NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, September 19, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1863, the two-day Battle of Chickamauga began.  
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park in Georgia and 
Tennessee preserves the site of the Confederate victory, where Union 
Major General George H. Thomas earned the sobriquet "The Rock of 
Chickamauga" for his determined defense on the second day.

INCIDENTS

00-586 - Southeast Region - Follow-up on Hurricane Gordon

Two reports have been received on the passage of Hurricane/Tropical 
Storm Gordon:

o       DeSoto NM (FL) - The park resumed normal operations at noon on 
        Monday. There was about three feet of erosion to the 
        riverfront beach area and scattered plant debris throughout 
        the park. Storm surge on Saturday afternoon was about three to 
        four feet above normal, but sustained winds never exceeded 40 
        mph. 
o       Fort Sumter NM (SC) - The park closed on Monday due to a 
        forecast of high winds. Tour boat operations were suspended 
        because of safety concerns. The fort reopened this morning. 
        The Fort Moultrie unit remained open through the storm's 
        passage.

[Paul Carson, IC, DESO, 9/18; Bill Martin, FOSU, 9/18]

00-588 - Herbert Hoover NHS (IA) - Death of Employee

Maintenance employee Luke Roehrig passed away on September 16th after 
a long and courageous battle with cancer. He had worked at the park 
since 1987. Two memorial services will be held - the first in West 
Bend, Wisconsin, on September 20th, the second at St. Patrick's Church 
in Iowa City, Iowa, on September 23rd. Condolences may be sent to 
Luke's wife and four children care of T.R. Memorial contributions in
lieu of flowers may  be sent to the American Cancer Society (in the
name of Luke Roehrig),  1351 West Central Park, Suite 1100, Davenport,
IA 52804.  [Superintendent, HEHO, 9/19] 

00-589 - Western Arctic NP (AK) - Aircraft Damaged by Bear

During the night of September 15th, an American Champion Scout 
aircraft belonging to the park was damaged by a bear at the Kelly 
River ranger station in Noatak NP. The bear broke out the left rear 
window, slashed the plane's fabric skin, chewed the rear seat, and 
slightly damaged the plywood floor. Former park pilot and current 
regional aviation trainer Rich Kemp made temporary repairs with 
patches comprised of plywood, a duffel bag, parachute cord, and duct 
tape. Kemp then flew the plane to park headquarters in Kotzebue, a 
distance of 110 miles. Kemp and ranger Peter Christian had been 
conducting aerial hunting patrols along the Noatak River. There was no 
food or other known attractants in the plane at the time of the 
incident. This is the third time in less than a year that bears have 
significantly damaged park property at the remote ranger station. 
[Greg Dudgeon, CR, WEAR, 9/18]

                  [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE SITUATION

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level III

CURRENT SITUATION

Nine new large fires were reported, four in the Rockies and five in 
the South. Five other large fires were contained. Initial attack was 
moderate in the South and light elsewhere.

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Oregon, California, 
Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Montana, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, 
Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma.

The following resources were committed nationwide as of yesterday 
(changes from Monday's numbers in parentheses): 130 crews (- 3), 998 
overhead (- 173), 466 engines (+ 87), and 74 helicopters (+ 6).

NPS AND NPS-RELATED FIRES

Zion NP (UT) - A fire was reported in the woods just north of Zion 
Lodge around 1 a.m. on September 14th. Fire crews responded within 20 
minutes and contained the one-acre fire. A total of about 20 
firefighters and eight engines responded from the park and two local 
fire departments. The fire threatened buildings and propane tanks 
along the northern edge of the lodge complex. Strong down-canyon winds 
fanned the flames until fire crews could slow it down. There were no 
injuries or property damage. The cause of the fire is under 
investigation.

OUTLOOK

NICC has issued four RED FLAG WARNINGS and three FIRE WEATHER WATCHES. 

RED FLAG WARNINGS are posted for:

o       near record temperatures, low daytime humidity, poor nighttime 
        humidity recovery and gusty northeast winds for Mendocino NF 
        and Mendocino, Humboldt, Del Norte, Shasta, Tehema, Butte and 
        Glenn Counties in California;
o       gusty northwest winds in the southwestern and north central 
        sections of Montana;
o       strong easterly winds and low relative humidity for the 
        Coastal Range in southwestern Oregon; and
o       low relative humidity and breezy northeast winds for the Lake 
        Ranger Unit, Napa Ranger Unit, Sonoma Ranger Unit, and 
        portions of the East Bay hills in California.

FIRE WEATHER WATCHES are posted for:

o       gusty south winds and low relative humidity in southeastern 
        Oklahoma and portions of northeastern Texas;
o       low relative humidity for all of Mississippi and portions of 
        Arkansas; and 
o       gusty northwest winds for northwestern South Dakota, the Big 
        Horn Mountains of Wyoming, and the majority of central and 
        eastern Montana.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 9/19; Denny Davies, ZION, 
9/14]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Submission pending.

INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES

Submission pending.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No submissions.

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

INTERCHANGE

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

Wednesday, September 20 (11:00 a.m., 1324 Longworth)

House Resources Committee (Young): Mark-up of the following bills:

o       H.R. 2570 (Regula, OH), a bill to require the Secretary of the 
        Interior to undertake a study regarding methods to commemorate 
        the national significance of the United States roadways that 
        comprise the Lincoln Highway, and for other purposes. 
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       H.R. 4835 (Moran, VA), a bill to authorize the exchange of 
        land between the Secretary of the Interior and the Director of 
        Central Intelligence at the George Washington Memorial Parkway 
        in McLean, Virginia, and for other purposes.
o       H.R. 5036 (Hall, ON), a bill to amend the Dayton Aviation 
        Heritage Preservation Act of 1992 to clarify the areas 
        included in the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical 
        Park and to authorize appropriations for that park.
o       S. 1653, a bill to amend and reauthorize the National Fish and 
        Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act.
o       H.R. 2710, a bill to establish the National Law Enforcement 
        Museum in Washington, D.C.
o       H.R. 4503, the Women's Public Colleges or Universities 
        Historic Building Restoration and Preservation Act.

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 (August 9th): 

o       H.R. 5114 (Hefley, CO), a bill to require that the Secretary 
        of the Interior to conduct a study to identify sites and 
        resources, and to recommend alternatives for commemorating and 
        interpreting the Cold War, and for other purposes. 
o       H.R. 5121 (Shaw, FL), a bill to authorize a comprehensive 
        Everglades restoration plan.
o       S. 3053 (Thomas, WY), a bill to prohibit commercial air tour 
        operations over national parks within the geographical area of 
        the greater Yellowstone ecosystem.

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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