NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, March 30, 1999

INCIDENTS

99-57 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Follow-up: Search, Investigation 

On Friday, March 26th, the FBI held a press conference and announced that the
body found the day before near Lake Don Pedro (a reservoir northwest of the
park) is that of J.S., daughter of C.S.  It was also announced
that there is an extremely high probability that the other body found in the
burned-out rental car was that of Silvina Pelosso.  The investigation
continues, but park staff are not involved.  Although there are still no
indications that the murders or any other aspect of the incident occurred in
the park, media interest in safety and crime rates in the parks in general
and Yosemite in particular remains high.  The parks' PIO has done over 20
interviews recently on whether or not it is safe to visit Yosemite.  MSNBC
will be in the park today to film a story on the same subject.  [Scott
Gediman, PIO, YOSE, 3/29]

99-103 - Harpers Ferry Center (WV) - Follow-up: Serious Employee Illness

Michael Alvarez, the center's deputy associate manager for support services,
has recovered from his recent hospitalization and has returned to work.  Mike
collapsed at his home on the night of March 24th and was taken to the
emergency room at a local hospital, then placed in intensive care.  Doctors
subsequently determined that he'd suffered a toxic reaction to a new
antibiotic that he'd received - within 12 hours, it had basically killed all
microorganisms in his body.  [Gary Cummins, Manager, HFC, 3/29]

                       [Additional reports pending...]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

U.S. Ranger Alliance Appeal Decision - On March 12th, 1999, the Federal Labor
Relations Authority (FLRA) issued its decision on an appeal filed by the U.S.
Ranger Alliance of FLRA's ruling last fall that denied the organization
status as a national bargaining unit for the agency.  The Alliance challenged
FLRA's decision that bargaining units within the Service are more
appropriately organized at the local park and office level and that a
national unit would not promote effective dealings with employees or promote
the efficiency of the Service.  FLRA denied the appeal.  This constitutes the
final decision of the Authority.  The case cite for this decision is 55 FLRA
No. 47.  It will eventually be posted on the FLRA website at www.flra.gov.    
Parks which have existing petitions which were held in abeyance by the
Authority pending this decision can now expect to be contacted by FLRA to
initiate election procedure agreements.  If you need assistance in these or
other labor relations matters, please contact Dave Davies via email or at
202-208-4485.

National Police Week 1999 Activities - The National Law Enforcement Officers
Memorial Fund will be sponsoring various activities in Washington during the
week of May 9th to honor law enforcement officers nationwide, particularly
those who have given their lives in the line of duty.  The activities include
Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) seminars, a candlelight vigil, memorial
day services, a wreath-laying ceremony, motorcycle and mountain bike rides, a
pipe band march, and a 50 kilometer competitive running relay race.  Full
details may be obtained at the Memorial's web site (http://www.1nleomf.com),
or via email at nleomcwf@erols.com.  NCR's Ranger Services Division will be
hosting NPS rangers for a number of the events and providing support to event
organizers during the week.  Full details will be provided at a later date
through the Morning Report.  At this time, they would like to hear from
rangers interested in being on the NPS ranger team for the National Police 
Challenge 50 kilometer relay race, which will be held on May 14th at 7 a.m. 
Each member of the 10-person team will run 5 kilometers and will need to
raise $50 to pay her/his share of the $500 team entry fee.  All funds raised
will be donated to the Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS), which provides
support in many ways to the surviving families of law enforcement officers
killed in the line of duty.  Rangers interested in participating on the team
should email regional chief ranger Einar Olsen at NP-NCRO-FIN no later than
TODAY. 

MEMORANDA

No entries.

INTERCHANGE

No entries.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Reports pending.

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, March 31

House Resources Committee (Young): Field hearing on:

o     H.R. 701, to provide Outer Continental Shelf Impact Assistance to State
      and local governments, to amend the Land and Water Conservation Fund
      Act of 1965, the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978, and
      the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act to establish a fund to meet
      the outdoor conservation and recreation needs of the American people;
      and
o     H.R. 798, to provide for the permanent protection of the resources of
      the United States in the year 2000 and beyond.  

It will be at 10:00 a.m. in Anchorage, Alaska.  

Thursday, April 15

House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands (Hansen):
Hearing on H.R. 834, to extend the authorization for the National Historic
Preservation Fund.  It will be at 10:00 a.m. in 1334 Longworth.

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Historic
Preservation, and Recreation (Thomas): Hearing on:

o     S. 109 (Coverdell, GA), a bill to improve protection and management of
      the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in the State of
      Georgia.
o     S. 340 (Allard, CO), a bill to amend the Cache La Poudre River Corridor
      Act to make technical corrections, and for other purposes.
o     S. 582 (Specter, PA), a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior
      to enter into an agreement for the construction and operation of the
      Gateway Visitor Center at Independence National Historical Park.
o     S. 589 (Harkin, IA), a bill to require the National Park Service to
      undertake a study of the Loess Hills area in western Iowa to review
      options for the protection and interpretation of the area's natural,
      cultural and historical resources.
o     S. 591, a bill to authorize a feasibility study for the preservation of
      the Loess Hills in western Iowa.
o     H.R. 149 (Hansen, UT), a bill to make technical corrections to the
      Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996.

the hearing will be at 2:00 p.m. in 366 Dirksen.

Tuesday, April 20

House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands (Hansen):
Hearing on H.R. 791, to amend the National Trails System Act to designate the
route of the War of 1812 British invasion of Maryland and Washington,
District of Columbia, and the route of the American defense, for study for
potential addition to the national trails system.  It will be at 10:00 a.m.
in 1324 Longworth.

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (Murkowski): Hearing on:

o     S. 25 (Landrieu, LA), a bill to provide Coastal Impact Assistance to
      State and local governments, to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands
      Act Amendments of 1978, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of
      1965, the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act, and the Federal Aid
      in Wildlife Restoration Act (commonly referred to as the Pittman-
      Robertson Act) to establish a fund to meet the outdoor conservation and
      recreation needs of the American people, and for other purposes.
o     S. 446 (Boxer, CA), a bill to provide for the permanent protection of
      the resources of the United States in the year 2000 and beyond (see
      H.R. 798).
o     S. 532 (Feinstein, CA), a bill to provide increased funding for the
      Land and Water Conservation Fund and Urban Parks and Recreation
      Recovery Programs, to resume the funding to the State grants program of
      the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and to provide for the
      acquisition and development of conservation and recreation facilities
      and programs in urban areas (see H.R. 1118).

The hearing will be held at 9:30 a.m.in 366 Dirksen.

Wednesday, April 21

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Land Management
(Craig): Hearing on the memorandum of understanding signed by multiple
agencies regarding the Lewis and Clark bicentennial celebration.  It will be
at 2:00 p.m. in 366 Dirksen.

Thursday, April 22

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior (Gorton): Hearing on the
Department of Interior's FY00 budget request.  The hearing will be at 9:30
a.m. in 124 Dirksen.

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Historic
Preservation, and Recreation (Thomas): Hearing on:

o     S. 441 (Sarbanes, MD), a bill to amend the National Trails System Act
      to designate the route of the War of 1812 British invasion of Maryland
      and Washington, District of Columbia, and the route of the American
      defense, for study for potential addition to the national trails system
      (see H.R. 791).
o     S. 548 (DeWine, OH), a bill to establish the Fallen Timbers Battlefield
      and Fort Miami National Historic Site in the state of Ohio (see H.R.
      868).
o     S. 581 (Specter, PA), a bill to protect the Paoli and Brandywine
      Battlefields in Pennsylvania and to authorize the Valley Forge Museum
      of the American Revolution at Valley Forge National Historical Park
      (see H.R. 659).
o     S. 700 (Akaka, HI), a bill to amend the National Trails System Act to
      designate the Ala Kahakai Trail as a National Historic Trail. 

The hearing will be held at 2:00 p.m. in 366 Dirksen.

Tuesday, April 27

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (Murkowski): Hearing on:

o     S. 25 (Landrieu, LA), a bill to provide Coastal Impact Assistance to
      State and local governments, to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands
      Act Amendments of 1978, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of
      1965, the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act, and the Federal Aid
      in Wildlife Restoration Act (commonly referred to as the Pittman-
      Robertson Act) to establish a fund to meet the outdoor conservation and
      recreation needs of the American people, and for other purposes.
o     S. 446 (Boxer, CA), a bill to provide for the permanent protection of
      the resources of the United States in the year 2000 and beyond (see
      H.R. 798).
o     S. 532 (Feinstein, CA), a bill to provide increased funding for the
      Land and Water Conservation Fund and Urban Parks and Recreation
      Recovery Programs, to resume the funding to the State grants program of
      the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and to provide for the
      acquisition and development of conservation and recreation facilities
      and programs in urban areas (see H.R. 1118).

The hearing will be at 9:30 a.m. in 366 Dirksen.

Thursday, April 29

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Historic
Preservation, and Recreation (Thomas) and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee
on Interior and Related Agencies (Gorton): Joint oversight hearing to review
the GAO report on the Everglades NP restoration project.

FLOOR ACTION

No votes scheduled.  

LEGISLATION INTRODUCED

The following bills either directly or indirectly pertaining to the NPS have
been introduced since the last Morning Report listing of new legislation
(March 23rd):

o     H.R. 1239 (Vento, MN), a bill to designate certain lands in Alaska as
      wilderness.
o     H.R. 1246 (Maloney, NY), a bill to create a National Museum of Women's
      History Advisory Committee (see S. 706).
o     H.R. 1258 (Hansen, UT), a bill to accelerate the wilderness designation
      process by establishing a timetable for the completion of wilderness
      studies on federal Lands.  
o     H.R. 1314 (Dicks, WA), a bill to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
      to designate a portion of the Columbia River as a recreational river,
      and for other purposes (see S. 715).      
o     S. 690 (Sarbanes, MD), a bill to provide for mass transportation  in
      national parks and related public lands.
o     S. 698 (Murkowski, AK), a bill to review the suitability and
      feasibility of recovering costs of high altitude rescues at Denali
      National Park and Preserve in the state of Alaska, and for other
      purposes.
o     S. 700 (Akaka, HI), a bill to amend the National Trails System Act to
      designate the Ala Kahakai Trail as a National Historic Trail. 
o     S. 706 (Snowe, ME), a bill to create a National Museum of Women's
      History Advisory Committee (see H.R. 1246). 
o     S. 710 (Lott, MS), a bill to authorize the feasibility study on the
      preservation of certain Civil War battlefields along the Vicksburg
      Campaign Trail. 
o     S. 715 (Murray, WA), a bill to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to
      designate a portion of the Columbia River as a recreational river, and
      for other purposes (see H.R. 1314).
o     S. 729 (Craig, ID), a bill to ensure that Congress and the public have
      the right to participate in the declaration of national monuments on
      federal land.
o     S. 734 (Murkowski, AK), a bill entitled the "National Discovery Trails
      Act of 1999".   
o     S. 762 (Graham, FL), a bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to
      conduct a feasibility study on the inclusion of the Miami Circle in
      Biscayne National Park. 

                                *  *  *  *  *

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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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