NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Thursday, May 4, 1995

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

94-646 - Shenandoah (Virginia) - Follow-up on Drug Arrests

On November 15, 1994, rangers concluded a three-month-long undercover
investigation of illegal drug use and distribution at Skyland Lodge with the
filing of charges against 14 people, all of whom were concessions employees at
the time of the investigation.  Since then, those charges have led to five
felony and 21 misdemeanor convictions.  Sentences have ranged from periods of
incarceration of from three to six months followed by supervised probation for
three years to fines of from $200 to $500 with year-long probationary periods. 
The covert aspects of the investigation were carried out by New River Gorge
criminal investigator Tony Liquori and Park Police officers Kevin Fornshill and
Christine Hodakievic.  Several follow-up investigations by state and local
agencies are underway.  [Tim Alley, CI, SHEN, 5/1]

95-152 - Zion (Utah) - Follow-up on Landslide

Park and Federal Highway Administration staff have been working to replace the
600-foot segment of roadway lost in the April 12th landslide and hope to have
repairs completed by Memorial Day.  Crews have placed riprap along the
embankment of the temporary road to protect it from rising waters being fed by
melting snows from the upper reaches of the Virgin River.  Core samples have
been taken of the underlying strata to determine if they are stable enough to
support a permanent road; once these are analyzed, it will be possible to
determine costs and timetables for completing the project.  The perception by
some that the park is closed is not accurate and needs to be dispelled.  [Denny
Davies, PIO, ZION, 4/30]

95-191 - Lava Beds (California) - Resource Violation

On April 2nd, J.A., 40, a companion, and two small children fired about
50 rifle rounds into petroglyphs behind the security fence at Petroglyph Point. 
Total damage to petroglyphs is still being assessed.  J.A. has been charged
with defacing an archeological resource, vandalism, using a weapon to endanger
property, and littering.  [LABE, 4/28]

95-192 - Washington Monument (D.C.) - Bomb Threat

Just after noon on May 2nd, Park Police dispatch received an anonymous call
stating that a bomb would detonate in the Washington Monument within 15
minutes.  The monument and surrounding area were evacuated and a search was
conducted by Park Police dog teams.  No bomb was found, and the monument was
subsequently reopened.  [Bill Lynch, NCRO, 5/3]

95-193 - Organ Pipe Cactus (Arizona) - Apprehensions of Illegal Aliens

During the month of April, illegal entry into the United States through the
park increased dramatically.  Rangers apprehended 117 illegal aliens and turned
them over to Border Patrol officers.  By contrast, only 46 illegal immigrants
were arrested during the first three months of the year.  The normal
apprehension rate for the Border Patrol in this area is 24 per month.  The
increase may be due to economic conditions in Mexico and the increased Border
Patrol presence in Nogales and other major points of entry.  [Cheto Olais, CR,
ORPI, 5/2]

                [More pending incident reports tomorrow...]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1) Hantavirus Advisory - Reopening buildings that have been closed for the
winter can be a risky activity because of the accumulation of the rodent-borne
hantavirus that occurred over the winter.  People re-entering these structures
should take the following precautions:

* Buildings should be aired out before entry.

* Clean-up crews should wear rubber or plastic gloves.

* Spray dead rodents, rodent nests, excreta, foods or other items that have
been tainted by rodents with a general-purpose household disinfectant
such as a household bleach solution.  Soak the material thoroughly and
place in a plastic bag and seal.  Place in a second plastic bag and seal. 
Dispose of the bag by burying in a 2-3 foot deep hole.  If burying is not
possible, contact your local or state health department about other
appropriate disposal methods.

* After the above items have been removed, mop floors with a solution of
water, detergent, and disinfectant.  A second mopping or spraying of
floors with a general-purpose household disinfectant is option.  Spray
dirt floors with a disinfectant solution.  Carpets can be effectively
disinfected with household disinfectants or commercial-grade steam
cleaning or shampooing.  Some disinfectants including household bleach
will damage carpets and other fabrics.  Therefore, check the disinfectant
label for usage precautions or do a test on a small area of carpet in a
hidden area such a closet corner.  To avoid generating potentially
infectious aerosols, do not vacuum or sweep dry surfaces before mopping
or shampooing.

* Disinfect counter tops, cabinets, drawers, and other durable surfaces by
washing them with a solution of detergent, water and disinfectant,
followed by an optional wiping-down with a general-purpose household
disinfectant.

For the longer term, the best defense against hantavirus is to keep our
residences and work places rodent free through rodent proofing of structures,
improved sanitation and, if necessary, snap trapping.  [IPM, WASO]

MEMORANDA

No memoranda.

OBSERVATIONS

This is one in a series of observations about the National Park Service that
have been made by notable women and men.  They will appear intermittently at
the end of the Morning Report.

"The Everglades is a test.  If we pass it, we get to keep the planet."

                                            Marjorie Stoneman Douglas

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

Telephone: 202-208-4874
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