NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT
  
  
  To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices
  
  From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
  
  Day/Date:   Wednesday, February 23, 2000
  
  ALMANAC
  
  On this day in 1720, Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus established Mission 
  San Jose, the largest and best known of the four Spanish colonial 
  missions in San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Texas.
  
  INCIDENTS
  
  00-060 - Everglades NP (FL) - Poaching
  
  Last August 15th, ranger David Hubbard stopped a vehicle in Shark 
  Valley and arrested the driver - G.N. of Miami - on two 
  outstanding county warrants. During an inventory of the vehicle prior 
  to impoundment, Hubbard found a duffel bag containing four live 
  alligators, each two- to three-feet long. They were released back into 
  the park. Pictures were found in the truck showing G.N. in the park 
  with the same duffel bag on numerous prior occasions, indicating that 
  this may not have been the first time he's collected alligators in the 
  park. On January 28th, G.N. was found guilty of poaching/illegal 
  taking of wildlife in magistrate's court; he was fined a total of $600 
  and banned from all four south Florida parks until payment is 
  received. [Craig Thatcher, DR, EVER, 2/22]
  
  00-061 - Friendship Hill NHS (PA) - Flooding
  
  A strong winter storm which passed through the northeast on Friday, 
  February 18th, dropped moderate to heavy rain on the area throughout 
  that day and the next morning. On Saturday, the National Weather 
  Service issued a flood warning for the section of the Monongahela 
  River between Point Marion and Grey's Landing. The park sits between 
  these two locations. The rising waters soon flooded the lower section 
  of the main trail along the river, with the crest predicted for around 
  1 p.m.  The park was accordingly closed for the day. It reopened on 
  Sunday, but a mile of the trail remains roped off and closed to the 
  public. Initial estimates are that the flooding caused about $50,000 
  in damage. [Jesse Jack, Protection Specialist, FRHI, 2/22]
  
  CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
  
  No submissions.
  
  OPERATIONAL NOTES
  
  No submissions.
  
  MEMORANDA
  
  "Re-Release of OIA/Interpretation Skills Roster Web System," signed by 
  the director and sent to all employees. The text follows:
  
  "The Service has a long and fine custom of providing dynamic 
  interpretive services at its parks, schools and other areas. It also 
  has a solid tradition of cooperating with other nations on natural and 
  cultural heritage issues and related concerns.  As stated in the 
  Service's mission statement, 'The Park Service cooperates with 
  partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource 
  conservation and outdoor recreation throughout the country and the 
  world.' 
  
  "To better serve the continual needs of the National Park Service and 
  the many requests for assistance it receives, the NPS Office of 
  International Affairs and the Interpretation and Education Division 
  have developed a joint skills roster system. This easy to use Internet 
  system will allow every qualified and interested employee an 
  opportunity for consideration for short-term interpretative or 
  international assignments.
  
  "The Skills Roster will be used by the Office of International Affairs 
  in identifying and selecting suitable candidates for overseas 
  assignments and identifying appropriate contacts for foreign 
  counterparts when they visit the US. The Interpretation and Education 
  Division will also use the Skills Roster to select suitable candidates 
  for short-term in-country interpretive assignments.
  
  "By using the NPS Skills Roster, NPS employees will be able to 
  publicize their skills and indicate their availability for 
  Interpretive and/or International Affairs short-term details. These 
  assignments provide excellent and challenging opportunities for 
  professional and personal growth. We are committed to using these 
  opportunities to empower a diverse Service workforce dedicated to 
  excellence, integrity, and quality work.
  
  "Attached [Not on the MR, but available on the International Affairs 
  BB - Editor) you will find details on accessing the NPS Skills Roster. 
  Please feel free to contact David Krewson (202) 565-1285 or Joy 
  Pietchmann (202) 565-1032 with any questions or comments concerning 
  this system."
  
  PARKS AND PEOPLE
  
  Submissions 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
  
  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 1st
  
  Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (Murkowski): Oversight 
  hearing on DOI FY 2001 budget request.
  
  House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water 
  Resources and Environment (Boehlert): Hearing on restoration of the 
  Everglades and south Florida ecosystem. The hearing will be at 9:30 
  a.m. in 2167 Rayburn.
  
  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 15th):
  
  o     H.R. 3676 (Bono, CA), a bill to establish the Santa Rosa and San 
        Jacinto Mountains National Monument in the state of California.
  o     H.R. 3683 (Hastings, WA), a bill to prohibit further extension 
        or establishment of any national monument in Washington state 
        without full public participation and an express act of          
        Congress, and for other purposes. 
  o     H.R. 3693 (Simpson, ID), a bill to provide for the acquisition 
        of Castle Rock Ranch in the state of Idaho and to authorize the 
        use of the acquired ranch in a series of land exchanges 
        involving lands within the boundaries of the City of Rocks 
        National Reserve and the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument.
  
  NEW LAWS
  
  The following bills have passed Congress and been signed into law: No 
  new laws.
  
                               *  *  *  *  *
  
  Distribution of the Morning Report is through a mailing list managed 
  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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