NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, March 21, 2000

ALMANAC

On this day in 1963, the final group of prisoners left Alcatraz - 
which, according to the last prisoner to leave, was "never was no good 
for anybody." The former federal penitentiary is now part of Golden 
Gate National Recreation Area, California.

INCIDENTS

00-101 - Big South Fork NRA (KY/TN) - Falling Fatality

On the afternoon of March 18th, rangers received a radio call from 
Obed WSR ranger Rob Turan regarding scanner traffic he'd heard on a 
possible suicide at Brewster Bridge on Highway 52 within Big South 
Fork. Rangers Barry Melloan and Kristy Kozel responded. A joint 
investigation was begun with state and local authorities which led to 
the determination that one L.B. had been reported missing on 
March 17th and had last been seen alive round 1:30 p.m. that 
afternoon. L.B. had been driving his mother's car and had parked it 
in a parking area near the bridge. She'd picked the car up from the 
lot that night, not knowing where her son had gone. When he failed to 
return home, the family became alarmed and began searching for him the 
following morning. They found his body under the bridge. Investigation 
showed that L.B. had walked under the bridge, then apparently 
stumbled off a 40-foot cliff. The accident may have occurred between 
1:45 p.m. and 6 p.m. on the 17th, and alcohol may have been a factor. 
[F. Graham, CR, BISO, 3/20]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

General Special Use Permit Application Form - The draft general 
application form for special park uses (10-930) that was transmitted 
electronically on February 9th (along with three other forms) 
generated a number of comments, some of them significant. An interim 
change has accordingly been made in the first paragraph of the form. 
The revised version was also distributed electronically, but it 
appears that some parks did not receive it. This version contains a 
First Amendment disclaimer in the opening paragraph and has also 
removed the $50 fee. It also appears that some parks didn't get the 
original transmission. If you haven't received a copy of the new 
10-930 or the original mailing of the four forms, please check with 
your regional special park use coordinator or contact Dick Young via 
cc:Mail (Dick S. Young at NP-COLO) or phone (757-898-7846). Questions 
concerning any of the three draft application forms or the new special 
use permit form should be directed to him as well.

Final Rule Issued on Personal Watercraft Use - Director Stanton 
yesterday announced that the  final rule for managing personal 
watercraft (PWC) use in areas of the National Park System goes into 
effect on April 20th.  The rule was published in the Federal Register 
yesterday (March 21st).  The final rule prohibits PWC use in national 
park areas unless the Service determines that this type of water-based 
recreational activity is appropriate for a specific park based on the 
legislation establishing that area, the park's resources and values, 
other visitor uses of the area, and overall management objectives. The 
rule also recognizes that PWC use may be appropriate in portions of 
certain areas such as Lake Mead NRA and Glen Canyon NRA, where 
Congress directed the Service to manage active, motorized, water-based 
recreation programs on large man-made lakes. The rule establishes two 
methods for authorizing PWC use.  The first method, referred to as 
"park designated PWC use," is available for a small group of areas 
where authorization might be appropriately and successfully 
accomplished through the superintendent's compendium, a locally based 
procedure for implementing restrictions.  The second method, referred 
to as "special regulation rulemaking through the Federal Register," is 
available for other parks where authorization of PWC use may be deemed 
appropriate. 

The first, or locally-based, method may allow PWC use to continue in 
all or part of the following ten NPS units identified in the final 
rule - Amistad NRA, Bighorn Canyon NRA, Chickasaw NRA, Curecanti NRA,  
Gateway NRA, Glen Canyon NRA, Lake Mead NRA, Lake Meredith NRA, Lake 
Roosevelt NRA, and Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity NRA. A review of the 
legislation establishing these ten areas shows that water-related 
recreation was a primary purpose for their creation and that they are 
characterized by substantial motorized boating use.  Nine of the parks 
contain man-made lakes created by the construction of dams, and one 
park has open ocean and bay waters. Superintendents will be able to 
regulate PWC use within these parks by area closures, public use 
limits, and other restrictions. 

The second method for authorizing PWC use in Park Service areas 
provides nationwide notice and opportunity to comment on any proposal 
to authorize PWC use in an area of the National Park System.  The 
Service recognizes that this process can be time-consuming.  The rule 
therefore establishes a two-year "grace period" following final rule 
publication to provide certain listed park areas where PWC use is 
presently occurring sufficient time to develop and finalize special 
regulations, as appropriate. During this two-year grace period, the 
superintendents of the following parks would be able to authorize, 
manage and restrict PWC use through zoning, hour limits and other 
management tools - Assateague Island NS, Cape Cod NS, Cape Lookout NS, 
Cumberland Island NS, Fire Island NS, Gulf Islands NS, Padre Island 
NS, Indiana Dunes NL, Pictured Rocks NL, Delaware Water Gap NRA, and 
Big Thicket NP.

The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register for public 
comment on September 15, 1998 (63 FR 49312) with the comment period 
lasting until November 16, 1998.  The Service received more than 
20,000 timely written responses during the comment period. PWC use has 
been controversial in many places throughout the country. The 
Service's concerns, coupled with an analysis of the comments received, 
led the agency to conclude that PWC use is inappropriate in most areas 
of the National Park System, and appropriate in only a small number of 
areas. Prior to release of the proposed rule, a dramatic increase in 
PWC use had been observed in 32 of the 87 units of the National Park 
System that allow motorized boating. PWC use is specifically 
prohibited at Yellowstone NP, Everglades NP, Buffalo NR, and Ozark NSR 
through special regulations and other management restrictions issued 
prior to this rulemaking process. A number of areas are also closed to 
PWC use as a result of the current rulemaking process.  These include 
Biscayne NP, Isle Royal NP, Glacier NP, Olympic NP, Grand Canyon NP, 
Canyonlands NP, Canaveral NS, Cape Hatteras NS, Golden Gate NRA, 
Apostle Islands NL, Sleeping Bear Dunes NL, and St. Croix NSR.  Copies 
of the final rule are available from the NPS website at 
http://www.nps.gov/refdesk by selecting "Hotdocs" and "Personal 
Watercraft Use in the NPS System."

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Gates of the Arctic NP&P (AK) - The park is currently advertising for 
a GS-0025-12 chief of operations.  The incumbent is duty stationed in 
Bettles and is responsible for the park's daily operations. He/she 
supervises five permanent staff and several seasonal staff, and is 
supervised by the superintendent, who is located in Fairbanks and is 
also superintendent of another park.  Gates of the Arctic contains 8.4 
millions acres of land, most of which is designated wilderness. If 
interested, please check out announcement number YUGA-00-3 on USAJobs. 
The announcement closes March 31st. If you have any questions after 
checking out the announcement, call the park at 907-456-0281.

San Juan Island NHP (WA) - The park is currently accepting 
applications for a GS-0025-07/09 park ranger (protection).  The 
incumbent serves as the park's only commissioned permanent law 
enforcement ranger. San Juan Island is a small park with diverse 
resources and varied visitor and resource protection duties. The 
announcement is on USAJobs as CCSO-00-24 and is open through April 
4th.  For further information, please call administrative officer 
Maureen Briggs at 360-378-2240. 

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, March 21st 

Senate Indian Affairs Committee (Campbell): Hearing on S. 2102 
(Inouye, HI), a bill to provide the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe with a 
permanent land base within its aboriginal homeland, and for other 
purposes. The hearing will be held at 10:30 a.m. in 485 Russell.

Thursday, March 23rd

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, 
Historic Preservation and Recreation (Thomas): Oversight hearing on 
the status of monuments and memorials in and around Washington, D.C. 
The hearing will be at 2:30 p.m. in 366 Dirksen.

House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands 
(Hansen): Hearing on:

o       H.R. 1500 (Hansen, UT), a bill to accelerate the wilderness 
        designation process by establishing a timetable for the 
        completion of wilderness studies on Federal Lands. 
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.      
o       H.R. 3293, a bill to authorize a plaque at the Vietnam 
        Veterans Memorial.

The hearing will be at 10 a.m. in 1324 Longworth.

Tuesday, March 28th

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, 
Historic Preservation and Recreation: Oversight hearing on the 
incinerator component at the proposed Advanced Waste Treatment 
Facility at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental 
Laboratory and its potential impact on the adjacent Yellowstone and 
Grand Teton National Parks. The hearing will be at 2:30 p.m. in 366 
Dirksen.

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.
o       H.R. 2919 (Portman, OH), a bill to promote preservation and 
        public awareness of the history of the Underground Railroad by 
        providing financial assistance, to the Freedom Center in 
        Cincinnati, Ohio. 

The hearing will be at 2 p.m. in Longworth 1324.

Tuesday, April 4th

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior (Regula): Oversight 
hearing on the Everglades. The hearing will be at 10 a.m. in B-308 
Rayburn.

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 (March 14th):

o       H.R. 3908 (Young, FL), a bill making emergency supplemental 
        appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2000, 
        and for other purposes.
o       H.R. 3926 (Weller, IL), a bill to amend the Illinois and 
        Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor Act of 1984 to 
        increase the amount authorized to be appropriated to the 
        Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor 
        Commission.
o       H.R. 4010 (Faleomavaega, AS), a bill to reauthorize and amend 
        the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act. 
o       H.R. 4020 (Radanovich, CA), a bill to authorize an expansion 
        of the boundaries of Sequoia National Park to include 
        Dillonwood Giant Sequoia Grove.
o       H.R. 4021 (Radanovich, CA), a bill to authorize a study to 
        determine the best scientific method for the long-term 
        protection of California's giant sequoia groves.

NEW LAWS

The following bills have passed Congress and been signed into law: No 
new laws.

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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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