NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, March 15, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1781, the Battle of Guilford Courthouse was fought in 
North Carolina. The battle was a costly victory by British troops 
under Lord Cornwallis over American regulars and militia under Maj. 
Gen. Nathanael Greene; it opened the campaign that led to the end of 
Revolutionary War combat at Yorktown, Virginia, that October.  
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park contains the battlefield.

INCIDENTS

00-093 - New River Gorge NR (WV) - Probable Arson

Rangers responded to a report of a fire at the Sandstone Falls 
trailhead around 2:30 a.m. on March 14th. The fire had been reported 
via 911 by the local newspaper delivery man and suppressed by the 
Hinton Fire Department.  The fire destroyed a 30-foot section of 
boardwalk, including an information kiosk and displays.  A preliminary 
investigation conducted by park rangers and the county fire marshal 
indicates the cause of the fire to be arson. Damage costs are 
estimated at over $24,000 for replacement of the boardwalk and the 
information kiosk.  The investigation continues and a reward for 
information is being coordinated with the local Crime Stoppers 
program.  The trailhead will be closed until reconstruction is 
completed. This incident occurred in an area of park where the 
controversial New River Parkway is to be built.  Tension has been 
running high in the area, with several smaller acts of vandalism 
occurring over the past several months.  [Gary Hartley, CR, NERI, 
03-14]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Yellowstone NP (WY) - Winter Use Plan and Draft EIS

On March 13th, the National Park Service met with representatives from 
the three states and the counties surrounding the park on the winter 
use plan and draft environmental impact statement for Yellowstone and 
Grand Teton National Parks.  At that meeting, a partial review of 
comment letters received during the public comment period occurred, 
along with a review of studies and additional information gathered 
since preparation of the draft EIS.  The NPS also indicated a 
tentative direction for a preferred alternative for the final EIS - a 
modified alternative which would move Yellowstone NP towards using 
snowcoaches as the only mechanized means to access the interior of the 
park by 2002-2003.  Comments were solicited from the other cooperators 
at the meeting. Since the analysis of public comments has not yet been 
completed, this information is preliminary in nature; it was shared 
with the states and counties in the spirit of cooperation and to 
provide them with the information before they review the draft of the 
final EIS in June.  No final decision will be made until the record of 
decision is signed on November 1st.  Implementation of the decision 
would occur by the winter of 2002-2003. [Mike Finley, Superintendent, 
YELL]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No submissions.

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

INTERCHANGE 

Juvenile Prosecutions - Due to recent problems with juvenile cases at 
Olympic National Park, the US Attorney's Office has asked that park 
staff query other parks regarding the handling of juvenile cases by 
local or federal courts.  Olympic currently has no method of 
prosecuting juveniles whatsoever. They are primarily interested in 
areas of exclusive federal jurisdiction, but would also be interested 
in any areas where it is common for the U.S. magistrate judge to hear 
juvenile cases.  Please include the name of the park, the type of 
jurisdiction, the judicial district that services your area, and 
information on whether your juvenile traffic infractions, petty 
offenses, misdemeanors, and felonies are heard before a local judge or 
a federal judge, what authority to handle such cases was cited if 
heard by a local judge, and, if in the federal system, if any special 
accommodations are made to preserve the anonymity of the juvenile 
offender. Information can be sent to supervisory criminal investigator 
Mike Butler by cc:Mail, by fax (360-452-0343), or by mail (Olympic 
National Park, Attn: Michael Butler, 600 E. Park Ave., Port Angeles, 
WA 98362).

PARKS AND PEOPLE

WASO International Affairs (DC) - Correction: The March 9th Morning 
Report carried a notice about a detail opportunity at the ancient site 
of Petra in the nation of Jordan. The web address given for further 
information was incorrect. The actual site address is 
http://www.doi.gov/intl/opportunities.html. You can also check the 
International Affairs bulletin board for details.

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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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