NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Tuesday, January 11, 1993

Broadcast: By 0900 ET

INCIDENTS

93-875 - Yosemite (California) - Burglary Arrests

Rangers pursuing information acquired during a resource violation contact on
December 5th recovered a $425 leather jacket stolen from Yosemite Lodge. 
The theft was made during one of a series of 37 room burglaries from the
lodge, all with a similar, non-forced entry MO.  Further investigation led
to the December 13th arrest of C.F., a roomkeeper for Yosemite
Concessions Services, for the theft of the jacket.  C.F. is on probation
to Mariposa County for several previous burglary convictions.  His residence
in Mariposa was searched on December 14th by rangers and country probation
officers, and they discovered stolen property valued at approximately
$10,000 which linked C.F. to nine burglaries committed at the lodge. 
The investigation is continuing.  [Jeff Sullivan, CI, YOSE, 1/10]

94-6 - San Juan (Puerto Rico) - Follow-up on Oil Spill

Approximately 750,000 gallons of heavy #6 bunker oil from the oil barge
Berman have now leaked into the ocean off Puerto Rico's north coast.  The
spill location is a mile east of the park boundary; as of Sunday evening, a
moderate to heavy amount of oil had come ashore at several points within the
park.  No damage to historic structures or wildlife within the park has yet
been observed or reported.  Cleanup and transfer operations are underway and
are being directed by the Coast Guard.  Some 500,000 gallons of oil still
remain on the barge.  [J. Schafler, CR, SAJU, 1/10]

94-9 - Delaware Water Gap (New Jersey/Pennsylvania) - Suicide

On the evening of January 6th, rangers responded to the report of an
individual who'd been shot on Raymondskill Creek near Raymondskill Falls. 
They found the body of J.B., 23, of Milford, Pennsylvania, lying on
a large rock near the creek.  Preliminary investigation indicates that
J.B. died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound from a 9mm handgun that was
found next to his body.  A joint investigation is being conducted by rangers
and Pennsylvania state troopers.  [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 1/7]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Rocky Mountain (Colorado) - Significant Water Resources Decision

A significant decision was reached in the water division of district court
in Colorado on December 29th regarding the application of water rights of
the United States for reserved rights in the park.  In March, 1992, a motion
for summary judgement for federal reserved rights was submitted to the court
for rights claimed in the United States' application filed in 1976. 
Following oral arguments, the judge granted a summary judgement "determining
that the United States has reserved water rights for park purposes only for
all unappropriated waters in Rocky Mountain National Park" and that "the
priority date is the date that the area of land involved was finally
reserved for national park purposes."  The judge made the following comments
in his decision: 

"[Park affidavits] make it clear that the streams, lakes, and other
water features of Rocky Mountain National Park form important aspects
of its scenic beauty.  Preservation in their natural state,
unimpaired, is a purpose of the park.  This court has taken notice of
the scientific fact that diversions from the natural streams and water
courses would, as a matter of natural law, tend to alter them. 
Although it is true that frequent high flows are generally sufficient
to maintain channel capacity, interruption or reduction of natural
flows as a result of diversions would be contrary to preservation of
the scenic beauties.  Under these circumstances, it appears that
Congress in setting aside Rocky Mountain National Park intended to
reserve all of the unappropriated water in the park for park purposes. 
Only by so doing can the underlying purposes of the creation of the
park be achieved.  The fact that the entire flow is needed is
sufficient quantification of the right."

This favorable ruling has significant implications for the Service wherever
water rights on reserved lands are at issue.  A high level of teamwork among
the Department of Justice, the Solicitor's Office, the WASO Water Rights
Branch and the superintendent and his staff all contributed to this
precedent-setting decision.  [Ken Czarnowski, ROMO]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No notes today.

MEMORANDA

"PELLY Amendment Talking Points for All NPS Employees Meeting with
Representatives of or Traveling to China, Taiwan, and Korea", signed on
January 6th by Chief, Office of International Affairs, and sent to regional
international program coordinators.  Contains DOI policy requirements and
info on these countries' violations of the Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species (CITES) and concerns regarding threats to rhinoceros
and tiger populations through illegal wildlife trade.

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone: 202-208-4874
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