- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Wednesday, July 19, 1995
- Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Wednesday, July 19, 1995
Broadcast: By 1000 ET
INCIDENTS
95-413 - George Washington Parkway (Virginia) - Follow-up on Employee Death
The funeral service for ranger Wes Fox, who collapsed and died while on bike
patrol on the Mount Vernon trail last Saturday, will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow
at the Emmaus United Church of Christ in East Vienna, Virginia. Calling hours
will be this evening at the Money and King Vienna Funeral Home in Vienna. The
family has asked that park employees wear uniforms to the service, and that
badges be covered with black bands. There will be an NPS honor guard this
evening, and a joint ranger/USPP officer honor guard at the funeral service
tomorrow. Contributions may be made to Neurofibromatosis, Inc., Mid-Atlantic
Chapter, 8855 Annapolis Road, Lanham, MD 20706, or to Emmaus United Church of
Christ Music Fund, 900 Maple Avenue, East Vienna, VA 22180. Employees in the
Washington area who will be attending should contact Einar Olsen, Ranger
Services, NCAO, for further information. [Einar Olsen, RSD/NCAO]
95-430 - Lake Mead (Nevada) - Shooting
S.G., 19, was shot in the right knee while in the 4.2 Cliffs area on
the afternoon of July 16th. The park learned of the incident after S.G.
was taken to a hospital, and investigators pieced together the sequence of
events following an interview with him. S.G. and two companions were
walking down toward the lake from the cliffs when they met several other young
adults coming up from the parking area. S.G. and a member of the other
group exchanged words, and one of the other members of that group pulled out a
small automatic handgun and fired three of four shots as S.G. and his
friends were running back toward their car. One of the shots hit him in the
soft tissue area of the knee. The doctor who treated him said that he'd been
struck by a .22 caliber round. S.G. would not identify his companions,
could not describe his assailants or any vehicles in the area, and declined to
pursue the matter. The exact location of the incident remains unknown, and a
general sweep of the area by rangers failed to produce any shell casings.
S.G.'s mother told investigators that he often gets into encounters of this
type because of his verbal exchanges with people. The case has been closed.
[Bud Inman, LAME]
95-431 - Blue Ridge (North Carolina/Virginia) - Lightning Strike Injuries
On the afternoon of July 16th, a thunderstorm which passed over the Linville
Falls area produced heavy rains and frequent lightning strikes. Seven visitors
walking along the Erwins View trail were injured when lightning struck a tree
adjacent to the trail. Rangers treated and transported them to the visitor
center about a half mile away, where ambulances were waiting. As of July 17th,
six had been treated and released and the seventh was being held for further
care. [CRO, BLRI]
95-432 - Cumberland Gap (Kentucky/Tennessee/Virginia) - Marijuana Eradication
During the week of July 10th to the 14th, rangers located and destroyed 447
marijuana plants within and adjacent to the park with the assistance of the
U.S. Army, which provided UH-1 helicopters and crews. The Bell County
sheriff's department worked with the park and continues to investigate numerous
other plots spotted outside the park during the flights. The park has so far
this year destroyed 872 plants with an estimated street value of over $1
million. [Charlie Chadwell, SPR, CUGA]
95-433 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Drug Arrests
Bullfrog rangers stopped a vehicle which lacked a rear license plate on the
evening of July 12th. Neither of the occupants - R.H. and B.H. of
Price, Utah - had a valid driver's license or verifiable identification.
Subsequent questioning led to the discovery of numerous bundles of
methamphetamine, several small baggies of same that had not yet been bundled,
marijuana, and a wide variety of cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana related
paraphernalia. Both H.s, who had been convicted in the past for possession
with intent to distribute, were charged with possession of controlled
substances and held for Utah authorities for filing of felony distribution
charges. Both were wanted by the state on misdemeanor warrants. Their vehicle
was impounded and will be seized. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II
2) LARGE FIRE SUMMARY
% Est
State Area Fire IMT 7/18 7/19 Con Con
CA Sequoia NF Rocky -- 2,000 - 0 NR
HEADING NOTES:
Fire * = newly reported fire (on this report). Cx = complex.
IMT T1 = Type 1; T2 = Type II; ST1 = state Type 1; ST2 = state Type 2.
% Con Percent of fire contained.
Est Con Estimated containment date. NEC = no estimated date of
containment; CND = fully contained; NR = no report.
3) FIRES YESTERDAY -
NPS BIA BLM FWS States USFS Total
Number 3 8 16 0 49 72 148
Acres Burned 1 26 1,533 82 262 126 2,030
4) COMMITTED RESOURCES -
Crews Engines Helicopters Airtankers Overhead
Federal 2 49 10 0 11
Non-federal 0 6 0 0 0
5) COMPARATIVE SUMMARY -
CY 1995 Five Year Average
Year-to-Date Year-to-Date
Number of Fires - U.S. 49,786 43,426
Acres Burned - U.S. 931,659 1,280,856
Number of Fires - Canada 5,993 -
Acres Burned - Canada 11,836,084 -
6) SITUATION - Moderate levels of initial attack occurred yesterday in the
Northwest, Great Basin and California because of lightning activity.
Demobilization continues from fires in the Southwest.
7) OUTLOOK - The potential for large fires remains low.
[NIFCC Incident Management Situation Report, 7/19]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No field reports today.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
1) Oil and Gas Regulation Case Decision - On June 22nd, a federal district
court judge in Texas upheld the Service's authority to regulate non-Federal oil
and gas development at Padre Island National Seashore. The favorable ruling
has important implications beyond NPS mining regulations. It also further
validates the Service's ability to protect park resources from adverse
activities on private property. The case, Dunn McCampbell Royalty Interest
Inc., et al. v. National Park Service, C-94-105 (S.D. Tex., Corpus Christi
Division, June 22, 1995), was initially filed in March of 1994 by the owners of
privately owned oil and gas underlying the park. The owners sued the federal
government, claiming that the NPS had no authority to apply regulations found
at 36 CFR 9.30 et seq. ["9B regulations"] to oil and gas operations at the
park. They also alleged that a court finding that the NPS did have the
authority to regulate private oil and gas development would constitute a
"takings" of their private property rights. The owners pegged the value of
their property rights at $750 million. In its ruling, the court found that
"Congress not only authorized the Secretary [of the Interior] to promulgate
regulations for the purpose of preserving and protecting National Parks, but
also directed (that) the Parks be managed to achieve that purpose unless
otherwise directed and specifically ordered by Congress." Accordingly, the
Court found "no evidence the 9B Regulations were promulgated in the absence of
statutory authority." Because the district court lacked jurisdiction to
deliberate on the takings claim, the judge transferred that claim to the Court
of Federal Claims. The owners will likely appeal the judge's ruling with
respect to the general authority question and pursue the takings claim in the
other court. Given the strength of the government's case, it's likely that the
NPS will win again on appeal and demonstrate that the Service's exercise of its
authority under the 9B regulations has been "reasonable" and that no takings
have therefore occurred. The success of this case is due to both skilled legal
representation from the Department of Justice and outstanding professional
support from park and field staffs. For further information, contact Edward
Kassman, Geologic Resources Division, WASO (303) 969-2146.
COMING EVENTS CALENDAR
The Coming Events calendar appears in the morning report every other Thursday.
If you know of a significant event of Servicewide interest, please forward the
listing to WASO Ranger Activities. Entries are listed no earlier than FOUR
months before the event. Asterisks indicate new entries.
7/28-30 -- Lowell Folk Festival, Lowell National Historic Park, Lowell, MA.
The largest free folk festival in the United States. Three days of
traditional folk music, dance, craft demonstrations, street
parades, dance parties, and ethnic foods. Takes place on six
outdoor stages, along canals, and in the streets of the city.
Contact: LOWE Public Affairs.
7/29 -- Waterlily Festival, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Washington, DC. 11
a.m. to 3 p.m. The festival highlights the peak blooming season of
the waterlilies and lotus. Ranger-led garden walks will be
scheduled throughout the day, and entertainment will be provided.
Contact: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 202-426-6905.
9/8-9* -- Diamond Gem City Days and Prairie Day, George Washington Carver
National Monument, MO. The former will feature a crafts fair,
antique show, old-fashioned games, musical entertainment, and other
events; the latter will celebrate life on the Missouri Prairie
during the 1860s and 1870s. Contact: GEWA.
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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