NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Wednesday, May 4, 1994

Broadcast: By 0900 ET

INCIDENTS

94-204 - Fort Union Trading Post (North Dakota/Montana) - Indictment of Former Employee

J.K.H., formerly the administrative clerk at Fort Union Trading Post, has been
indicted in federal district court on two counts of embezzlement of
cooperating association and imprest fund monies.  An investigation by the
NPS and Office of the Inspector General in mid-winter resulted in J.K.H.'s
dismissal from the Service on March 1st.  J.K.H.'s initial court appearance
is scheduled for May 11th in Minot, North Dakota.  [CRO, FOUS, 4/29]

FIRE ACTIVITY

1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level I

2) FIRE SUMMARY - No major fires.

3) ANALYSIS - Initial attack activity was reported yesterday in the South,
Southwest and East.

4) PROGNOSIS - Initial attack activity is expected to remain light across
the Southwest and Southeast due to moderate temperatures and light
precipitation.

[NIFC Incident Management Situation Report, 5/4]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

George Washington Memorial Parkway (Virginia) - Feral Cat Colony

Over the past week, staff at the park have trapped ten of an estimated 20
cats that form a colony of cats that are fed within park boundaries just
north of Mount Vernon Estate.  Park and county officials had received
complaints regarding the cats from adjacent property owners and bird
watchers who come to observe the nearby bald eagle nest.  Organizations
concerned about protecting the cats attempted to block park staff from
trapping them and turning them over to a county shelter.  These
organizations, which have been active in California, Maryland and Florida,
were able to attract favorable local media coverage, but the park was
supported by the Humane Society of the United States, the Virginia
Federation of Humane Societies, the Fairfax Audubon Society, the Virginia
Wildlife Center, and other state and local organizations.  The groups
opposing the NPS plan said that their objective was to change CFR to allow
such colonies of cats to remain in parks throughout the system once they are
neutered and vaccinated.  Although they enlisted legal assistance and
threatened to sue, no injunction or law suit has been forthcoming.  The
categorical exclusion prepared by parkway staff was reviewed by the Office
of the Solicitor, which found the documentation sufficient and the legal
issues clear.  WASO Wildlife and Vegetation reviewed the data and
implementation plan.  Individuals and organizations have sought to sabotage
the trapping, but so far have been unsuccessful because of NPS monitoring.
Several other NPS units face similar problems; although there is little
reliable research in this area, a great deal of expert information exists
which documents problems with feral cat colonies, including impacts on
wildlife, public health concerns, and humane treatment of the cats
themselves.  The park hopes to complete the trapping within the next month. 
[Dan Sealy, RMS, GEWA]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1) Native American Graves Protection - The Native American Graves Protection
and Repatriation Review Committee (NAGPRA) is soliciting comments on the
disposition of culturally unidentified or unclaimed Native American human
remains and cultural items prior to its meeting next week in Rapid City. 
Culturally unidentified remains are those in the control or possession of
museums and federal agencies which lack any identifiable lineal descendant
or cultural affiliation with any tribe.  Unclaimed human remains and
cultural items are those intentionally excavated or inadvertently discovered
on federal or tribal lands after November 16, 1990, and for which no lineal
descendant or Indian tribe has made a claim, pursuant to the process
outlined in section three of 25 USC 3002.  Comments should be sent in
writing to the Departmental consulting archeologist by fax (202-523-1547) or
via cc:Mail to Tim Mckeown.  

MEMORANDA

"Streamlining Update", prepared by Deputy Director Reynolds and sent out
Servicewide via the Director's bulletin board yesterday.  Because of the
high interest in the streamlining process, the full text is included and
follows:

"As you are all aware, the Streamlining Advisory Committee met in Denver
April 21 and 22.  The meeting allowed us to assess where we are in the
streamlining/reinventing process, determine needed next steps, and receive
input from a diverse group of NPS employees who had not been involved to
date in these efforts.  George Frampton, Roger Kennedy, and I were extremely
pleased at the frank and open dialogue that took place over the two days. 
We now want to recognize that a great deal of excellent work was done
leading up to the meeting, and to use that work as key input in the creation
of a final plan.  We are also committed to completing the process in an open
and constructive manner.

"The conclusions reached in Denver follow:

The various proposals obviously lack unity; there is no integrated
plan at this time;

We have not yet clearly articulated what is, or should be, the proper
role and function of WASO, full service regions, other
regional/systems offices, ecosystem offices, cluster parks, and
various technical and service centers, as we enter the 21st century;

While most of the proposals clearly achieve the required FTE
reductions, we need more substantive work to achieve re-engineering
and National Performance Review goals.  Some of the existing proposals
provide valuable starts in this direction.

"It is clear that the Department will have a major role in approving our
streamlining plan, and it is critical that we be sensitive to their needs
and incorporate their recommendations as we finalize it.

"In order to address the above needs, I have asked a small group of NPS
employees, some of whom have been involved in the process, and some who have
not, to come together in mid-May to pull all of the proposals together and
complete the plan. They need to be available full time for three to four
weeks to accomplish this. These individuals will be assisted by the Kennedy
School of Government, as a follow up to their involvement in the Vail
Symposium and the Vail Agenda.

"The group will consist of Bob Baker, Bob Stanton, Cal Cooper, Nancy Nelson,
Marcia Blaszak, Alan O'Neill, Bill Paleck, Kate Stevenson, Rob Arnberger,
Maureen Finnerty, Dave Haskell, and Kevin Cann.  

"In addition, they will be supported by Maria Burks (relationship to Vail
Agenda), Mary Martin (personnel considerations), and Bruce Sheaffer (budget
considerations). 

"All of these individuals will be contacted immediately by Maureen Finnerty
with the specifics of their involvement.

"Once the draft plan is prepared, the Directorate, park superintendents, and
the Streamlining Advisory Committee will become involved in reviewing and
commenting prior to final approval and submittal to the Department. Our
target is to have the plan to Assistant Secretary Frampton no later than
June 17, 1994.

"I know that this has been an arduous process, and that many of you have
contributed enormous amounts of time and energy already.  The result is a
great deal of excellent work.  I expect and appreciate your active support
as we enter the final stages of plan preparation.  I am confident that our
plan will provide us with an organizational structure that will best support
us to accomplish our mission as we move into the 21st Century."

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone: 202-208-4874
Telefax:   202-208-6756
cc:Mail:   WASO Ranger Activities
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