NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT
  
  
  To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices
  
  From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
  
  Day/Date:   Tuesday, February 15, 2000
  
  ALMANAC
  
  On this day in 1898, the battleship "Maine" exploded in Havana Harbor, 
  Cuba, making "Remember the Maine" a rallying cry for the ensuing U.S. 
  war with Spain.  A memorial to veterans of the Spanish-American War is 
  included within George Washington Memorial Parkway in Virginia.
  
  INCIDENTS
  
  00-043 - Point Reyes NS (CA) - Follow-up: Carjacking
  
  The two men suspected of carjacking a rental vehicle being driven by a 
  German visitor were arrested on the night of February 12th in Petaluma 
  while attempting to steal another car. The two teens - C.L., 
  L18, and a 17-year-old juvenile, both from Scio, Oregon - 
  face a variety of state charges with penalties that could total 28 
  years in prison. [Cliff Spencer, SPR, PORE, 2/14]
  
  00-044 - Ross Lake NRA (WA) - Drug Smuggling Arrests
  
  On February 12th, Canadian citizens E.M. and J.B. 
  used two stolen snowmobiles to tow a johnboat 25 miles over 
  snow-packed Canadian forest roads and across the international border 
  into the park.  The men hid the snowmobiles in the forest and boated 
  another 20 miles to the south end of Ross Lake, where they cached 
  $50,000 worth of high-grade "BC Bud" marijuana. They then attempted to 
  return to Canada under the cover of darkness and snow, but were 
  intercepted by district ranger Hugh Dougher and Whatcom county deputy 
  sheriff Mark Lann, who made a felony boat stop.  E.M. and J.B. 
  had in their possession two life jackets with "NPS Park Ranger" 
  stenciled on them, sophisticated radio/scanners, a GPS unit, and 
  quality backcountry gear. Ranger Marshall Plumer played a key role in 
  the apprehension; Customs, Border Patrol, and RCMP officers provided 
  additional backup and investigative support. The two men are now in 
  jail, and all their equipment has been seized.  The snowmobiles were 
  removed from the backcountry by helicopter the next morning. E.M. has 
  an extensive criminal history, including strong-arm robbery and prison 
  escape, and the RCMP discovered burglar tools in J.B.'s truck.  
  Preliminary investigation indicates E.M. and J.B. are part of a 
  criminal organization that was attempting to establish a pipeline to 
  smuggle large quantities of marijuana through the park over the next 
  couple of months.  Ross Lake is an established smuggling route, with 
  movement of drugs, money, and aliens occurring by foot, bicycle, 
  kayak, powerboat, and now snowmobile.  About four years ago, Plumer 
  apprehended Abu Meser, a Palestinian terrorist, along this route. 
  Meser was subsequently wounded in a SWAT raid in New York City.  This 
  is the second pair of smugglers arrested this winter - the previous 
  pair were armed. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA, 2/14]
  
  00-045 - San Juan NHS (PR) - Body Found
  
  A city police officer saw three people carrying something heavy and 
  wrapped in a very large blanket into the Las Animas bastion late on 
  the morning of February 4th. The bastion is adjacent to a poor section 
  of the city known as "La Perla" which is notorious for drug 
  trafficking. When the trio saw the officer, they fled back into La 
  Perla. The officer checked the object they were carrying and found it 
  was the body of a young man between 20 and 25-years-old, dressed only 
  in shorts. Ranger Freddie Aledo responded along with FBI agents. No 
  identification was found on the victim. Tattoos on the body suggest he 
  may be an American sailor. The death is evidently related to illegal 
  drugs. The investigation continues. [Freddie Aledo, SAJU, 2/10]
  
  CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
  
  No submissions.
  
  OPERATIONAL NOTES
  
  No submissions.
  
  MEMORANDA
  
  No submissions.
  
  PARKS AND PEOPLE
  
  No submissions.
  
  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 16th
  
  House Resources Committee (Young): Mark-up of H.R. 1749 (Ballenger, 
  NC), a bill to designate Wilson Creek in Avery and Caldwell Counties, 
  North Carolina, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers 
  System.
  
  Thursday, February 17th
  
  House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands 
  (Hansen): Mark-up of:
  
  o     H.R. 1509 (Johnson, TX), a bill to authorize the Disabled 
        Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation to establish a memorial in 
        the District of Columbia or its environs to honor veterans who 
        became disabled while serving in the Armed Forces of the United 
        States. 
  o     H.R. 1864 (Hansen, UT), a bill to standardize the process for 
        conducting public hearings for Federal agencies within the 
        Department of the Interior. 
  o     H.R. 2932 (Hansen, UT), a bill to authorize the Golden 
        Spike/Crossroads of the West National Heritage Area.      
  
  The hearing will be at 10 a.m. in Longworth 1324.
  
  Tuesday, February 29th
  
  House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior (Regula): Hearing on DOI 
  FY 2001 budget request. The hearing will be at 10 a.m. in Rayburn 
  B-308.
  
  Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, 
  Historic Preservation and Recreation (Thomas): Oversight hearing to 
  review the president's proposed FY2001 budget request for the National 
  Park Service. The hearing will be at 9:30 a.m. in Dirksen SD-366.
  
  Wednesday, March 3rd
  
  Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (Murkowski): Oversight 
  hearing on DOI FY 2001 budget request.
  
  Tuesday, March 14th
  
  House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands 
  (Hansen): Hearing on:
  
  o     H.R. 2577 (Cubin, WY), a bill to authorize the development and 
        maintenance of a multi-agency campus project in the town of 
        Jackson, Wyoming.
  o     H.R. 3084 (Shimkus, IL), a bill to authorize the Secretary of 
        the Interior to contribute funds for the establishment of an 
        interpretative center on the life and contributions of President 
        Abraham Lincoln.
  
  The hearing will be at 10 a.m. in Longworth 1324.
  
  Wednesday, March 29th
  
  House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior (Regula): Hearing on NPS 
  FY 2001 budget request. The hearing will be at 10 a.m. in Rayburn 
  B-308.
  
  Thursday, March 30th
  
  House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands 
  (Hansen): Hearing on:
  
  o     H.R. 3033 (Ros-Lehtinen, FL), a bill to direct the Secretary of 
        the Interior to make certain adjustments to the boundaries of 
        Biscayne National Park in the State of Florida, and for other 
        purposes.
  o     H.R. 3241, a bill on franchise fee calculations for tours at 
        Fort Sumter NM.
  
  The hearing will be at 2 p.m. in Longworth 1324.
  
  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 (February 8th):
  
  o     H.R. 3632 (Lantos, CA), a bill to revise the boundaries of 
        Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and for other purposes. 
  o     H.R. 3638 (Shadegg, AZ), a bill to require the Secretary of the 
        Interior to fulfill his obligation to transfer additional 
        federal lands to the State of Arizona as required by the 
        Arizona-New Mexico Enabling Act of June 20, 1910. 
  o     S. 2051 (Feinstein, CA), a bill to revise the boundaries of the 
        Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and for other purposes.
  
  NEW LAWS
  
  The following bills have passed Congress and been signed into law: No 
  new laws.
  
                               *  *  *  *  *
  
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  by 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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