NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, April 4, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1968, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated 
on a motel balcony in Memphis, Tennessee.  His funeral was held at the 
Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where his father was pastor, and 
he was later entombed next to it.  The church and tomb are parts of 
Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site.

INCIDENTS

00-121 - Death Valley NP (CA) - Body Recovery; Possible Suicide

Members of the Death Valley NP-Inyo Sheriff's Office SAR team found a 
body in lower Wildrose Canyon on the afternoon of April 2nd. The 
victim is believed to be F.S. of Los Angeles; suicide has 
been deemed probable. F.S. was last seen by his wife on March 23rd. 
His vehicle was seen in the park five days later, but did not seem 
suspicious. It was found in the same location two days later, and an 
investigation was begun. Rangers found that LAPD had a missing persons 
report on F.S., who was reportedly despondent and carrying a handgun. 
The search for F.S. was begun on March 31st. [CRO, DEVA, 4/2]

00-122 - Big Bend NP (TX) - Body Recovery

A body was found in a remote section of the park on the morning of 
March 31st. The chance discovery of the partially buried remains was 
made by a Border Patrol agent who had been assisting rangers in the 
search for a person who fled from the scene of a drug arrest. Due to 
the nature of the incident, assistance with the investigation was 
sought and received from the FBI. An FBI evidence recovery team from 
El Paso assisted with body recovery and collected evidence from the 
area where it was found. A local Texas Department of Public Safety 
ranger also assisted. An autopsy will be conducted to determine cause 
of death. The investigation continues. [Bill Wright, CR, BIBE, 4/3]

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

Tuesday, April 4th

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

o       H.R. 2249 (Wicker, MS), a bill to establish the Corinth Unit 
        of Shiloh National Military Park in the vicinity of Corinth, 
        Mississippi, and in the State of Tennessee, and for other 
        purposes. 
o       H.R. 2773 (McCollum, FL), a bill to amend the Wild and Scenic 
        Rivers Act to designate the Wekiva River and its tributaries 
        of Rock Springs Run and Black Water Creek in the State of 
        Florida as components of the national wild and scenic rivers 
        system.
o       H.R. 2833 (Pastor, AZ), a bill to establish the Yuma Crossing 
        National Heritage Area. 

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

Wednesday, April 5th

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior (Gorton): Hearing on 
DOI's FY2001 budget request. The hearing will be held in SD-124 
Dirksen.

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (Murkowski): Markup of 
the following bills:

o       S. 311 (McCain, AZ), a bill to authorize the Disabled 
        Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation to establish a memorial in 
        the District of Columbia or its environs, and for other 
        purposes.
o       S. 1705 (Craig, ID), a bill to direct the Secretary of the 
        Interior to enter into land exchanges to acquire from the 
        private owner and to convey to the State of Idaho 
        approximately 1,240 acres of land near the City of Rocks 
        National Reserve, Idaho, and for other purposes. 
o       S. 1849 (Biden, DE), a bill to designate segments and 
        tributaries of White Clay Creek, Delaware and Pennsylvania, as 
        a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.     
o       S. 1910, a bill to amend the Act establishing the Women's 
        Rights National Historical Park to permit the Secretary of the 
        Interior to acquire title in fee simple to the Hunt House 
        located in Waterloo, New York.
o       H.R. 1615 (Sununu, NH), a bill to amend the Wild and Scenic 
        Rivers Act to extend the designation of a portion of the 
        Lamprey River in New Hampshire as a recreational river to 
        include an additional river segment.

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

House Resources Committee (Young): Markup of the following bills:

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. 2932 (Hansen, UT), a bill to authorize the Golden 
        Spike/Crossroads of the West National Heritage Area.      
o       H.R. 3919, the Coral Reef Conservation and Restoration 
        Partnership Act of 2000.
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.

Thursday, April 6th

House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands 
(Hansen) and Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health (Chenoweth) and 
Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation (Duncan): 
Joint hearing on H.R. 3661, general aviation access to federal lands 
and to the airspace over those lands. The hearing will be at 10 a.m. 
in 1324 Longworth.

Thursday, April 13th

House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands 
(Hansen): Markup of 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 10 a.m. in 1324 Longworth.

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 28th):

o       S. 2294 (Feinstein, CA), a bill to establish the Rosie the 
        Riveter-World War II Home Front National Historical Park in 
        the State of California, and for other purposes. 
o       H.R. 4095 (McInnis, CO), a  bill to provide for the 
        establishment of the Great Sand Dunes National Park and the 
        Great Sand Dunes National Park Preserve in the State of 
        Colorado, and for other purposes.
o       H.R. 4121 (Simpson, ID), a bill to amend the Antiquities Act 
        of 1906 regarding the establishment by the President of 
        certain national monuments. 
o       H.R. 4126 (Udall, NM), a bill to authorize funding for the 
        expansion annex of the historic Palace of the Governors, a 
        public history museum located, and relating to the history of 
        Hispanic and Native American culture, in the Southwest, and 
        for other purposes. 
o       S. 2331 (Hollings, SC), a bill to direct the Secretary of the 
        Interior to recalculate the franchise fee owed by Forth Sumter 
        Tours, Inc., a concessioner providing services to Fort Sumter 
        National Monument, South Carolina.

NEW LAWS

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

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Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the 
cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

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