9.2   Personal Watercraft and Regulations - Chip Davis

      The regulation managing personal watercraft (PWCs) is still in the
      works.  A final draft has been completed and is going through
      Departmental review.  The effective date is scheduled for this
      fall/winter in order to avoid having the new regulations go into effect
      during the middle of the 2000 boating season.  

      The regulations provide for a general servicewide prohibition of PWCs,
      with exceptions by specific area designation.  The designation is
      approached in two ways.  A limited number of areas (ten NRAs) where
      enabling legislation stipulates that water-based recreation with
      substantial motorized boat use is a park purpose will be listed by name. 
      Superintendents in these areas would be able manage PWCs and open all or
      portions of these park areas to PWC use through compendium procedures in
      36 CFR 1.5 and 1.7.  

      A second group of areas will be required to complete area-specific
      special regulations, which will include nationwide notice and an
      opportunity to comment on any proposal to authorize PWC use.  This
      approach is similar to that used by other activities (snowmobiles, off
      road bicycles, etc.) that raise questions about resource impacts or
      visitor use conflicts or are otherwise controversial.  The proposed rule
      requires that the NPS determine that PWC use is consistent with a park's
      enabling legislation, resources, values, other visitor uses, and overall
      management objectives before it can be permitted.  The second group of
      eleven areas includes seashores, lakeshores, an NRA and a preserve.  A
      two-year grace period from the servicewide closure is available to both
      groups in order to finalize PWC regulations.

      Both PWC manufacturers/enthusiast and environmental groups are actively
      lobbying Congress and the Administration; both groups have expressed
      their intent to litigate.  Park areas are managing PWCs under an interim
      directive issued in June 1998 pending completion of the rule.  Several
      areas have made determinations to prohibit PWC use through the
      superintendent's compendium, as indicated in the interim guidance.  

      On other regulatory matters: Ranger Activities is developing guidelines
      and identifying training for regional and park staff on preparation of
      regulations in the new "plain English" and Q&A formats.  The guidance
      memo will be out this fall for implementation in the new FY. 
      Information on drafting and processing regulations is also available on
      the web.  The objective is to clear up the backlog of pending
      regulations by training a number of people Servicewide in the
      regulations process.

9.3   Fire Management - Sue Vap

      There have been several recent developments at the Fire Management
      Program Center (FMPC) in Boise:

      o     Dick Bahr has been selected as the fuels management specialist
            here at the FMPC.  Dick comes to FMPC from the Midwest Support
            Office in Omaha, where he was the prescribed fire specialist. He
            EOD'd on July 4th.
      o     Mentor and "mentee" applications have been received for the fire
            management mentoring program.  The folks selected for this first
            round will attend a training session in September.  This session
            is designed to enable the mentors and their "mentees" to have a
            successful experience.   
      o     In mid-May the fire management leadership board officially met for
            the first time.  The purpose of the board is to provide strategic
            leadership for NPS fire management program policy, program
            direction, initiatives, funding priorities, and organizational
            needs.  The board's charter was completed and signed, and ground
            rules were adopted.  The regional FMOs will work with all fire
            management parks to determine what issues need to come to the
            board. If interested, contact your regional FMO for an executive
            summary of the first meeting.  
      o     The FY 2001 wildland fire management budget has been submitted.  

9.4   Uniforms - Ken Mabery

      There have been numerous developments in the program as the Service
      moves toward an RFP for the new uniform contract and other changes in
      policies are put into effect:

      o     An ad hoc uniform committee is currently working on a range of
            alternatives for modifications to the uniform, recommendations for
            fabric changes, a range of alternatives for the allowance system
            (and accountability for same), and a range of alternatives on
            appearance (and accountability for same).
      o     A process and time line for the new contract has been established
            by Ranger Activities and contracting at Harpers Ferry Center. 
            Discussions have also been held on the scope of potential program
            changes.
      o     Meetings have been held with the current contractor to discuss
            supplier changes, development of a web site. R&D, annual closeout,
            communications, a management review, and proposals for
            streamlining.
      o     Monthly meetings are being held with FWS and the Corps of
            Engineers to coordinate development of a new contract (the two
            agencies are on the same contract with the NPS).

10.0  APPALACHIAN TRAIL PARK OFFICE - Pamela Underhill 

      No submission this quarter.

11.0  INTER-DIVISIONAL/INTER-DIRECTORATE PROJECTS

      This section reports on significant projects that are underway either
      partly or wholly within Park Operations and Education and affect more
      than one division and/or directorate (i.e., operations, natural
      resources, cultural resources, admin, etc.).

11.1  Environmental Leadership Initiative - Shawn Norton

      There have been a number of developments since the last quarterly
      report:

      o     NPS Environmental Leadership Policy: The development of Directors
            Order (DO-13) on environmental leadership is underway.  This DO
            will update and link all NPS environmental policy and provide
            standards and goals for NPS business activities.  The scope of the
            order is far reaching and will include input from all programs in
            the NPS.
      o     NPS Environmental Leadership Strategic Planning Goals:  GPRA
            requires the NPS to have a strategic plan in place which sets
            forth key mission goals and subgoals.  Environmental leadership
            goals have been adopted for mission goal IV, ensuring
            organizational effectiveness.  The goals call for the NPS to
            conduct environmental audits at all facilities by 2002, and to
            fully implement the regulatory requirements identified through the
            audit program by 2002. 
      o     NPS Environmental Management Systems Evaluation:  A study has been
            completed by EPA which assesses current and planned NPS
            environmental management practices against an accepted EPA
            framework.  This framework has been adopted as a model by many
            federal agencies and is formally known as "The Code Of
            Environmental Management Principles". Results will be available to
            all NPS employees in the fall.
      o     NPS Environmental Leadership Website:  An environmental leadership
            web site is under development to provide access to information and
            tools which will help us become more sustainable and thus
            environmental leaders.  Check it out at nps.gov/renew/. This can
            also be accessed through the NPS home page by clicking on
            reference desk - policies, guidance and manuals.
      o     NPS Environmental Audit Program: An NPS environmental audit
            program has been "rolled out" this summer which will support the
            strategic planning goals stated above.  As many as 30 parks will
            be audited this fiscal year.  A companion NPS concessions
            environmental audit program is also scheduled for roll out this
            summer.  Training for auditors is/has been offered in most
            regions.
  
11.2  Leasing Regulations - Lars Hanslin

      The leasing regulations work group met in Washington in July and
      developed the final wording for the draft regs implementing authority
      provided by Congress in the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of
      1998.  The regs must now be cleared by the Department and OMB and go out
      for public review.  A notice will appear in the Morning Report when they
      appear in the Federal Register.  The objective is to have the new regs
      in place by next spring.