NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Monday, December 19, 1994

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

92-342 - California and Arizona Parks - Follow-up on Butterfly Poaching

On December 14th, R.J.S., of Redwood City and M.L.G. of
Santa Rosa pleaded guilty in federal district court to charges of violating the
Endangered Species Act and other international wildlife conventions.  The two
were arrested last year for poaching butterflies between 1983 and 1992 in Grand
Canyon, Yosemite, Death Valley, Golden Gate, Point Reyes and a number of
wildlife refuges.  More than 2,200 butterflies, including 210 protected under
the Endangered Species Act, were taken for commercial gain over the period. 
The case was developed after Fish and Wildlife agents and Grand Canyon rangers
and investigators began an investigation two years ago into poaching of a rare
species of butterfly from the park.  Collectors have paid hundreds of dollars
for some of the rarer butterfly species the two men collected, which included
the San Bruno elfin, mission blue and Lange's metalmark.  This is reportedly
the first federal case ever made against butterfly poachers.  R.J.S. and
M.L.G. could receive fines of up to $250,000 and prison terms of up to five
years.  [San Francisco Chronicle, 12/16]

94-676 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Employee Illness

Tuweep Area Ranger Ed Cummins suffered a heart attack at his residence at
Tuweep during the early morning hours of December 15th.  His wife Kathy
requested assistance while providing her husband with EMT care.  A state air
rescue helicopter from Flagstaff flew directly to his residence and evacuated
him to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, Utah, where he is in
intensive care.  All inquiries should be directed to the park's public affairs
office at 602-638-7779.  [CRO, GRCA, 12/16]

94-677 - Yellowstone (Wyoming) - Fatal Snowmobiling Accident

R.C., 27, of Salt Lake City, was killed in a snowmobile accident
near Fountain Paint Pots on the Grand Loop Road around 4 a.m. on December 16th. 
R.C. was traveling by himself on a snowmobile ahead of two companions
on another machine.  His companions did not witness the accident, but found
R.C. off his machine, lying on the edge of the groomed snowmobile trail
with serious head and face injuries and without signs of life.  The accident
was reported at Old Faithful and responding rangers found R.C. dead at
the scene.  The investigation has determined that the victim's snowmobile
struck an elk and that speed was likely a factor in the accident.  R.C.
was not wearing a helmet.  [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 12/18]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1) Environmental Crimes Initiative - The Service is embarking upon an effort to
better protect parks from environmental crimes.  This entails developing and
conducting training courses for law enforcement personnel, developing relations
and networking with major environmental crimes investigations agencies, such as
the FBI, EPA, and Coast Guard, and conducting joint investigations with these
agencies.  In an effort to ensure that upcoming training courses are relevant
to the field, we want to hear about the types of threats you are encountering. 
You can assist by reporting the following types of incidents, which are already
included under existing incident reporting criteria: significant environmental
incidents (e.g., spills, dumping, fauna death due to environmental
contamination, wetlands destruction, air contamination, and environmental
contractor fraud); indictments; and the outcome of environmental cases.  [Einar
Olsen, RCR, RAD/NCRO]

MEMORANDA

Special Directive 94-4, "New Mandatory Worker Protection Standard for
Agricultural Pesticides," has been signed and sent out to all superintendents.
This directive provides guidance on the National Park Service's response to the
new EPA regulation describing minimum actions that must be taken by commercial
farmers and nurseries to protect hired workers from exposure to pesticides. 
Its believed that all Park Service activities are exempt except for our
cooperating farmers and our one commercial nursery.  A new clause requiring
compliance should be written into every agricultural lease as it is renewed. 
Your local county extension agent is your best source of information, advice,
and training for your cooperating farmers.  Questions may be directed to Terry
Cacek at 303-225-3542. 

Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

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