return to the Dome
parking lot.  When he failed to reappear, a family member notified rangers
and a major search effort was begun.  Rangers found M.T. in good
condition in the Steel Trap Creek drainage yesterday afternoon.  [Steve
Smith, RAD/SERO, 4/22 and 4/23]

93-205 - Padre Island (Texas) - Drug Smuggling

During a drug interdiction operation conducted on the night of April 11th,
rangers observed approximately 300 pounds of marijuana being loaded into a
vehicle.  The vehicle eluded apprehension for some time due to heavy Easter
traffic; when rangers were finally able to make a felony stop, they
discovered that the marijuana was no longer in the vehicle.  Upon
investigation, they found that the shipment had been transferred to a second
vehicle, and that the smuggling organization involved in the park's last two
seizures had conducted this one as well.  [T.L. McDaniel, CR, PAIS, 4/22]

93-206 - Wupatki (Arizona) - Search

Just before noon on April 21st, the family of eight-year-old N.G.
reported her missing.  The family had been hiking on the Lava Flow
nature trail when N.G. wandered off the trail and out of sight.  A quick
but fruitless search of the immediate area was conducted by rangers and
maintenance staff; when it became apparent that more resources would be
needed, assistance was requested and received from the Coconino County
sheriff's office, Forest Service, Navajo tribal police, and Arizona
Department of Public Safety.  N.G. was found in good health and spirits
about a mile and a quarter from the trail around 1:20 p.m.  The success of
the search has been attributed to excellent interagency cooperation and
teamwork.  [Michael Stuckey, WUPA, 4/22]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Carlsbad Caverns (New Mexico) - Lechuguilla Cave Protection

Following a short period of inactivity, exploration and surveys of
Lechuguilla Cave are again underway.  These efforts are being undertaken by
a new and enthusiastic group of cave exploration experts known as LEARN
(Lechuguilla Exploration and Research Network).  Six other independent
groups have also made proposals for exploration and survey of the cave. 
Because of the recent controversy over the drilling of gas and oil wells on
BLM land north of the cave and less than a mile from one of its known
passages, the survey and exploration parties have focused their efforts on
the north end of the cave.  Since January, two expeditions - one independent
and one LEARN - have completed new surveys of 9,200 feet of cave.  Once its
determined that sections of the cave extend past the north boundary of the
park, then those segments will fall under the protection of BLM cave
management policies and drilling will be prohibited.  If the Lechuguilla
Cave Protection Act of 1993 passes Congress, then the cave will be protected
from oil and gas drilling by the withdrawal of land north of the park's
boundary.  [Jason Richards, Assistant Cave Specialist, CACA]

FIRE ACTIVITY

1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level I

2) FIRE SUMMARY

State  Agency     Area            Fire              4/22     4/23    Status

 MN    State   -               * Grayling              -      410    CND

NOTES:

- Fires - Asterisk indicates newly reported fire (on this report). T1 and T2
  indicate assigned Type I and Type II Teams.
- Status - The following abbreviations are employed:

  NR - No report received      MS - Modified suppression strategy
  CL - Controlled              MN - Being monitored
  CS - Confinement strategy    NEC - No estimate of containment
  CN (date) - Expected date    CND - Contained
     of containment

3) PARK FIRE REPORTS - No reports today.

4) FIRE ACTIVITY - 1,046 fires for 14,144 acres were reported this week.

5) ANALYSIS - Initial attack continues in the Southwest, South and East.
   
6) PROGNOSIS - No resource shortages are expected.

[NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0530, 4/23 

NOTES

1) THIRD NOTICE: The Albright Employee Development Fund announcement and
employee information packet have been distributed Servicewide.  Each package
contains an application, filing guidelines and instructions.  For additional
copies or assistance with the application, please contact your local
employee development (training) office.  Applications are due in to the WASO
Employee Development Division postmarked no later than April 30, 1993.

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Marriott at law enforcement
refresher (4/19-4/23); Sisto instructing at MWR special park uses training
course (4/19-4/23); Henry at backcountry workshop (4/21-4/22).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Hurd, Erskine and Botti at IFCC meeting (4/21-
4/22); Farrel at wildland/urban interface initiative meeting (4/19-4/22);
Clark at prescribed fire committee meeting (4/19-4/22); Cook on AL (4/19-
4/23).

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
SkyPager:  Emergencies ONLY (numeric message) - 1-800-759-7243, PIN 2404843 
SkyTalk:   Emergencies ONLY (voice message) - 1-800-759-8255, PIN 2404843