NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Monday, January 23, 1995

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

95-19 - Independence (Pennsylvania) - Special Event

On January 16th, Vice President Gore joined the Philadelphia Martin Luther King
Association for Nonviolence at a park ceremony to kick-off an international
bell ringing in commemoration of Dr. King.  The ceremony was held in the
Liberty Bell Pavilion and included a ceremonial "ringing" of the Liberty Bell. 
The vice president was in the park for about an hour and was greeted by
approximately 200 members of the public, representatives from the media, and
invited guests. Rangers worked closely with the Secret Service to provide
increased security and crowd control.  [PAO, INDE, 1/17]

95-20 - Great Smokies (North Carolina/Tennessee) - MVA with Fatality

At about 6:45 a.m. on the morning of January 19th, a patrol ranger came upon a
tractor trailer that had gone off the edge of the Newfound Gap Road about seven
miles north of Cherokee.  The driver, C.D. of Augusta, Georgia, was
fatally injured.  J.D., 16, the passenger in the vehicle, was flown
to the University of Tennessee Hospital by helicopter.  Initial investigation
suggests that C.D. lost use of his brakes as he was traveling southbound on a
steep section of road.  The truck then went off the road and flipped on its
roof, pinning C.D. inside.  The road was closed for about three hours to
permit removal of the wreckage.  Cleanup of the sheetrock cargo will begin when
weather permits.  [Jason Houck, CR, GRSM, 1/20]

95-21 - Delaware Water Gap (Pennsylvania) - Wildlife Protection 

Between October 29 and December 24, 1994, eight rangers from the park's
Pennsylvania District participated in a Wildlife Enforcement Team (WET)
operation which led to two arrests and the issuance of 116 violation notices to
70 suspects.  The WET was developed recently to interdict hunting/poaching
violations.  A large number of the operations were coordinated with the
Pennsylvania Game Commission.  Several operational tactics were employed in the
operations, including roving surveillance (patrol) during the day and night,
hunter vehicle check points, and simulated wildlife (decoy) placements.  The
decoys included pheasants, ruffed grouse, turkey, deer, and bear. The most
effective tactic was the daytime use of the decoy.  A local television station
filmed the WET at the beginning of an operational period as part of a bear
poaching story.  The team also conducted many other types of resource
protection patrols and resource management projects during times when hunter
activity was low.  For further information contact, ranger Don Philpot via
cc:Mail at DEWA South Zone or call 717-588-9570.  [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA,
1/18]

95-22 - Blue Ridge (North Carolina/Virginia) - Sex Crime Arrests

During the January 15th weekend, rangers, county deputies and law enforcement
agents from the Pisgah National Forest conducted a joint operation to combat a
growing problem of sexual misconduct in the Bent Creek recreation area.  Two
rangers from Chattahoochee were detailed to the park to assist with the
operation.  Twenty-six individuals were charged with soliciting for sexual acts
and arrested under state statutes for solicitation to commit a felony.  Several
arrests were also made for possession of controlled substances.  [CRO, BLRI,
1/18]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Systemwide - Interagency Fire Review

As a result of the 1994 fire season, many NPS employees are involved in reviews
of various aspects of the federal fire program.  One of those reviews is the
interdepartmental Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy and Program Review. 
An interagency steering group, co-chaired by Claudia Schechter for the
Department of the Interior and Dr. Charles Philpot for the Department of
Agriculture, will be heading the review, which is to be completed by August
15th.  Associate Director for Operations Maureen Finnerty is the National Park
Service representative on the steering group.  In addition to inviting comments
from the public, this group would also like to hear from employees, either
individually or through official channels, about wildland fire management
policy.  They would particularly like to have comments on the following four
topic areas:

* The role of fire in natural resource management, including appropriate
strategies for integrating fire into the management of ecosystems as a
whole;

* Wildland fire protection and preparedness capabilities and resources
needed to meet national needs;

* Use of prescribed fire and other fuel treatments needed to meet resource
management objectives;

* The appropriate role of federal, state, local, and private organizations
in the wildland/urban interface.

Comments should be sent to: Federal Wildfire Policy Review, Department of the
Interior, 18th & C Streets NW, Mail Stop 7355, Washington, D.C. 20240, or to
":Fire@IOS.DOI.GOV." via electronic mail.  Although initial responses are due
by February 2nd, comments will be welcome at any time between now and March
1st.  There will be another opportunity to comment once the draft report is
completed around May 1st.  This review will focus on the strategic goals of the
agencies with regard to fire management as a part of each agency's mission. 
The completed review will be an essential ingredient in determining how the two
Departments' fire management activities will be incorporated into planning and
operational efforts over the next ten-year period, and it is important that
employees take this opportunity to comment  [Doug Erskine, RAD/NIFC].

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1) Law Enforcement - The National Park Service announced last Wednesday that
United States Park Police officers will assume law enforcement duties at the
Statue of Liberty.  A vacancy will be issued for a lieutenant to serve as chief
of law enforcement at that location; it appears that there will also be three
vacancies for sergeants.  The transition is to begin shortly.  The current
chief ranger will become assistant chief ranger.

MEMORANDA

No memoranda.

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
SkyPager:  Emergencies ONLY: 1-800-759-7243, PIN 2404843