NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, February 23, 1999

INCIDENTS

99-53 - Lassen Volcanic NP (CA) - Search 

On Friday, February 19th, the ranger at Manzanita Lake received word that
F.S., 71, of Redding, California, was overdue from a cross-country
skiing trip in the park.  F.S.'s medical history included a minor stroke
last year, but also indicated that he hadn't shown any ill effects from it. 
A full search was begun with the assistance of the Shasta County sheriff's
SAR team.  A dozen skiers, ten snowmobiles with operators and ten snowshoers
began a search of the area; rangers provided a snowmobile and ICS support. 
Two dog teams and a state police helicopter were placed on standby in case
the search continued into the early morning hours.  Two snowmobile operators
found F.S. just before 2 a.m. on Saturday morning.  F.S. said that he'd
skied into very deep snow in the Chaos Crags area and that he'd been unable
to ski down off the mountain.  He therefore walked out.  F.S. was in
excellent condition, albeit a little cold and embarrassed.  The IC was Karen
Ball.  [Karen Ball, LES, LAVO, 2/20]

99-54 - San Juan NHS (PR) - Special Event

The park celebrated its 50th anniversary on February 14th.  The day began
with the presentation of commemorative pins to the first 50 visitors entering
the park's two forts, San Cristobal and El Morro.  Interpretive programs
highlighting the 50 years of NPS history were given in both English and
Spanish.  An evening ceremony, attended by about 300 invited guests, was held
at El Morro.  Speakers included the regional director, superintendent and
several Puerto Rican government officials.  The keynote speaker was the mayor
of the city of San Juan, who talked about the long road in building a
friendship with the NPS in that city.  A reception followed the ceremony. 
Security for the event was provided by law enforcement staff, including a
bomb dog, and by San Juan police and commonwealth EMS units.  [Glen Dodson,
SAJU, 2/20]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

Big South Fork NRRA (TN/KY) - Black Bear Reintroduction

An experimental reintroduction of black bears in the park is showing initial
signs of success.  Three newborn bear cubs were found in a den occupied by a
radio-collared sow on February 4th; another collared bear and two newborn
cubs were observed last week.  This is the first time cubs have been born
within the Cumberland Plateau in nearly 100 years.  Habitat loss, forest
fragmentation, and unregulated hunting led to the extirpation of this species
at the turn of the century.  The objectives of the experimental release,
begun in 1995, are to compare two release techniques (winter vs. summer),
determine the dispersal and mortality rates of reintroduced bears, and assess
the feasibility, methodology, and probability of establishing a permanent,
viable population of bears in the park.  In 1996 and 1997, 14 female bears
were translocated from Great Smoky Mountains NP and released in the park (see
"Park Science," Vol. 15, No 4, 1995). The winter released bears have remained
in the backcountry of the park and there have been no reports of conflicts
with park visitors.  The park will continue to monitor bear populations and
may continue to supplement the population following environmental review. 
Cooperating agencies include Great Smoky Mountains NP, the Kentucky
Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources
Agency, the Forest Service, and the Geologic Survey.  Dr. Joe Clark, USGS
Biological Resources Division, is the principle investigator for this
project.  [Sue Jennings, CRM, BISO, 2/18] 

PARK DISPATCHES

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Boy Scout Patches - A recent issue of "Boy's Life," magazine of the Boy
Scouts of America (BSA), noted that BSA had pledged a million hours of
volunteer work to the NPS, that scouts who completed a minimum of 12 service
hours would qualify for a BSA patch and an NPS patch, and that "park patches
are available from the volunteer coordinator at each park."  The report is
incorrect.  Patches are available through Eastern National, not individual
VIP coordinators.  The program began on February 12th; particulars are
available through Eastern's new website, www.servicetoamerica.org.  After
completing the 12 hours of service, a scout or scoutmaster can write to
Eastern and purchase the patch for $1.99.  Eastern will be tracking the time
contributed through patch sales.  Park's wishing to participate in this
program can get started by notifying Morgen Verdecchio at Eastern regarding
appropriate service projects (morgenv@easternnational.org).  She will enter
them into the web site; scout leaders can then log onto the site, click on
their state, find a participating park where they'd like to work, find
service projects that are available, and contact a park volunteer coordinator
to begin work.  The point of contact for this program in WASO is Jim Poole,
assistant for special programs, who can be reached via cc:Mail at Jim Poole
at NP-WASO-ITC-MIB. [Laura Illige, LAMR; Jim Poole, WASO]

MEMORANDA

No entries.

INTERCHANGE

No entries.

UPCOMING IN CONGRESS

The following activities will be taking place in Congress during coming weeks
on matters pertaining to the National Park Service or kindred agencies.  For
inquiries regarding legislation pertaining to the NPS, please contact the
main office at 202-208-5883/5656 and ask to be forwarded to the appropriate
legislative specialist.

Hearings/Mark-Ups

Wednesday, February 24

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Historic
Preservation and Recreation (Thomas): Oversight hearing on the National Park
Service's FY00 budget request.  2 p.m., 366 Dirksen.

Thursday, February 25 

House Interior Appropriation Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies
(Regula): Hearing on the Department of Interior's FY00 budget request.  10
a.m., B-308 Rayburn.

House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands (Hansen):
Mark-up of:

o     H.R. 54 (Gilman, NY), a bill to extend the authorization for the Upper
      Delaware Citizens Advisory Council.
o     H.R. 150, a bill to amend the act popularly known as the Recreation and
      Public Purposes Act to authorize disposal of certain public lands or
      national forest lands to local education agencies for use for
      elementary and secondary schools, including public charter schools.
o     H.R. 154 (Hefley, CO), a bill to provide for the collection of fees for
      the making of motion pictures, television productions, and sound tracks
      in National Park System and National Wildlife Refuge System units, and
      for other purposes.
o     H.R. 449, the Gateway Visitor Center Authorization Act of 1999.

10 a.m., 1324 Longworth.

Tuesday, March 2

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (Murkowski): Oversight hearing
on the Department of Interior's FY00 budget request.  9:30 a.m., 366 Dirksen.

Wednesday, March 3

House Interior Appropriation Subcommittee (Regula): Hearing on recreation fee
program oversight.  10 a.m., B-308 Rayburn.

Thursday, March 18

House Interior Appropriation Subcommittee (Regula): Hearing on the National
Park Service's FY00 budget request.  10 a.m., B-308 Rayburn.

Floor Action

No votes scheduled.  

Legislation Introduced

No new bills either directly or indirectly pertaining to the NPS have been
introduced since the last Morning Report listing of new legislation (February
17th).

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

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