RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/Date:  Tuesday, November 9, 1993

Broadcast: By 0900 EDT

INCIDENTS

93-797 - Martin Luther King (Georgia) - Employee Arrest

On the afternoon of November 3rd, park interpretive ranger D.P.
was arrested by agents from the Atlanta police fugitive squad on charges of
rape, robbery, kidnapping and false imprisonment.  The charges stem from an
incident which occurred on or about April 30th; the park was notified of the
charges against D.P. on November 3rd.  The location and details of the
incident that led to the charges are not known.  The court hearing has been
tentatively set for November 9th.  Park management is currently seeking
additional information in order to determine an appropriate course of
action.  [Johnny Sims, CR, MALU, 11/5]

93-798 - Great Smokies (Tennessee/North Carolina) - Search in Progress

A search was begun yesterday for 25-year-old M.R.A. of
Hornell, New York.  M.R.A.'s backpack was found along the Appalachian Trail
by two backpackers who reported the find to rangers at Sugarlands visitor
center on the morning of November 7th.  A note on M.R.A.'s backpack said
that he was injured and was heading out to "the Gap" for help.  No one has
reported seeing either M.R.A. or his vehicle.  As of yesterday, 33 park
personnel and a dog team from North Carolina had been committed to the
search. [Jason Houck, CR, GRSM, 11/8]

93-799 - Canaveral (Florida) - Poaching Arrest

During a resource protection surveillance operation in the pre-dawn hours of
November 4th, rangers utilizing night vision equipment located and contacted
a vessel running without lights in park waters.  The boat's occupant, P.B.,
was wanted under a federal warrant for failure to appear after
rangers caught him selling oysters which had been gathered from polluted
waters to a local restaurant.  The sale of such oysters is a serious public
health problem in Florida, and in P.B.'s case was compunded by the fact
that he owns a wholesale fish house.  Rangers determined that P.B. had
been on his way to retrieve an illegal gill net.  The 100-yard net,
approximately 400 fish, and the vessel were seized.  P.B. appeared in
federal court later that day and pled guilty to illegal commercial fishing. 
He was fined $500, and a trial date was set for the charge of selling
contaminated oysters.  P.B. is currently on state probation, which will
likely be revoked.  P.B. and his two sons and son-in-law are all known for
their anti-government opinions and lifestyle.  Other developments are
expected.  [Bill DeHart, CR, CANA, 11/5]

FIRE ACTIVITY

Fire reports have been discontinued because of the lack of significant
national fire activity.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

UPCOMING IN CONGRESS

The following activities will be taking place in Congress during coming
weeks on matters pertaining to the National Park Service.  If you would like
further information on any of these hearings or bills, please contact Dottie
in WASO Legislation at 202-208-3636.

November 16

House Natural Resources' Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public
Lands [Vento]: Hearing on H.R. 2843, to establish the Wheeling National
Heritage Area in West Virginia, and H.R. 1104, to establish the Great Falls
Historic District Commission for the preservation and redevelopment of the
Great Falls National Historic District in Paterson, New Jersey.

November 18

House Natural Resources' Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public
Lands [Vento]: Hearing on H.R. 1696, to provide for the regulation of the
airspace over National Park System lands in Hawaii by the Federal Aviation
Administration and the National Park Service.

Senate Energy and Natural Resources' Subcommittee on Public Lands, National
Parks and Forests [Bumpers]: Hearing on S. 472, to improve the
administration and management of public lands, national forests, units of
the National Park System, and related areas by improving the availability of
adequate, appropriate, affordable, and cost effective housing for employees
needed to effectively manage public lands; S. 316, to expand the boundaries
of Saguaro NM and for other purposes.

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: Brady at ANPR annual meeting (11/8-11/14).

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin, Sisto and Halainen at
ANPR annual meeting (11/9-11/14).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Gale at ANPR annual meeting (11/8-11/14);
Farrel at wildland/urban interface program meeting (11/8-11/9).


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