NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Thursday, March 9, 2000

ALMANAC

On this day in 1862, the USS Monitor successfully battled the 
Confederate ironclad Virginia off Hampton Roads, Virginia.  A memorial 
to John Ericsson, designer of the revolutionary Union ironclad vessel, 
stands near the Lincoln Memorial in National Capital Parks. 

INCIDENTS

00-084 - Lake Mead NRA (NV/AZ) - Apparent Carbon Monoxide Fatality

On the morning of March 8th, the campground host at Boulder Beach told 
a maintenance worker that she hadn't seen any activity in one of the 
sites at the campground for several days. The body of T.B., 
61, was found in his tent, along with the remnants of a charcoal fire. 
Carbon monoxide poisoning is the suspected cause of death. [Jodi 
Wilson, Dispatch, LAME, 3/8]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

ARPA Course Notice - The ARPA course scheduled for Moab, Utah, for the 
week of March 20th is in dire need of more students. If you have a 
qualified ranger or archeologist in your park that you'd like to send, 
please fax a one-page nomination form by 3 p.m. EST today to 
912-267-3188. The course will be canceled if there aren't enough 
participants. [Tony Bonanno, IMRO]

Team Leadership Program - The first team leadership program class 
graduated on January 28th at a ceremony held in the Yates Auditorium 
in the Main Interior Building.  The class of 45 includes twelve NPS 
graduates.  The team leadership program (TLP) is a 12-month 
developmental program that provides participants with opportunities to 
acquire knowledge, skills and abilities to assume leadership positions 
within DOI.  The purpose of TLP is to develop a cadre of leaders to 
meet the future management and executive needs of the Department.  TLP 
participants are grades GS-11 to GS-14 (and equivalent wage levels).  
This class was comprised of members from eight DOI agencies and two 
central offices. Participants were selected from more than 400 
applicants; they represent the geographic breadth of DOI and epitomize 
the Department's diversity of age, gender, cultural background, race, 
color and professions. Graduates of the TLP program receive a 
certificate, good for three years, which entitles them to a 
non-competitive one-grade increase. The next TLP class is scheduled to 
be announced in March of this year. NPS graduates of the TLP class of 
2000 were: Nancy Baker, DSC; Kathy Billings, USAR; Claudia Finney, 
WASO; Doug Lentz, HAVO; Jim McKay, MAVA; Michael Molling, BLRI; 
Ricardo Portillo, LAME; Cynthia Perera, WASO; Patricia Reischl, GOGA; 
Bessie Sherman, TUIN; Darla Sidles, ZION; Mike Tranel, DENA. [Victoria 
Clarke, WASO]

MEMORANDA
        
"Scenic Byways Program," signed on February 22nd by the AD/Operations 
and Education and sent to all regional directors. The referenced 
attachments are NOT attached to the Morning Report:

"The Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (TEA-21) continued 
the Scenic Byways Program funding it with $148 million over 6 years, 
1998 through 2003.  This program, administered by the Federal Highway 
Administration, recognizes roads of outstanding quality and offers a 
number of opportunities for the management of those roads and the 
communities that adjoin them. National Park Service (NPS) units are 
encouraged to investigate the opportunities for their park, especially 
if it contains an already designated National Scenic Byway.  Please 
see the two attachments which include an overview of the program and a 
matrix showing National Scenic Byways that are entirely or partly 
within, or near NPS units.

"This program was designed to benefit participating communities by:  
promoting tourism; increasing community pride; offering a mechanism 
for protecting the intrinsic qualities which make the road and its 
environs special; developing and implementing a corridor management 
plan; and providing grant money for interpretation centers, bicycle 
facilities, waysides, and research. Parks and regions should look for 
ways to benefit from this potential funding source.

"Advantages for the NPS may also include the opportunity for outreach 
to partners such as gateway communities, and State transportation and 
State tourism officials in working on a byway that is in or near a 
national park. Such a byway could become an alternative attraction for 
visitors when a park is very crowded, or in some cases, a link between 
national parks and other Federal land units, which encourages further 
partnering. 

"Please refer to the attached information and pursue any appropriate 
aspect of this program. If you have any questions, please call Lou 
DeLorme, Team Leader, Park Facilities and Transportation, at  
202/565-1254."

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Buffalo NR (AR) - The park is seeking to lateral a permanent, 
full-time GS-09 protection ranger into a position in the Lower Buffalo 
District.  The incumbent will be involved in law enforcement, 
technical SAR, structural and wildland fire, EMS, and river 
operations.  Required occupancy. Full performance protection rangers 
interested in this position should send applications to Bill Van Cott, 
Buffalo National River, 2229 Highway 268 East, Yellville, AR  72687.  
For further information, contact him via cc:Mail or at 870-449-4310.

Mesa Verde NP (CO) - District ranger John Sheek is retiring after 30 
years of government service. A dinner, dance and roast will be held in 
his honor at the Cortez Elks Club at 6 p.m. on April 7th. If you plan 
on attending, please call Melodie San Miguel at 970-529-4618. Messages 
and items for his memory book should be cent via cc:Mail to chief 
ranger Charlie Peterson.

WASO International Affairs (DC) - The office is seeking two to four 
experienced NPS employees to help develop an operating plan for the 
ancient site of Petra in the nation of Jordan - made famous by the 
film "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade." One of the most spectacular 
natural and cultural treasures in the region, Petra is under severe 
stress due to a sharp increase in the number of visitors to the site. 
The NPS traditionally supports other national park systems, providing 
training and technical assistance to natural and cultural resource 
managers from countries around the world.  Other agencies, especially 
USAID and The World Bank, help finance these projects. Participants 
must be willing to devote three hours per week for the two months 
prior to the workshop on development of the operating plan and commit 
to a period of 14 days (including travel time) during the workshop.  
NPS employees interested in learning more about the requirements of 
this and other overseas assignments should consult the International 
Affairs bulletin board or DOI's  International Affairs website: 
http://www.doi/int/opportunities.html

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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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