NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Friday, April 28, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1858, the commissioners of New York's Central Park 
adopted Frederick Law Olmsted's and Calvert Vaux's plan for the park, 
launching Olmsted into a new career as a landscape architect.  
Olmsted's achievements are commemorated at Frederick Law Olmsted 
National Historic Site in Brookline, Massachusetts.

INCIDENTS

00-160 - Denali NP&P (AK) - Follow-up: Serious Employee Injury

Supply technician Judy Goodman continues to recover from injuries 
suffered on April 14th when her car struck a moose on Alaska Highway 3 
near Big Lake. She has had several operations that have gone well, but 
will remain in intensive care and on a ventilator until her 
respiratory muscles are working well enough to keep her lungs clear of 
fluid. Judy has been able to raise her arms - a good sign - but still 
has no feeling or movement below her waist. Doctors must wait for the 
swelling to go down before they can reevaluate her spinal injury. 
Judy's husband, Bob, and other family members have been by her side; 
they express their appreciation to all those who have sent along their 
best wishes. Although she can't have visitors or receive phone calls, 
cards would be most welcome. They can be sent to Judy Goodman, Room 
2011, Intensive Care Unit, Providence Hospital, 3200 Providence Drive, 
Anchorage, AK 99508. [Tom Habecker, Acting CR, DENA, 4/27]

00-167 - Mount Rushmore NM (SD) - Winter Storm Impacts

A powerful winter storm struck the Black Hills region on April 18th 
and 19th, dropping about 30 inches of very wet and heavy snow on the 
park. Power has been out in the park since the early morning hours of 
April 19th; emergency generators are being employed. Thousands of 
trees are down or broken off within the park. Visitor facilities were 
closed for three days, but are now open again and operating with 
generator power. The very popular annual Easter sunrise service was 
cancelled on April 23rd. The primary focus of park operations for the 
past week has been the reopening of park facilities and recovery from 
the storm. Restoration of commercial power is expected by week's end. 
[Mike Pflaum, CR, MORA, 4/26]

00-168 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Paragliding Conviction

A bright red paraglider was spotted flying over the north rim of 
Yosemite Valley around 4:45 p.m. on April 25th. Rangers watched it fly 
on thermals over various parts of the valley for two hours. The pilot, 
a German national, landed in Ahwahnee Meadow at 6:45 p.m. and was 
detained by rangers. He was very cooperative and offered no 
resistance. His equipment was seized as evidence and he was issued a 
citation requiring appearance in court the following day. He told 
rangers that he is a very experienced paraglider pilot and claimed to 
be unaware of the park's regulations prohibiting such activity without 
a permit. He said that he'd launched from North Dome. He pled guilty 
in court and was sentenced to a $500 fine by the magistrate judge. 
[Dan Horner, SA, YOSE, 4/26]

00-169 - George Washington Birthplace NM (VA) - Suspected Bomb 

On April 10th, resource management specialist Rijk Morawe found a 
package in the doorway to a park building. It was an infant accessory 
handbag adorned with a bouquet of artificial flowers; it had an 
envelope taped to the front with a message that the package was 
"official business" and asking that park staff deliver it to the 
Colonial Beach Police Department. Due to its suspicious nature, 
explosive ordnance technicians were summoned from the nearby Naval 
Surface Warfare Center. They employed X-ray equipment and determined 
that there were no dangerous items in the bag. There were several 
messages inside with vengeful messages to police but no direct 
threats. Writings were also found on a park flyer that contained 
messages for the CIA, Secret Service and President Clinton. 
Investigation revealed that the sender was a 37-year-old Maryland 
woman with a history of mental illness. She said that she'd placed the 
package in the park in hope that whoever found it would investigate an 
alleged incident in which Colonial Beach police reputedly took 
excessive actions against her. The Secret Service conducted its own 
investigation; the U.S. attorney declined to prosecute. Investigation 
revealed that the woman had signed the park's guest register on the 
8th and in the comments section had written "I have a present." [Dana 
Condron, PR, GEWA, 4/27]

00-170 - Gateway NRA (NY/NJ) - Homicide

On April 26th, Park Police detectives discovered that a body had been 
recovered by city police from the shoreline of Spring Creek inside the 
park's Jamaica Bay Unit. The man's dismembered remains were found 
wrapped in a blanket in a barrel; he had a bullet wound in his head, 
which was covered with a plastic bag. It appears that the body and 
barrel were floating in the waters of Jamaica Bay for several days 
before coming ashore. The victim matches the description of a missing 
person from Staten Island who disappeared under suspicious 
circumstances. Positive identification from dental records is pending. 
Several leads are being pursued. The investigation is being conducted 
jointly by USPP and NYPD detectives. [Lt. John Marigliano, NYFO, 4/27]

00-171 - Great Smoky Mountains NP (NC/TN) - MVA with Fatality

M.L., 21, of Sevierville, Tennessee, was killed in a 
single-vehicle accident on the Gatlinburg Spur around 3 a.m. on 
Wednesday, April 26th. M.L.'s 1965 Jeep CJ left the roadway at a high 
speed and slammed into a rock wall. He was the sole occupant; there 
were no witnesses. M.L.'s activities prior to the accident are being 
investigated by rangers Jerry Grubb and Bobby Fleming. [Keny Slay, DR, 
GRSM, 4/26]

00-172 - Pictured Rocks NL (MI) - Search; Possible Suicide

On the evening of April 14th, Michigan State Police received word of a 
suicidal person in the Chapel/Mosquito area of the park. A 48-year-old 
male from the Detroit area, who was diabetic and being treated for 
clinical depression, had left a suicide note at his residence. Rangers 
Neil Korsmo and Bill Smith responded along with five state troopers 
and two search dogs. After determining which of the three trailheads 
the man had used, two hasty teams were formed and a search was begun. 
The man was found along the trail a short time later, tired and 
dehydrated. He had evidently gone to three different Lake Superior 
cliff locations, but could not carry through with his intentions. He 
was transported to a local hospital, evaluated, and released the next 
day. [Larry Hach, CR, PIRO, 4/19]

00-173 - Everglades NP (FL) - Apparent Suicide

Two park visitors found the body of E.R., 46, of Miami, in his 
vehicle in the parking lot of the Long Pine Key picnic area late on 
the morning of April 8th. They notified park maintenance workers, who 
contacted park dispatch. Ranger Les Seago confirmed that E.R. was 
deceased. FBI agents and Miami-Dade homicide detectives joined Seago 
at the scene. The preliminary investigation indicates that E.R. took 
his own life. The cause of death was a gunshot wound, and a pistol was 
still in his hand. A typed suicide note with instructions for family 
notification and burial wishes was found beside him. [Phil Selleck, 
EVER, 4/20]

00-174 - Natchez Trace Parkway (MS/AL/TN) - MVA with Fatality

J.S., 76, of Sedona, Arizona, was killed in an accident on 
the parkway on April 20th. J.S. was heading southbound when he 
drifted across the northbound lane and struck a bridge abutment. 
J.S.'s wife was the only other passenger in the vehicle; she was 
taken to a local medical facility, where she remains in critical 
condition. Fatigue may have been a contributing factor. The 
investigation continues. [Tim Francis, DCR, NATR, 4/21]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No submissions.

MEMORANDA

"Incident Assignments Not-to-Exceed 14 Days," signed on April 18th by 
Maureen Finnerty, AD for park operations and education, and sent to 
all regional directors. The full text follows:

"As the Federal Fire Policy receives continued definition and 
implementation, modifications to way we conduct business are 
occurring.  One such development involves maximum length allowed for 
incident assignment.  Past assignment lengths were capped at 21 days 
but have now been adjusted to 14 days.  This change has been endorsed 
by all wildland fire management agencies and is fully described in the 
2000 Interagency Incident Business Management Handbook and the 
National Mobilization Guide.    

"As wildland fire program managers, we need to plan for overlap in all 
extended operations with potential to exceed 14 days in duration.  We 
need to seek alternatives in how we manage fire and the people who 
support those fires.  In response to several inquiries about the 
change in policy where incident assignments will not exceed 14 days, 
excluding travel, the following clarification and implementation 
guidelines are applicable for all National Park Service units:

"This policy is intended to provide for safe, efficient, and effective 
support to wildland fire operations and applies to ALL firefighters, 
overhead, dispatchers, and support personnel. This policy is 
applicable to wildland fire suppression, initial attack, wildland fire 
use, and prescribed fire.  It is also recognized that there may be 
situations where life and property are so imminently threatened, or 
suppression objectives are close to being met, that an exception is 
necessary.  The exception should be just that and becomes the 
responsibility of the Incident Commanders and Agency Administrators 
(responsible for the incident and the support resource's home unit) to 
closely monitor the situation and jointly agree on extensions.  When 
an exception is necessary the Incident Commander will document, gain 
approval from Agency Administrators, and include the justification in 
the incident records, for any assignment that exceeds 14 days.  
However, no assignment, including Alaska, will exceed 21 days.

"The wildland fire management program continues to demand more of all 
individuals and specific incident needs must be balanced with the 
overall program.  We are experiencing longer fire season-related 
employment periods associated with more early and late prescribed 
burning.  This situation combined with normal wildland fire season 
responsibilities of some employees and others not wanting to take late 
season assignments or leaving to take other employment outside of fire 
is contributing to personnel availability.  Travel is a major concern 
as schedules are set by the carrier and frequently impart additional 
stress as personnel are placed in a hurry up and wait mode subject to 
frequent short notice changes.  Alternatively personnel are asked to 
drive to the incident where emergency conditions are perceived and 
long driving times occur.  In either scenario the effects of travel 
time and conditions on the health and well being of our people must be 
strongly considered.  In cases where an employee is near the 14 days 
or questions of safety and condition exist, it may be prudent to take 
a day off prior to beginning return travel.

"To understand this policy we need to focus on the people asked to 
support wildland fire and their needs.  They all need quality time at 
home for personal health, growth, development, recreation, and 
maintenance of necessary commitments.  This quality time ensures 
adequate rest and typically requires more than a single day at home 
between assignments.  A shared responsibility exists between the 
supervisor and employee with a need to communicate honestly about 
health and well being.  In every case, decisions need to err on the 
side of employee safety."

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Capitol Reef NP (UT) - The park is seeking an individual (or 
individuals) to serve on a detail or temporary promotion as chief of 
visitor and resource protection from mid-May through September while 
the permanent position is being advertised and filled. It may be 
possible to divide the detail between two people.  Temporary 
promotions would not exceed 120 days. A commission is required. The 
incumbent directs divisional activities, including LE, frontcountry 
and backcountry operations, search and rescue, emergency services, 
campground management, fee collection, special park uses, and wildland 
and structural fire prevention and suppression. Housing may be 
available; private lodging may also be sought. Interested individuals 
should fax (435-425-3026) or cc:Mail (CARE Personnel) a statement of 
interest, availability dates, and the name/phone number of his or her 
supervisor to the park no later than today (April 28th). For further 
info, contact Donita Pace at 435-425-3791 x 122 or JoAnn Unruh at the 
same number, x 121.

Grand Canyon (AZ) - The park is seeking applicants for four GS-7/9 
protection ranger positions - one each in the Corridor, River, South 
Rim and Wilderness Districts.  Duties include law enforcement, EMS, 
SAR, resource protection and management, structural and wildland fire 
protection and visitor use management. Rangers in these four districts 
work closely together and apply a collaborative approach to branchwide 
operations.  The park is seeking energetic rangers interested in 
increasing their skills and contributing to a team approach to visitor 
and resource protection. These positions will be announced soon on USA 
Jobs, and lateral reassignments may also be considered.  For further 
information, contact Jim Northup at 520-638-7910.

Niobrara NSR (NE) - The park is seeking a GS-12 resource and visitor 
protection division chief.  The position is listed on USAJobs and 
closes on May 15th.  Duties will include all aspects of establishing 
an NPS operation at a new unit in the system.  Although you are not 
required to own a horse and saddle, as would have been the case in the 
early days of the Service, the position might interest you if you do. 
This area of the Niobrara River has an unusually diverse ecology, 
including upland sandhills mixed grass prairie, tallgrass prairie, oak 
forest, ponderosa pine forest, and northern forest remnants, with 
paper birch and aspen stands.  For further information, contact Phil 
Campbell at 402-336-3970

FOOTNOTE

Some of you may have noted in the weekly Congressional activities 
update that there have been a few new additions to the system 
recently; specifically, Minuteman Missile NHS, Thomas Cole NHS, and 
Fallen Timbers Battlefield and Fort Miami NHS. According to WASO 
Public Affairs, these three additions bring the total number of units 
in the system to 379. Now for the important question: The four-letter 
park codes for the first two seem evident - MIMI and THCO. But what 
happens with the third? FATI or FAFO or FATI/FOMI?

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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