NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Thursday, July 20, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1848, 100 men and women at the first women's rights 
conventions signed the "Declaration of Sentiments," calling for equal 
rights for women and men in the formation of laws, marriage, 
education, the professions, and the church.  This convention is 
commemorated in Seneca Falls at Women's Rights National Historical 
Park.

INCIDENTS

00-409 - Washington Office (DC) - Death of Member of Employee's Family

T.J.M., grandson of J.R., facility management 
specialist in WASO's Park Facility Management Office, was fatally 
injured in a traffic accident on U.S. 89 just north of Yellowstone NP 
on July 16th. J.R.'s daughters, J.M. (T.J.M.'s mother) and 
K.R., were also seriously injured; K.R. remains hospitalized 
in intensive care. The accident occurred when another driver passed on 
a double yellow line, forcing the T.J.M. vehicle off the road. 
Funeral services for T.J.M. will be held at the Episcopal Church in 
Livingston, Montana, at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 21st. Condolences may 
be sent to J. and J.R.  Contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to
The T.J.M. Fund, First Interstate Bank, PO Box 30918, Billings, MT 
59116-0918, ATTN: Amy Carter. You can contact the bank at 
406-255-5000. [John Gingles, FMD/WASO, 7/19]

00-410 - Redwood N&SP (CA) - Protest: Arrest, Possible Arson

On the morning of July 17th, rangers were escorting a maintenance crew 
into an area known as Hidden Beach to install gates as part of a 
closure of the parks' seashore to off-road vehicle travel under the 
provisions of a recently completed interagency GMP. They found the 
road blocked by a private motor vehicle whose driver was soon joined 
by a known local anti-park activist. Since no local law enforcement 
officers were available, the employees turned around and departed the 
area to avoid a confrontation.  On the morning of July 18th, rangers 
and the maintenance crew were nearing the southern beach access at 
Freshwater Spit to install a gate there when the same local anti-park 
activist parked his vehicle in such a manner as to block the heavy 
equipment.  After several lawful orders to move the vehicle, the 
activist, E.S., 56, of Orick, California, was arrested, 
transported to Humboldt County jail, and charged with interfering with 
agency function and failure to obey numerous lawful orders. NPS 
rangers were supported by several units from the California Highway 
Patrol and a California State Park ranger. Once the vehicle was 
removed, gate installation work began.  On the morning of July 19th, a 
large fire of suspicious origins was reported in the Hidden Beach 
area. Park and CDF firefighters and engine crews, supported by a 
helicopter that made 113 bucket drops, brought the blaze under 
control.  Arson is suspected.  Meanwhile, work continued on the gate 
installation project. Although there was no direct interference, 
antagonistic activities occurred throughout the day.  Rangers have 
received death threats stemming from planned GMP actions. and numerous 
pipe bombs have been found in the park. One of them exploded near the 
Howland Hill Outdoor School last fall, destroying a trash can, on the 
night of the California State Park Commission's hearing on the GMP. 
[Bob Martin, CR, REDW, 7/19]

00-411 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - PWC Fatality

F.B., 59, of Glenwood, Colorado, died as a result of 
injuries sustained in a boating accident in Warm Creek Bay on July 
17th. G.B. was operating a personal watercraft (PWC) and was 
thrown when he collided with another boat. Rangers Nate Card and 
Janice Ross responded along with a Classic Lifeguard medivac 
helicopter. An investigation is underway. [Cindy Ott-Jones, CR, GLCA, 
7/19]

00-412 - Whiskeytown NRA (CA) - PWC Accident with Serious Injuries

A Kawasaki jet ski collided with a 20-foot Bayliner in the Whiskey 
Creek arm of Whiskeytown Lake around 7:30 p.m. on July 15th, seriously 
injuring PWC operator G.M., 48, and his five-year-old 
daughter. G.M. was thrown onto the Bayliner and ultimately fell 
over its stern. He suffered a fractured pelvis, right femur, right 
tibia and right arm. The girl suffered a fractured wrist, lacerated 
liver and a concussion. She was found floating face down in the water 
by her father but was recovered without the need for resuscitation. 
She was airlifted to Mercy Medical Center in Redding. Both are 
currently in serious condition in intensive care. Jim Jacobs, 30, a 
passenger in the Bayliner, was also taken to the hospital, where he 
was treated for minor injuries sustained when G.M.'s body fell on 
him through the Bayliner's "Bimini top." M.L., 52, also on the 
Bayliner, suffered a back injury when she turned quickly to shield a 
child who was in the boat. Both were treated and released. The 
incident is under investigation. The park's boating ranger is working 
with the county sheriff's boating collision reconstruction team to 
determine cause and responsibility. [Alan Foster, SA/Acting CR, WHIS, 
7/18]

00-413 - Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/VA) - Suicide Attempt; Life Saved

On June 1st, two visitors reported that they'd been contacted at an 
overlook by a woman who was covered in blood and had told them that 
she'd just shot her dog and was going to kill herself but was afraid 
she couldn't do it. Supervisory ranger Don Coleman took the call and 
contacted the woman, who was from Marietta, Georgia, at the Courthouse 
Valley overlook. Coleman was able to talk her away from her car and 
loaded .38 handgun and take her into custody. She was transferred to 
the state for evaluation. [John Garrison, Protection Specialist, BLRI, 
7/18]

00-414 - Yellowstone NP (WY) - Sewage Spill

A section of sewage pipe broke at Fishing Bridge on July 18th, 
spilling about 30,000 gallons of raw sewage into the Yellowstone 
River. HK Construction has been doing restoration work on the road 
approaching Fishing Bridge. They were compacting soil with heavy 
equipment about 100 feet from the bridge when they crushed and broke 
the pipe, part of the main sewage line handling all effluent for the 
Lake and Bridge Bay area. Park staff were immediately notified and 
rerouted sewage to a standby storage tank. The damaged pipe was 
repaired within three hours and cleanup operations are underway. No 
visitor services were affected by the incident. [Public Affairs, YELL, 
7/18]

00-415 - North Cascades NP (WA) - Drug Smuggling Arrests

On July 17th, rangers arrested J.P.R. and D.L. 
for attempting to smuggle marijuana, hashish and psilocybin mushrooms 
into the country. The total value of the drugs has been placed at 
$20,000. J.P.R. is from Indiana, D.L. from Quebec. The arrests 
culminated an eight-hour mobile surveillance operation covering 50 
miles of waterways, roads, and mountain trails, during which J.P.R. 
and D.L. unsuccessfully attempted several ploys to reveal the 
possible presence of any watching law enforcement officers. [Pete 
Cowan, CR, NOCA, 7/19]

00-416 - Organ Pipe Cactus NM (AZ) - Drug Seizure

A ranger checking known drug drop-off areas along Highway 85 while on 
early morning patrol on July 17th saw a vehicle being driven slowly, 
the driver employing its horn as if signaling drug backpackers of his 
presence. When he took a closer look, he found over 140 pounds of 
bundled marijuana about 100 feet off the highway in a wash. A Border 
Patrol agent captured two Mexican nationals in the area, but they were 
treated as undocumented aliens and repatriated due to lack of evidence 
tying them to the drop. The marijuana was turned over to Customs. 
[Dale Thompson, CR, ORPI, 7/17]

00-417 - Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/TN) - Special Event: "Honda Hoot"

During the first week in June, the seventh annual "Honda Hoot" was 
held in Asheville, North Carolina, and was attended by over 5,000 
motorcycle riders on their bikes. The parkway and park facilities 
received much higher use during the period, and rangers responded to 
and investigated over 14 motor vehicle collisions involving 
participants. Next year's "Hoot" will be held in Knoxville, Tennessee. 
[John Garrison, Protection Specialist, BLRI, 7/18]

00-418 - Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/TN) - Galax Poaching

On June 12th, supervisory ranger Terry Morris conducted surveillance 
on a vehicle he suspected was being used by a person involved in 
resource violations. Later that day, Morris contacted the driver, 
R.M., and found that he had about 3,500 galax stems in his 
possession. The first level market value for the stems is about $175; 
the retail value is about $875. R.M. was cited, then released. 
[John Garrison, Protection Specialist, BLRI, 7/18]

FIRE SITUATION

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level III

CURRENT SITUATION

Initial attack operations diminished somewhat in most areas yesterday, 
but new large fires were reported in the Great Basin, Rockies, 
Northwest and South. Lightning-ignited holdovers are likely to appear 
today in eastern Oregon, Idaho and western Montana due to the onset of 
hot, dry weather.

The following resources were committed nationwide as of yesterday 
(changes from yesterday's numbers in parentheses): 252 crews (+ 27), 
1,268 overhead (+ 459), 445 engines (+ 12), 115 helicopters (+ 17), 
and 11 air tankers (+ 2).

Very high to extreme fire danger indices were reported in Oregon, 
Washington, California, Montana, Idaho, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, 
New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Alabama.

NPS FIRES

Lake Meredith NRA (TX) - The Plum Creek Fire was started by lightning 
on the night of July 11th. It smoldered until mid-day on the 12th, 
then flared up. Park and local crews responded and suppressed the 
100-acre blaze by 10 p.m. that evening. A total of 48 firefighters and 
overhead and 18 engines were committed. The South Turkey Creek Fire 
burned about 35 acres on July 16th. It was started by lightning. The 
temperature that day set a new record high for the Texas Panhandle. 

SIGNIFICANT NON-NPS FIRES 

Salmon-Challis NF (ID) - Clear Creek Fire (39,166 acres, 15% 
containment, Type I team assigned): Active burning is occurring in 
pockets on the south and east sides of the fire, but spread is 
minimal. No reported acreage growth yesterday.

Payette NF (ID) - Burgdorf Junction Fire (3,100 acres, 32% 
containment, Type I team assigned): 
Crews are making significant progress on fire line. Isolated torching 
continues on the interior of the fire. No acreage growth yesterday.

Winnemucca Field Office, BLM (NV) - Bilk Creek Complex (87,888 acres, 
85% containment, Type I team assigned): The fires grew substantially 
in size yesterday, but crews have been able to hold all fire lines and 
demobilization of excess resources will begin today.

Winnemucca Field Office, BLM (NV) - Prince Royal Complex (14,530 
acres, 66% containment, Type II team assigned): The fire is burning 
actively in cured grass, but crews are making significant progress on 
fire lines. 

OUTLOOK

NICC has issued a RED FLAG WARNING for low RH and the passage of a dry 
cold front in central Alabama and a FIRE WEATHER WATCH for low RH in 
southeast Alabama and the inland Florida Panhandle.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 7/20; Mike Warren, NPS 
Fire Management Program Center, 7/19]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Law Enforcement Study Update - On January 14th, the director mandated 
a comprehensive review of the Service's law enforcement program. 
Chairing the study is Mike Finley, superintendent of Yellowstone NP. 
He has sent along the following update on the status of that review:

The comprehensive law enforcement review was designed to be conducted 
in various formats, including focus groups to identify issues and 
concerns, development and analysis of a survey form for both 
commissioned rangers and managers, and a series of site visits to 
review specific facilities and interview both supervisory and 
non-supervisory personnel on-site.  To date, the IACP/NPS team has 
undertaken the following activities:

1. Conducted scoping sessions to identify issues and concerns in the 
following forums - the Ranger Advisory Council, the Women in Law 
Enforcement committee, the Ranger Rendezvous, a meeting with criminal 
investigators at FLETC, and the NER/NCR, SER and PWR chief rangers' 
conferences. A total of 304 employees were involved in this process.

2. Conducted individual interviews with four people in Ranger 
Activities and the DOI LE office in Washington.

3. Made visits to 35 parks, ranging in size from John Muir NHS to Glen 
Canyon NRA and from Fort McHenry NM&HS to Everglades NP. During this 
part of the review, supervisory and non-supervisory employees were 
asked separately to identify areas of weakness in the NPS law 
enforcement program and make recommendations for improvements. A total 
of 319 employees were involved in this process. One more review will 
be held at Cuyahoga Valley NRA today and tomorrow. 

4. Conducted interviews with employees at or near the review sites or 
during training as a supplement to specific on-site visits. These 
areas ranged from Dry Tortugas NP in Florida to Hopewell Furnace NHS 
in Pennsylvania. A total of 31 employees from seven areas were 
involved in this process.

5. Developed a questionnaire to provide a more confidential format for 
NPS employees to provide information to the study and disseminated 
1600 to NPS commissioned personnel. A total of 935 responses have been 
received by IACP. This information has remained confidential and has 
not been shared with any other study team members. 

6. Developed and sent a survey on LE issues to over 300 managers. IACP 
has received a total of 162 responses to date.

7. Identified the following major issues as needing further analysis 
during a meeting of all NPS/IACP team members in Yellowstone NP on 
July 10th and 11th (many other issues were also identified and will 
probably find their way into the report as issues that need to be 
addressed by the NPS):

Staffing shortfalls                             
Training deficiencies
Communications issues (radio, dispatch, coverage, etc.)
Equipment (including, vehicles, vessels, weapons, radar, etc.)
Accountability (line managers/supervisors)
Lack of recruitment/intake program
Lack of law enforcement oversight mechanisms
Seasonal ranger issues (reduced numbers, hiring process, physicals, 
etc.)
Background investigations (timelines/cost)
Physical fitness standards
Inadequate numbers of quarters
Need and quality of holding facilities and jails
Agreement/process with U.S. attorneys, magistrates, and other agencies
Retention of qualified employees
Impacts of concession program on NPS law enforcement operations
Absence of uniform/universal standards (in terms of equipment, forms, 
procedures, etc.)
Specialization of ranger skills vs. generalization
Support systems - i.e. equipment caches, shared positions (criminal 
investigators)
Development and use of specialized teams (not just SET but 
poaching/drug/other undercover)
Rotations/details to keep LE skills sharp
Structure of NPS law enforcement oversight to insure accountability
Lack of audit system to insure accountability
Misdemeanor process and U.S. attorneys and magistrates

The IACP/NPS team plans to conduct a review of at least two regional 
offices in the immediate future. This information will be consolidated 
with all other information collected by IACP during the analysis and 
report-writing phase. The target date for delivery of the report to 
the director is September 30th or thereabouts. [Mike Finley, YELL]

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Big Cypress NP (FL) - The park is filling 13 winter seasonal ranger 
positions - eight in law enforcement and five in interpretation. The 
season will be from October 1st to March 1st (some positions may be 
extended). The vacancy announcement for GS-7 enforcement rangers is 
BICY-00-18 and closes on July 28th; GS-5 interpretive rangers will be 
hired through WASO's seasonal employment program and closes around 
August 28th. The park is hiring these seasonals to assist in 
implementing a new and potentially very contentious off-road vehicle 
plan. If you're looking for a challenge and a "different experience" 
to add to your credentials, these positions will provide you with that 
opportunity. Confrontational management skills will be necessary along 
with traditional ranger field and communication abilities. Patrol is 
by airboat, swamp buggy, ATV, helicopter and other means. Despite what 
you may have heard about water moccasins, alligators and bugs, winter 
in the area is good and provides opportunities for golfing, kayaking, 
canoeing and tennis. For more info, call 941-695-2000 ext. 317. [Dan 
Sholly, CR, BICY]

Cape Lookout NS (NC) - The park received no responses to its earlier 
posting regarding rangers for detail to the park this summer. The 
following was sent along by superintendent Karen Brown: "Perhaps I 
didn't state my case strongly enough the first time because we've had 
no interest shown in detailing to the Cape.  Desperation leads me to 
send out this second request for assistance.  We are now down to one 
GS-11 supervisory park ranger with a law enforcement commission.  Our 
two GS-5 seasonals do not expect to have their background 
investigations completed until late August and therefore are without 
LE commissions.  Our fourth ranger, a commissioned GS-9, has had a 
recurrence of a back injury (and) is on leave until further notice.  
Our fifth ranger, a GS-9, resigned in late May to pursue a career with 
the state of New York for personal reasons.  We will be issuing a 
vacancy announcement shortly for a permanent GS-9 law enforcement 
ranger and hope to secure an intake-trainee intern, GS-5/7/9 (LE), in 
October.  We are also in the market for a GS-12 chief ranger to 
supervise protection and interpretation; no permanent change of 
station funds are available until October." On June 17th, the park ran 
a notice in this section which provided the following specifics: The 
park is seeking at least one or possibly two GS-5, 7 or 9 commissioned 
rangers for summer details of six weeks minimum. Round trip travel 
paid, in-park per diem and shared housing furnished, salary 
negotiable. Contact superintendent Karren Brown (x3014), 
administrative officer Donna Tipton (x3019), or supervisory park 
ranger Jim Zahradka (x3007) at 252-728-2250.

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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