QUARTERLY PARK OPERATIONS UPDATE
               FOURTH QUARTER, FY99: July 1 - September 30, 1999

November 22, 1999                                                        99-04
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                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0   Associate Director, Park Operations and Education
2.0   Concessions
3.0   Interpretation and Education
4.0   Facilities Management
5.0   Harpers Ferry Center
6.0   Youth Programs
7.0   Risk Management
8.0   Public Health Service
9.0   Ranger Activities
10.0  Appalachian Trail 
11.0  Intra-Divisional/Intra-Directorate Projects

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1.0   ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, PARK OPERATIONS AND EDUCATION - Maureen Finnerty

      As noted in the last edition of this newsletter, one of my goals this
      year has been to improve communications and cooperation between staff in
      Park Operations and Education and their opposite numbers at all levels -
      directorates, divisions, regional offices and parks.  We're beginning to
      make progress in this effort, and have just taken a first major step in
      one arena - relations between operations and administrative staff.

      I've just returned from the first-ever joint meeting of the ARD's for
      Operations and Administration, held in early November in San Diego.  The
      meeting, which came about through the considerable efforts of Associate
      Director for Administration Sue Masica, was a great success. 
      Participants spent two full days talking about a wide range of issues
      affecting all parties - information management, budgets, fees, training,
      accountability, and a wide array of human resource issues, ranging from
      6c to careers to medical standards.  

      The meeting was marked by a real spirit of collaboration and consensus. 
      We had a good dialogue on all the above issues and came away with a
      positive feeling about future prospects for cooperative solutions to
      common problems.  The meeting was deemed so successful that we will be
      gathering again in May.

      Another example of this effort also occurred this month.  There was a
      very successful semi-annual meeting of the national wilderness steering
      committee at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin.  The
      agenda focused largely on the importance of strengthening our education
      and outreach in wilderness, but also provided us with a stimulating
      atmosphere in which to meet and talk with undergraduate and graduate
      students on wilderness issues.  A very special treat was the committee's
      visit to the Aldo Leopold Reserve, the setting for major conservation
      efforts by Leopold and the site on which "Sand County Almanac" is based. 
      Key policy makers from FWS and USFS also joined us to discuss common
      wilderness issues.  As a result, a senior level interagency policy group
      will begin meeting after the first of the year on wilderness policy
      issues. 

      We will be making similar efforts in other arenas in the future, both
      internally and externally.  We're in a period of limited resources -
      time, staff, money - so its only common sense that we need to find ways
      to work together effectively to address issues affecting the agency, its
      resources and its people.  

2.0   CONCESSIONS - Cindy Orlando, Wendy Mann

2.1   Concession Regulations

      The comment period for the new concessions regulations closed on October
      15th.  It was extended at the request of Senator Thomas and Congressman
      Hansen.  Close to 100 comments were received, about 50 of them form
      letters from America Outdoors, the national organization for outfitters
      and guides.  Comments are presently being considered.  Final regulations
      should be published in early March.

2.2   Concessions Management Advisory Board

      The Concessions Advisory Board held its first meeting in Washington on
      November 8th and 9th.  Each member was selected on the basis of
      outstanding professional qualifications and the ability to represent
      important elements within the field of concession management.  Richard
      Allen Naille has been designated to serve as chairperson of the board. 
      Other members of the board include:

      o     William S. Norman - expertise in tourism industry
      o     Dr. James Eyster - expertise in the accounting industry
      o     Richard Linford - expertise in the outfitting guide industry
      o     Philip Voorhees - expertise in nonprofit conservation organization
            and park and recreation programs
      o     Burt Weerts - expertise in state government and park concession
            management
      o     Ramona Sakiestewa - expertise in promotion of traditional arts and
            crafts

      The seven-member board will advise the Secretary and the National Park
      Service on issues pertaining to the effective management of concessions
      in units of the National Park System.  The board will make
      recommendations on ways to make concessions programs more cost-
      effective, mitigate impacts of concessions on park resources, and
      allocate concession fees.  

2.3   Concession Standard Contract Language

      A Federal Register notice on the revised standard contract language was
      published on September 3rd for a 60-day comment period.  Comments were
      due in by November 2nd.  Final contract language should be published in
      early March.  With the new regulations and contract language, the NPS
      can begin addressing the critical contracting backlog, with the highest
      national priorities going to three contracts in Intermountain Region and
      four in Pacific West Region.

2.4   Other Actions

      A concessions environmental strategy is being developed as part of the
      Service's environmental leadership initiative (see 11.1).  The goal is
      to work with concessioners to move towards excellence and more
      responsive environmental management.  Areas of emphasis include
      sustainable design and operations, environmental compliance and
      pollution prevention, energy efficiency, and water conservation.  One of
      the proposed new regulations includes a factor measuring the applicant's
      proposed environmental management practices in the selection criteria
      for awarding contracts.

      The NPS concession program has been the subject of a recent OIG audit
      report on contracting, with an emphasis on compliance and accountability
      issues.  The program is currently the focus of a GAO report on factors
      affecting lodging conditions in national parks; a draft report is
      expected in early January.
     
3.0   INTERPRETATION AND EDUCATION - Corky Mayo

3.1   Interpretation

      During the "Excellence in Interpretation" ceremony at the National
      Association for Interpretation annual workshop on October 17th, Director
      Stanton presented Robert E. Woody with the 1999 National Park Service
      Freeman Tilden Award.  Woody received the award for his outstanding work
      in managing the mass media campaign for the moving of the Cape Hatteras
      Lighthouse.  His use of story of the moving of the lighthouse to convey
      the higher meanings and values of heritage preservation was recognized
      in the presentation of the award.  This year, 35 candidates were
      nominated for the award.  Regional winners were Janet Ambrose, Carlsbad
      Caverns NP, Intermountain Region; Fawn Bauer, Glacier Bay NP&P, Alaska
      Region; Alyssa Baltrus, Rock Creek Park, National Capital Region; John
      Stanwich, Adams NHS, Northeast Region; Michael Vouri, San Juan Island
      NHP, Pacific West Region; and Kipton V. Walton, Indiana Dunes NL,
      Midwest Region.

      Drafts of DO-6 and DO-7 are now complete and ready for review. The
      reference manual for cooperating associations is also complete and has
      been announced in the Federal Register. 

      Sixteen new applicants and seven experienced interpretive competency
      certifiers who were due for recertification met at Mather in September
      to receive training on becoming certified certifiers for the
      interpretive professional development program. If they fully demonstrate
      competency according to the certification standards, they will then
      become active certifiers in the program.  Over 1,200 interpretive
      products have been submitted for certification to date.  A second
      certifiers' workshop is scheduled for January to ensure that the program
      maintains an adequate number of active certifiers. 

      A workshop co-sponsored by Mather Training Center and the Intermountain
      Regional Office was held in Albuquerque in September on how to be
      effective instructors in the interpretive development and certification
      program.  The workshop, attended by 30 employees, successfully offered
      an ambitious curriculum of both subject matter content and instructional
      techniques for the participants.

      A course for new chiefs of interpretation was offered at Mather Training
      Center in August.  Thirty new chiefs were exposed to sessions on budget,
      position management, the interpretive development program, comprehensive
      interpretive plans, ethics and resource issues. The course was judged a
      great success and will be offer again in the spring.

      Sandy Weber represented the Interpretation and Education Division at the
      ranger competencies work group meeting at FLETC in August.  Twenty-seven
      protection, interpretation, and training staff met to discuss the
      identification and development of protection ranger competencies. This
      work is continuing under the direction of Ken Mabery in Ranger
      Activities (see 9.5).

3.2   Education 

      Bob Huggins met with the wilderness education work group in July and
      helped draft the wilderness education and partnership plan.  The draft
      has been reviewed by the workgroup and will be forwarded to wilderness
      steering committee for approval. 

      National Public Lands Day was held on September 25th.  The director's
      goal of having 30 parks participating was met and exceeded.  The NPS
      joined the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife
      Service, Army Corps of Engineers, EPA and other federal, state and local
      agencies in this effort to enhance public lands across the United
      States.  Over 30,000 volunteers cleared stream banks, built trails,
      removed invasive weeds, and improved wildlife habitat.  Parks interested
      in participating next year should contact Bob Huggins, Division of
      Interpretation and Education, via cc:Mail.

      All regions have submitted their 2000 Parks as Classrooms funding
      requests.  The "judges" have rated all the submissions, and the projects
      to be funded have been selected.  Notification of the selections to
      regions is awaiting the signing of the FY 2000 budget.  Parks that
      received Parks as Classrooms fee demonstration funds from the Washington
      Office are reminded that they need to obligate those funds in a timely
      manner.

3.3   Cooperating Associations
    
      The new agreement between the NPS and the cooperating associations is
      out for signature.  The goal is for all agreements to be signed by
      January 1, 2000.

      The annual report for the FY 98 activity of cooperating associations was
      distributed to all parks and cooperating associations in July indicating
      gross revenues of $99,457,438, with aid to the NPS of $22,561,502.

      A request for entries from cooperating associations for the Interpretive
      Excellence Awards in 20 categories was sent out in August. Judges for
      the cooperating association entries for the Interpretive Excellence
      Awards for 2000 were selected and contacted by early September.

3.4   Volunteers

      Training modules for VIP management training are complete.  A "train the
      trainers" course is planned for spring.

      Joy Pietschmann, the new Servicewide VIP coordinator, is an active
      member of the newly formed Federal Interagency Team on Volunteerism
      (FITV).  A memorandum of understanding and strategic plan are being
      drafted for the group activities, which will work to bring agency
      volunteer programs together.

3.5   National Council for the Traditional Arts

      Sandy Weber worked with the National Council of the Traditional Arts
      (NCTA) and the WASO Contracting Office to approve two supplemental
      agreements to the NCTA cooperative agreement to cover an oral history
      project on the African-American community at Nicodemus NHS in Kansas and
      to manage donation funds for the America's Millennium Celebration being
      planned for the Mall by the White House and the Smithsonian over New
      Year's weekend.

3.6   National Constitution Week

      Forty parks participated in National Constitution Week activities in
      September using materials provided by the National Constitution Center. 
      Programs offered in the parks included such activities as "Sign the
      Constitution" events for visitors using large scale reproductions of the
      Constitution; swearing-in ceremonies for new citizens; and special
      interpretive programs related to themes such as Native American treaty
      rights under the Constitution.

4.0   FACILITIES MANAGEMENT 

4.1   Housing - Donna Compton
            
      The report on housing due to Congress by September 1st has not yet
      cleared the Department of Interior and has not been sent to the Hill. 
      The appropriations committees have not funded the NPS housing initiative
      for this fiscal year.  These two facts undoubtedly will raise many
      issues that will need attention.  

4.2   Transportation - Lou DeLorme

      Regions have submitted their prioritized funding requests for the
      Federal Lands Highway Program (FLHP) 3R (resurface, repair and rehab)
      and 4R (resurface, repair, rehab and reconstruction) highway programs
      for FY02 through FY06.  Responses were due into the Facility Management
      Division by October 29th.  A new procedure will be in place for managing
      FLHP funds, effective in FY01.  Although WASO will determine how much
      funding each of the regions will receive, the regions will set their own
      priorities for allocation to park highway projects and manage the funds. 
      Facility Management will review and comment on the priorities, but
      otherwise will not be involved.  

      The Service is printing 2,000 copies of the new transportation
      guidebook.  The guidebook contains sections on the role and purpose of
      transportation in national parks, an explanation of transportation
      planning and tools, transportation analysis and management techniques,
      and other related information.  Copies are being sent to regions and
      given to attendees at related training conferences; conferences have
      already been held in Philadelphia and Denver and are scheduled for
      Atlanta (November 30 - December 2) and Seattle (January 19 - 21).  The
      guidebooks are also available at www.nps.gov/transportation.

      A call will likely go out this month (or in the near future) for
      alternative transportation program planning and implementation projects
      for FY00.  Between $5 million and $10 million in FLHP funds will be
      allocated for projects designed to get people out of their cars.  All
      modes of transportation, facilities and connections to areas outside
      parks that attain this objective qualify for consideration.  An
      alternative transportation system (ATS) needs study, funded by TEA-21,
      is also underway which will cover the NPS, FWS and BLM.  A consulting
      team led by Cambridge Systematics has been selected to conduct the
      study, which will be completed by June, 2000.  The objective of the
      study is to determine the three agencies' alternative transportation
      needs.  Specific goals are to:

      o     identify the range of available ATS technologies and evaluate
            their application to federal lands;
      o     identify innovative approaches to ATS funding and recommend those
            that are most promising; 
      o     develop estimates for national ATS needs for the agencies; and
      o     recommend short-term and long-term national programs for the
            agencies.

      In order to attain these objectives, Cambridge Systematics will either
      visit or contact staff at 162 NPS sites.