- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Thursday, September 28, 1995
- Date: Thurs, 28 Sep 1995
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Thursday, September 28, 1995
Broadcast: By 1000 ET
INCIDENTS
95-620 - Virgin Islands - Follow-up on Hurricane Marilyn
Southeast Field Area director Bob Baker and Gulf Coast SSO desk officer Paul
Hartwig visited St. John and St. Croix yesterday. They plan to fly back to
Atlanta today after meeting with staff at San Juan. A van is being barged to
St. John with electrical supplies, food, and a 200 HP boat motor. About 500
pounds of food was airlifted to St. John yesterday. The operations staff
undertook a number of activities yesterday, including pumping of sewage from
the local clinic's tank, provision of diesel fuel for the same facility,
restoration of phone and fax service to the maintenance area on St. John,
repairs to the park radio system, and repairs to employee housing roofs. A
SEFA assessment team is due to arrive on Monday to investigate structural
damage to parks hit by Hurricane Marilyn. Eastern National Park and Monument
Association (ENP&MA) has established a reserve account for Hurricane Marilyn
relief donations. Individuals and non-ENP&MA parks may contribute to this fund
by sending a check payable to ENP&MA and marked "Hurricane Marilyn Relief" to
Eastern National (Attention: George Minnucci), 446 North Lane, Conshohocken,
PA 19428. Eastern National parks wishing to make donations from their
percentage donation accounts may do so by notifying George Minnucci by memo or
fax. [Kent Cave, IO, IMT; John Beck, SEFO]
95-641 - Crater Lake (Oregon) - Follow-up on Helicopter Crash
Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are in the park to look at material
collected from the crash site and to continue the investigation into the cause
of the crash. A number of eyewitnesses observed the incident from the caldera
rim and from Crater Lake Lodge. The weather was reportedly perfect, with glass
smooth water producing mirror-like reflections. Witnesses told investigators
that the helicopter made a turn near Wizard Island toward the lodge and
continued in that direction while making a slow descent. Nothing appeared to
be wrong; the helicopter appeared to just fly into the lake. It then tumbled
and sank. Park personnel were on scene within 20 minutes. They were able to
recover large pieces of the helicopter, personal gear, and a log book. The
park staff is developing plans and alternatives for recovering the helicopter,
but such an operation will likely have to take place next summer, as winter
weather conditions are beginning to settle in. [Mark Forbes, Columbia Cascades
SSO]
95-644 - Oregon Caves (Oregon) - Closure; Demonstration
On September 8th, the Forest Service closed approximately 35 square miles of
the Siskiyou National Forest to all public use to protect public safety and
logging operations on the controversial Sugarloaf timber sale near the park.
The Sugarloaf sale is an exempted sale of old-growth timber in an area
designated as a "late successional reserve" under the President's forest plan.
The closure included areas adjacent to the park's eastern and northern
boundaries. Roads leading into the area, including an access from the park,
have been gated and staffed with armed officers and agents from the Forest
Service, Oregon state police, and county sheriff's department, who will remain
in position around the clock until December. Following continued protests at
the gates and local offices and over 40 arrests, authorities extended the
closure to trails leaving the park. On September 23rd, the Save Our Sugarloaf
Coalition conducted a permitted demonstration in the park in opposition to the
on-going logging. Between 150 and 200 protestors and U.S. Senate candidate
Harry Lonsdale demonstrated in the main parking area and spoke with media
representatives. The group then hiked to the park's boundary, where about 40
of the protestors entered the closed area and continued into the national
forest to conduct a prayer vigil. No arrests were made. [Craig Ackerman,
Superintendent, ORCA]
95-645 - Indiana Dunes (Indiana) - Poaching; Assist in Felony Arrest
Ranger Mark Gorman recently received a tip that a man was living in a tent in
the park, poaching wildlife and possibly cultivating marijuana. The man was
identified as A.N., who was on the area's "ten most wanted" list for
felony theft and resisting law enforcement officers. Two likely campsites were
identified and surveillance was begun on them. A third site was located in
early September; indications were that it had been used recently. Papers found
at the site indicated that A.N. had left the state, traveled to Arizona, and
had just recently returned. Other documents indicated that he'd been arrested
for shoplifting while in Arizona. Investigators determined that A.N. was
fraudulently using credit cards to purchase camping and hunting supplies, then
arranging for the packages to be air delivered overnight to a local business,
where he'd pick them up. A.N. was arrested on September 22nd when he
attempted to pick up a package at a train office located in the park. During
the search incident to arrest, A.N. was found to be in possession of 69
different credit cards along with associated information on their owners.
Rangers and local officers searched the woods and found A.N.'s current
campsite. They seized more than $1,000 in fraudulently purchased camping gear,
including a crossbow and nearly two dozen leg traps and snares. Rangers
expanded their search the following day and subsequently found five set snares,
one of which had trapped a deer that was so injured it had to be destroyed.
A.N. is being charged locally on multiple counts, including felony theft; park
charges are pending. Rangers will be working with the Secret Service to
investigate the fraudulent use of the credit cards. [Dick Littlefield, CR,
INDU]
95-646 - Golden Gate (California) - Theft Conviction
Maintenance worker Al Lauro discovered a duffle bag containing a .44 revolver
in a shoulder holster in the park last January. Responding Park Police
officers searched the bag and found within it numerous letters addressed to a
M.G. at Soledad state prison, marine binoculars, an inflatable life
vest, and a Magellan GPS device. After an hour's search, M.G. was found
emerging from some bushes. M.G. subsequently admitted to ownership of the
duffle bag. A follow-up investigation on the suspected stolen property led to
the discovery of an outstanding $200,000 warrant for M.G. which had not yet
been placed on NCIC. On August 31st, M.G. was sentenced to six years
imprisonment on a single count of grand theft. M.G. was on parole for
stealing a sailboat at the time of his arrest, and this conviction counted as a
"second strike" against him. [Kevin Hay, USPP, GOGA/PSAF]
95-647 - Cumberland Island (Georgia) - Lightning Fatality
D.R., 31, of St. Augustine, Florida, was struck by lightning while
cast netting for shrimp from a boat near Sea Camp dock on the evening of
September 26th. D.R.'s friend swam from the boat to the dock and notified
the park of the incident. Ranger Brian Quigley, volunteer Joyce Seward, and
temporary employee Rick Herren responded by boat, retrieved the victim, and
administered CPR while transporting him to St. Marys. Camden County paramedics
met them at the boat dock, examined D.R., and pronounced him dead. [Newt
Sikes, Chief of Ops, CUIS]
[Additional reports tomorrow...]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II
2) SIGNIFICANT INCIDENT/FIRE SUMMARY
Wed Thur % Est
State Area Fire IMT 9/27 9/28 Con Con
CA Riverside RU Apache ST 3,500 3,500 80 CN 9/28
MT Lewiston Dis. Grant Coulee -- 5,000 3,494 100 CND
TX McFaddin NWR * MCR North -- - 1,000 30 CN 9/29
VI St. Thomas Hurricane relief T1 Receive/distribution center
St. Croix " " T2 Receive/distribution center
St. Thomas/St. John " " IMT NPS team - repair, support
PR R. Roads NAS " " ST Receive/distribution center
AK Kenai River River flooding T1 Emergency assistance
T2 Damage assessment, relief
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 0 2 1 0 24 7 34
Acres Burned 0 25 3 0 1,002 29 1,059
4) COMMITTED RESOURCES -
Crews Engines Helicopters Airtankers Overhead
Federal 12 11 9 1 333
Non-federal 18 4 2 1 111
5) COMPARATIVE SUMMARY -
CY 1995 Five Year Average
Year-to-Date Year-to-Date
Number of Fires - U.S. 69,035 62,444
Acres Burned - U.S. 1,774,944 2,780,839
6) SITUATION - Minor fire activity was reported yesterday. Resource
mobilization through NICC remains minimal.
7) OUTLOOK - Fire activity is expected to remain minimal.
[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 9/28]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No field reports today.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
1) Continuing Resolution - The following excerpts come from a statement by
White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta which was released last night and
cleared for distribution to the Service today:
"The continuing resolution agreed to by the Administration and the
Congressional leadership will enable us to continue providing important
services for the American people while Congress takes the time it needs
to complete work on fiscal year 1996 appropriations. The agreement
provides funding on a temporary basis at an overall level close to that
proposed by the Congress...This continuing resolution will establish a
level playing field, extending the deadline for Congress to do its job
and allowing us to resolve the significant differences that remain over
budget issues...."
2) Interior Appropriations, Part 2 - The following contains the balance of the
Conference Committee markup of the Interior Appropriations bill (Part 1
appeared yesterday):
LAND ACQUISITION AND STATE ASSISTANCE
Federal Land Acquisition
The total appropriation is $49 million, compared to the FY 1995 level of $88
million (prior to the FY 1995 rescission) and the President's FY 1996 request
of $83 million. The Federal land acquisition program is funded at $47.6
million, including $7.2 million for administration, $3 million for inholdings,
$3 million for emergencies, and $34.4 million for projects, which are
undesignated. This represents a decrease of 20% from the FY 1995 level and a
decrease of 13% from the President's request. The Secretary is given the
authority to "transfer" funds among the NPS, FWS, and BLM - in effect, to pool
the amounts given to the three agencies and determine the highest priorities
among the three bureaus without restriction to each agency's specified amount.
The priorities will be determined at the Departmental level and a reprogramming
request must be submitted to and approved by Congress before projects are
finalized. The total project amount for land acquisition purchases for the
Department is $68.85 million ($34.4 million NPS; $$25.9 million FWS; and $8.55
million BLM). The Committee indicated that under the procedures identified
above, funds to acquire the Elwha and Glines dams at Olympic could be made
available. If funds are made available through the process, report language is
included which would prohibit the expenditure of funds until the full purchase
price of $29.5 million is appropriated. The Committee reiterated its concern
over the costs estimated for dam removal and urged the NPS and other interested
parties to seek a solution within the next year to fishery restoration in lieu
of dam removal.
State Grants
There is no funding for state grants. The FY 1995 funding was $24.7 million;
the President's request was $25 million. State grant administration is funded
at $1.5 million, 54% below FY 1995 and 50% below the President's request. This
represents a decrease of 95% from the FY 1995 level for assistance to states
and a similar decrease from the President's request. The Conference report
reiterated the intention of the Committee to provide no funds for new grants in
future years. The $1.5 million for administration is provided to "close down
ongoing projects."
HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND
The appropriation is $36.2 million, compared to the FY 1995 level of $41.4
decrease of 13% from the FY 1995 level and a decrease of 16% from the
President's request. Grants to states, Indian tribes, and HBCU's are funded at
$32.7 million; the grant to the National Trust for Historic Preservation is
funded at $3.5 million (a 50% reduction from FY 1995 for the Trust). The
funding assumes a "three year period of transition for the National Trust for
Historic Preservation to replace Federal funds with private funding."
URBAN PARK AND RECREATION RECOVERY FUND
No funds were provided in FY 1996. FY 1995 funding had been previously
rescinded. Administrative funds to close out UPARR grants were provided at the
FY 1995 level in the NR&P appropriation.
NATIONAL RECREATION AND PRESERVATION
The appropriation is $37.6 million, compared to the FY 1995 level of $42.9
million, and the President's FY 1996 request of $39.3 million. This represents
a decrease of 12% from the FY 1995 level and a decrease of 4% from the
President's request. None of the programmatic increase requests were approved.
Programs were generally funded at or near the FY 1995 level, minus downsizing.
The one exception is that the Rivers and Trails Conservation Program also
received an undesignated increase of $142,000. $6.3 million was provided for
statutory assistance; items were generally funded at a slightly lower level
than in FY 1995, with the exception of Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Non-
violent Social Change, which was funded at the FY 1995 level, and the Maine
Acadian Culture Preservation and the Mississippi River Heritage Corridor
Commissions, which were not funded, although the NPS was instructed to publish
the final report on the Mississippi River Corridor using "available funds."
Add-ons were provided for Quinebaug-Shetucket National Heritage Commission and
the Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church. The Lowell Commission
did not receive funding, as proposed, but there were no funds provided under
ONPS for Lowell NHP as requested to allow assumption of Commission
responsibilities.
VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION PROGRAMS
No funds were appropriated.
MISCELLANEOUS
Other key items of note in the Conference Bill and Report include:
* Congress provided authority for a multi-agency, demonstration recreation fee
program which would allow up to 50 NPS demonstration sites. The pilot program
would last three years and allow demonstration sites to retain, without
appropriation, 80% of all revenue above 104% of FY 1995 collections at the
demonstration site. The remaining 20% of the amount above 104% of FY 1995
revenue at the 50 sites would be available, without appropriation, to the NPS
for use at any park. Cost of fee collection would be handled centrally, as
previously, and non-demonstration site revenue (and the first 104% at the
demonstration sites) would be handled in the same manner as currently done.
Under the demonstration program, parks not currently able to charge an
admission fee due to other legislation may now do so.
* While funds were not approved within the ONPS appropriation for Americorps,
the prohibition against funding the program was removed, contingent upon
appropriation of funding for the program in the VA-HUD appropriation bill. If
the program is funded, the Committee would consider a reprogramming request for
NPS funding for Americorps.
* The Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation is to be dissolved, on or
before April 1, 1996. Some responsibilities will come to the NPS, without
additional appropriations.
* Bill language is included which states: "None of the funds in this Act may
be spent by the National Park Service for activities taken in direct response
to the United Nations Biodiversity Convention."
* Restrictions on spending for the first quarter of FY 1996 at the Presidio
were included in bill language. After the first quarter, this restriction is
lifted, but the NPS must notify Congress before awarding any "major contracts"
at the Presidio. The Conference Committee eliminated the language which the
House had included to transfer all NPS funds to the Presidio Trust upon its
establishment; rather the Committee anticipates the passage of authorizing
legislation to address the mechanics of transferring funding.
* Bill language was included regarding a feasibility study for a northern
access route into Denali NP, a land exchange affecting Coulee Dam, and grazing
rights at Great Basin.
* The bill retained language added by the Senate (1) clarifying procedures
concerning cooperative agreements under the American Battlefield Protection
Program, (2) on the expenditure of funds for the maintenance and repair of
Company Creek Road at Lake Chelan; and (3) providing for Congressional review
of redevelopment agreements for the Southern end of Ellis Island.
* The bill deleted Senate language on Stampede Creek Mine at Denali, but added
report language requiring that the NPS (1) provide Congress an assessment of
damages at the Mine, and (2) work with the Army to assist in any compensation
which may be due the University of Alaska at Fairbanks.
* The following items do not effect the NPS directly, but are certainly of
interest and may have an indirect affect: The National Biological Service is
eliminated and natural resources research is to be funded - at 15% below
current levels - as part of the U.S. Geological Survey. The Bureau of Mines is
to be abolished, with some functions transferred to the Department of Energy
and some to the U.S. Geological Survey.
OBSERVATIONS
Today's entry is from the third edition of "Conservation Quotes", complied by
Elizabeth Coiner in 1966:
"In no other way is the upward trend of our modern civilization so well
exemplified as in the establishment, development, and increasing use of our
National Park and Monument System .... Where once the best scenery, as well as
in everything else, was reserved for the use of those most favored, and for the
pleasure of kings and princes, today every American citizen or visitor to our
shores may enjoy the most priceless offerings of nature. Democracy is believed
to be still in the experimental stage, but surely any system that institutes
and makes successful such a magnificent experiment cannot fail of its ultimate
purpose."
Ray Lyman Wilbur, Secretary of
the Interior, 1929 - 1933
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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