NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Saturday, July 1, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1862, Confederate forces under Gen. Robert E. Lee 
failed to check Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan's escape to the James 
River in the Battle of Malvern Hill.  With more than 8,000 casualties, 
this battle ended the Seven Days' Campaign around Richmond, Virginia.  
Richmond National Battlefield Park includes part of the battlefield.

INCIDENTS

00-329 - Gettysburg NMP (PA) - Special Event: Tower Demolition         
         Incident

Preparations are underway to remove the 307-foot Gettysburg National 
Tower on the afternoon of Monday, July 3rd at 5 p.m. EDT. The tower, 
built in 1974, has operated as a private tourist attraction 
immediately adjacent to the heart of the battlefield and the national 
cemetery and has long been considered a significant intrusion on the 
historic scene. The park recently acquired the property through 
condemnation (see the June 29th Morning Report) and will be 
demolishing the tower following a short ceremony on Monday. Controlled 
Demolition, Inc., will conduct the demolition. The Service's national 
Type I team (Skip Brooks, IC) is managing the incident, including 
perimeter security and dignitary participation. Secretary Babbitt will 
be the keynote speaker at the ceremony, which will culminate with the 
toppling of the tower. Media interest is very high; most networks will 
be covering the event live. [Greg Stiles and Bill Halainen, IMT, GETT, 
6/30]

00-340 - Yellowstone NP (WY) - Poaching Convictions

On June 25th, a park researcher saw two men carrying elk antlers near 
the Slough Creek campground. Rangers contacted T.B., 30, R.B., 
19, and J.K., 35, all of Oakley, Utah. The trio had 
34 pounds of antlers in their possession and had cached over 300 
pounds for future removal. They'd also captured and removed a mule 
deer fawn, which was found concealed within their vehicle. All three 
cooperated with rangers during the investigation and admitted to their 
actions. On June 26th, they pled guilty in magistrate's court. Each 
was ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution to the park and placed on 
probation for three years. During their probation, they're prohibited 
from entering the park. The fawn was in their possession for about 20 
hours before rangers released it into the area from which it was 
captured. It's not expected to survive. [Dick Divine, SA, YELL, 6/27]

00-341 - Rocky Mountain NP (COI) - Embezzlement Conviction

On August 4, 1999, D.K.W., the former accounting manager for 
the Rocky Mountain Nature Association (RMNA), the non-profit 
organization for Rocky Mountain National Park, was arrested on a 
Colorado state arrest warrant for the embezzlement of over $30,000 in 
RMNA funds.  The arrest was the result of a year-long joint 
investigation conducted by special agents from the National Park 
Service, the DOI Inspector Generals Office, and the FBI.  On June 7th, 
D.K.W. was sentenced after pleading guilty in Larimer County District 
Court to a lesser count of felony tax evasion. She received 60 days of 
jail time, eight years of probation, 768 hours of community service, 
must pay $10,000 in restitution to RMNA, must pay $1,635.94 in back 
taxes on the embezzled funds, and must submit to any treatment deemed 
necessary by her probation officer.  [Susan Morton, SA, IMRO, 6/30)

00-342 - Lake Mead NRA (NV/AZ) - Property Recovery

On April 4th, ten Bendix King radios from Lake Mead NRA were recovered 
during the execution of a federal search warrant at Maverick 
Communications in Commerce City, Colorado.   The owner of Maverick 
Communications, J.M., had been in possession of the radios 
for six months, and had refused to respond to all inquiries about 
their status or requests to return them.  J.M. has a history of 
questionable business practices, and several other law enforcement 
agencies, including the U. S. Marshals Service, have had trouble 
recovering their radios from him.  If you have had any business 
dealings with J.M. or he is in possession of any of your radios, 
please contact SA Susan Morton in Denver at 303-969-2862. [Susan 
Morton, SA, IMRO, 6/30]

                     [Additional reports pending...]

FIRE SITUATION

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II

CURRENT SITUATION

New large fires were reported on Thursday on Thursday in the northern 
Rockies, western Great Basin, and southern California. Diminishing 
wind in the Northwest and occasional thundershower activity in the 
Great Basin and Alaska aided suppression efforts. Very high and 
extreme fire danger indices were reported in 

The following resources were committed nationwide as of yesterday 
(changes from Thursday's numbers in parentheses): 84 crews (- 8), 436 
overhead (- 7), 260 engines (+ 93), 45 helicopters (+ 9), and five air 
tankers (- 2).

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Oregon, Alaska, 
California, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, Wyoming, 
Colorado, and Mississippi.

NPS FIRES

No current reports of significant NPS fires.

SIGNIFICANT NON-NPS FIRES 

Saddle Mountain NWR (WA) - The Two Fork Fire (northwest of Richland) 
has burned 192,000 acres and was 55% contained. A Type I and a Type II 
team are assigned. Progress continues to be made on the fire.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 6/30]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Fire Island NS (NY) - Algal Bloom

A widespread outbreak of the microscopic algal bloom known as "brown 
tide" is affecting the park's bay waters. The bloom extends for the 
entire length of the park from Smith Point to the lighthouse. There is 
concern among local officials and commercial fishing representatives 
that the bloom could seriously harm shellfish populations. The algae, 
Aureococcus anophagefferens, is a species of phytoplankton. It lives 
in the bay and is usually not a problem, except when blooms like this 
occur. The blooms block out sunlight, preventing it from reaching 
bottom vegetation. As a result, some animals, such as scallops, 
oysters, clams and mussels, stop feeding. This is reportedly the worst 
bloom since one in 1986 that seriously decimated the shellfish of the 
bay. The Great South Bay has historically been a prime shellfish area 
and is the origin of the "Blue Point oyster." Researchers are 
examining such things as the quality of groundwater flowing into the 
bays, which may carry plant fertilizers and other nutrients, surface 
discharges from septic tanks and sewage treatment plants, and 
meteorological influences, such as rainfall patterns, water 
temperatures and wind shifts. [Costa Dillon, FIIS]

INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Uniform Program Update - R&R Uniforms continues to phase out its stock 
of lifeguard uniform items at the Service's direction. Park 
coordinators or administrators should call ahead to determine which 
items are still available. A few parks are doing this and it has 
worked well for them, as R&R's customer service representatives are 
able to provide them with acceptable ordering alternatives. [Ken 
Mabery, RAD/WASO]

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Lyndon B. Johnson NHP - The park is advertising for a GS-9 protection 
ranger. The announcement number is LYJO 2000-10 and is open through 
June 30th. The incumbent will be one of two field rangers working with 
a wide variety of cultural and natural resources and will be 
duty-stationed at the LBJ Ranch in the heart of the Texas hill 
country.  Occupancy in park housing is required.  For more information 
on the position, please contact personnel specialist Jerri Striegler 
at 830-868-7128 ext 225 or district ranger Brian Carey at 
830-644-2241.

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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