NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Tuesday, September 19, 1995

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

95-620 - Caribbean Parks - Follow-up on Hurricane Marilyn

Incident commander Gordon Wissinger was scheduled to fly to St. Thomas
yesterday to meet with Virgin Islands park superintendent Francis Peltier to
assess park needs and obtain a delegation of authority, but the trip was
canceled due to mechanical trouble with the aircraft.  Following his earlier
trip to the islands, San Juan superintendent Ping Crawford reported that park
employees were "tired but mentally strong", and that employee morale was better
than would be expected after such a difficult ordeal.  As many as 90 employees
and their family members may have been affected by the storm.  The immediate
objectives of the IMT (incident management team) are to determine and meet the
basic and most pressing needs of park employees and their families and to
assess resource and facility damage.  Logistical concerns are a high priority
for the team.  The moving of recovery resources into the islands will be
subject to the availability of vessels and aircraft, both in short supply at
present.  Resources currently on order include an electrician and helper, a
supervisory dispatcher for the area coordination center, a saw crew, a
helicopter crew module, vehicles, generators, food, medical supplies and
numerous other necessities.  [Kent Cave, IO, IMT]

95-631 - Yellowstone (Wyoming) - Falling Fatality

On the afternoon of September 17th, three Slovakians visiting the park with an
American friend were dropped off at Grandview Point for a walk to Lookout
Point, both sites located on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon of the
Yellowstone.  They were walking between the two points when one of the trio, a
50-year-old male, stepped over a constructed log barrier and walked past a
warning sign, apparently to get a better view for videotaping (the man was
reportedly fluent in English, which suggests that he was able to read the
sign).  As he stepped over the barrier, he lost his balance and tumbled down
steep to vertical terrain for about 400 feet.  Two park fire and rescue
personnel were transported by short haul to the victim's location in steep
terrain at the base of the canyon.  He was brought to the south rim, where he
was pronounced dead.  His name is being held pending notification of next of
kin.  [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL]

95-632 - Sleeping Bear Dunes (Michigan) - Marijuana Eradication

In late August, following almost two months of electronic surveillance, rangers
from the Leelanau District and members of the Traverse Narcotics Team (TNT)
removed and destroyed 34 marijuana plants from within park boundaries.  The
surveillance produced some leads to suspects, but no arrests have yet been
made.  Investigation into drug operations in the area continues.  [CRO, SLBE]

FIRE ACTIVITY

The NICC fire report was not available at the time today's Morning Report was
released.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No notes.

UPCOMING IN CONGRESS

The following activities will be taking place in Congress during coming weeks
on matters pertaining to the National Park Service.  If you would like further
information on any of these hearings or bills, please contact Stacey Rickard in
WASO Legislation at 202-208-3636.

September 19

House Resources' Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Lands (Hansen):

Hearing in on H.R. 1129, to amend the National Trails System Act to designate
the route from Selma to Montgomery as a National Historic Trail. 

September 26

House Resources' Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Lands (Hansen):

Hearing on H.R. 194, to direct the Secretary of Interior to make matching
contributions toward the purchase of Sterling Forest in the State of New York;
H.R. 1256, to authorize the Secretary of Interior to provide funds to the
Palisades Interstate Park Commission for acquisition of land in the Sterling
Forest area of the New York/New Jersey Highlands Region.

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


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