NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Friday, March 25, 1994

Broadcast: By 0900 ET

INCIDENTS

94-127 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Follow-up on Aircraft Accident

Investigation continues into the March 21st crash of an Alaska Department of
Public Safety aircraft which occurred northeast of Mt. Fairweather near the
head of Margerie Glacier just outside the park in British Columbia.  All
three individuals in the plane, which was heading from Juneau to Yakutat,
survived the crash with only minor injuries.  Windshear may have been a
factor in causing the crash, although final determination of cause is
pending a state and FAA investigation.  The aircraft sustained some damage
during the landing, and plans are to use a helicopter to lift it off the
site.  It is unknown whether or not the plane, a 1930s era Grumman Goose,
will be salvageable.  [Chuck Young, DR, Bay District, GLBA, 3/23]

94-131 - Acadia (Maine) - Oil Spill

Snow melt flowing into a garage waste motor oil tank in Seal Harbor on March
23rd caused the oil to overflow onto park land.  The spill, which measured
approximately 500 feet in width, was reported to officials in the town of
Mt. Desert, who in turn notified the state's environmental protection
department.  A representative from that office inspected the site and will
be monitoring clean-up of the area.  No major impacts on park resources are
expected.  The snow melt entered the oil tank through a loose cap.  [Hank
Brightman, RAD/NARO, 3/24]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1) Significant Court Case - On March 15th, Padre Island and superintendent
Butch Farabee were served with summonses to district court by three local
corporations challenging the Service's authority to administer the park's
surface estate during oil and gas explorations.  In contention is the
Service's obligation to enforce 36 CFR Subpart 9b on non-federal oil and gas
rights.  These laws have been in effect since 1978 and have never been
tested before.  Since there are numerous Service areas that have legal oil
and gas explorations, this will be a precedent-setting challenge.  The
corporations also contend that Texas laws are dominant in this situation, so
this case may potentially have wide ramifications for other controls on NPS
land management (the park has concurrent jurisdiction).  The complaint
states, among other things, that "the National Park Service does not have
the ability to control either access or oil and gas exploration and
development activities on the Padre Island National Seashore."  The
corporations contend that when they "have entered into valid oil and gas
leases with third parties, the Park Service has required such parties to
submit to an onerous and unreasonable permitting system."  Their alternative
is to have a "taking" declared and collect $750,000,000 from the government. 
Due to the precedent-setting nature of this challenge and the potential
great sums of money involved, the suit will be handled through a closely
combined effort of both the WASO Solicitor's Office and the WASO Mining and
Minerals Branch.  The park currently has eight active oil and gas wells and
averages several exploration inquiries each year.  Five additional oil and
gas plans of operations are presently being reviewed for explorations and/or
abandonment within the park.

2) 6(c) Claims - If you filed a claim for enhanced annuity retirement, had
it denied by OPM, and did not file an MSPB appeal, please contact Bill
Halainen in Ranger Activities with you name, park and phone number.  This
office will compile your names, then explore options for resolution of your
denied claim.  Any person who receives a letter from OPM denying a coverage
claim in future months should also notify Ranger Activities.  We will also
attempt to resolve these cases.  

3) Buyout Bill - From today's Washington Post: "The Senate yesterday ended a
six-month struggle to offer buyouts to federal workers, approving
legislation that the administration hopes will ease its downsizing effort
and help agencies avert layoffs.  The measure, the first government-wide
buyout bill approved by Congress, now goes to President Clinton for his
signature.  The legislation would allow federal agencies to offer up to
$25,000 to employees who resign or retire early...The bill would allow
agencies to offer cash bonuses through March 31, 1995.  Employees accepting
a bonus would be required to repay it if reemployed by the government within
five years....From 60,000 to 100,000 workers are expected to take the buyout
offer, according to administration projections."

MEMORANDA

"Dual Career Assistance Program", Special Directive 94-2, signed by Director
Kennedy on March 22nd and to be sent to Directorate, Field Directorate,
Superintendents and WASO Division Chiefs.  Transmits the National Park
Service's revised policy on dual career assistance.  Since the document is
at the printers and will NOT be available for some time and because of the
broad interest in the directive, an advance copy is being sent to you in the
next message.  

"Harry Yount Award", signed by Deputy Director Reynolds on March 18th and
transmitted today to all Regional Directors.  Contains background
information on and criteria for the new Harry Yount Award, which will be
presented annually for "excellence in the art and science of 'rangering'." 
Further details will be available in the next edition of "Clear Text", the
Ranger Activities Division's cc:Mail newsletter.

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone: 202-208-4874
Telefax:   202-208-6756
cc:Mail:   WASO Ranger Activities
SkyPager:  Emergencies ONLY: 1-800-759-7243, PIN 2404843