NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                              MORNING REPORT
   
   
   To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices
   
   From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
   
   Day/Date:   Monday, January 10, 2000
   
   ALMANAC
   
   On this day in 1776, Thomas Paine published "Common Sense," a pamphlet 
   that proved influential in winning public support for American 
   independence from Britain.  Independence National Historical Park in 
   Philadelphia interprets Paine's influence and other events leading to the 
   approval of the Declaration of Independence there that July.
   
   INCIDENTS
   
   97-634 - Little River Canyon NRA (AL) - Follow-up: Falling Fatality
   
   In October, 1997, rangers responded to a falling fatality at Weaver Point. 
   L.J., 54, her husband, and a juvenile were said to have been 
   performing a Native American ritual when L.J. lost her balance and fell 
   over 300 feet to her death. A lengthy and extensive investigation was 
   conducted by rangers, FBI agents and local deputies which lead to the 
   filing of murder charges against the juvenile. Additional information will 
   be provided as the case proceeds. [Dwight Dixon, CR, LIRI, 1/8]
   
   00-004 - Padre Island NS (TX) - HazMat Spill
   
   About 300 gallons of seawater and light oil were released from a tank onto 
   the ground at one of the oil and gas leasing sites within the park around 
   3:30 p.m. on January 5th. The light oil, called a condensate, is extracted 
   in the process of pumping natural gas from a well. The condensate is mixed 
   in seawater and pumped into two 5,000 gallon tanks. One of the valves on 
   one of the tanks failed, causing a weld to break on a flow pipe. The 
   release was discovered by acting resource management chief Daryl Echols 
   and biotech Bryan Yahn. The company sent out a repairman to contain the 
   leak. The park is working with the Texas Natural Resources Commission and 
   the Texas Railroad Commission on appropriate action. [Gus Martinez, PAIS, 
   1/7]
   
   CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
   
   No submissions.
   
   OPERATIONAL NOTES
   
   Information Solicited - In November and December of 1999, 26 historic 
   monuments at Gettysburg NMP, Antietam NB, and Manassas NBP were defaced by 
   a person or persons who poured a vegetable oil like substance onto the 
   stone. The oil penetrated the granite of many memorials causing a more or 
   less permanent stain (see incident reports 99-685, 99-708, and 99-706). 
   Rangers and Park Police officers in the Northeast and National Capital 
   Regions are working together to investigate these incidents.  
   Investigators believe that this type of defacement of war monuments may 
   not be strictly limited to Civil War sites nor to only National Park 
   Service areas and are seeking information concerning any similar 
   instances.  Areas with similar incidents occurring within the last year or 
   in the near future are encouraged to contact rangers at Antietam NB at 
   301-432-2243 or to contact chief ranger Ed Wenschhof via cc:Mail. [Pete 
   Walzer, SPR, GETT]
   
   Editor's Note - Would the person who sent along the master listing of 
   almanac entries please send a note to the editor so that he can receive 
   proper credit for putting together the compilation?
   
   MEMORANDA
   
   No submissions.
   
   INTERCHANGE
   
   No submissions.
   
   PARKS AND PEOPLE
   
   No submissions.
   
   TRAINING/MEETING CALENDAR
   
   The NPS training/meeting calendar follows this edition of the Morning 
   Report as a separate message.
   
                                *  *  *  *  *
   
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   park, office and/or regional cc:Mail hub coordinators.  Please address 
   requests pertaining to receipt of the Morning Report to your servicing hub 
   coordinator.  The Morning Report is also available on the web at 
   http://www.nps.gov/morningreport
   
   Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation 
   and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.
   
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