NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, October 18, 2000

                           *** NOTICE ***

      There was no Morning Report on Tuesday, October 17th. 

ALMANAC

On this date in 1859, U.S. Marines under Army Colonel Robert E. Lee 
and Lieutenant J.E.B. Stuart captured John Brown and four surviving 
followers at the U.S. Armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, which they 
had raided for arms to equip a slave revolt.  Harpers Ferry National 
Historical Park, West Virginia, preserves the site.

INCIDENTS

00-653 - Saguaro NP (AZ) - Reptile Poaching

Each summer, the park coordinates an interagency operation to deter 
reptile-poaching activity in southern Arizona. Between June and 
September, rangers contacted and cited six different groups of reptile 
poachers. These incidents occurred during the summer monsoon season in 
both districts of the park. Members of three of the groups had a 
variety of reptiles in their possession, including a desert spiny 
lizard, a whiptail lizard, a long-nosed snake, a banded gecko, and a 
regal horned lizard. They also had other species not native to the 
park.  All  of them had collecting equipment in their possession, 
including snake sticks, pillowcases, plastic tubes and tubs, 
flashlights, transceiver radios, snakebite kits, butterfly nets, 
spotlights, coolers, and fishing poles without reels or monofilament 
lines.  These reptile poachers were from five states and were all 
practiced in the art of collecting. (Paula Nasiatka, CR/Carin Harvey, 
PR, SAGU, 10/13)

00-654 - Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/VA) - Galax Poaching

On October 12th, Jack Adams, a state park superintendent, saw two men 
- S.L.-J. and A.L. - picking galax on park lands 
near Mt. Mitchell State Park. Adams detained the pair until they could 
be taken into custody by ranger Kevin Ulery. The two men had about 
8,500 galax stems in their possession. This amount of galax would 
bring the harvester about $85, but would be worth over $2,000 on the 
retail market. This is the fourth seizure of this size made by state 
and NPS rangers in the past few weeks. [John Garrison, Protection 
Specialist, BLRI, 10/13]

00-655 - Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/VA) - Attempted Suicide; Life Saved

Rangers Kristin Fey, Don Coleman and Tim Francis checked out the 
report of a man sitting on top of the rail along the I-26 overpass on 
October 6th. The parkway is about 80 feet above the interstate at this 
point. The rangers were able to talk him away from the rail and 
convince him to accompany them to meet with a mental health 
specialist. He had intended to jump from the bridge. [John Garrison, 
Protection Specialist, BLRI, 10/13]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No submissions.

MEMORANDA

"The Advisory Council and the Regulations for Compliance with Section 
106 of the National Historic Preservation Act," signed by the 
Associate Director, Cultural Resource Stewardship and Partnerships, 
and sent to all regional directors and the manager of DSC on October 
13th. The full text follows:

"Because of issues related to litigation, the Advisory Council has 
announced a proposal to suspend the Section l06 regulations (36 CFR 
Part 800) after a 45-day notice and comment period, and then 
immediately to adopt those regulations as guidelines. The Council also 
expects to conduct a vote adopting new, final Section 106 regulations 
by November 17, 2000.  As a result, the Council anticipates only a 
brief period of time when agencies would comply with the Section 106 
process on the basis of guidelines rather than regulations. This is to 
notify you of this matter, and also to inform you that during the 
entire suspension period (should that occur) and until new regulations 
are adopted, it will be NPS policy that we continue to meet our 
Section 106 responsibilities by adhering to the Advisory Council's 
guidelines, for new Section 106 reviews as well as for those that were 
already under way. I believe this will minimize the potential for 
confusion and disruption in our planning and operations, while 
providing for continued good-faith compliance with the law.

"On September 15, 2000, the Council published notice of, and asked for 
public comment on, their proposal to suspend their regulations and 
adopt the regulations as guidelines; this notice appeared in the 
Federal Register at 65 FR 55928. The Council is taking this step 
because it believes there is a risk that a court could abruptly and 
immediately invalidate the current Section 106 regulations, and they 
wish to avoid the confusion that that situation would create. As noted 
above, the Council is also currently engaged in a rulemaking process 
that will result in new regulations.  For further information about 
this, please feel free to contact Bryan Mitchell or Laura Feller of my 
staff, and to consult the Advisory Council's website at www.achp.gov.

"Thank you for your attention to this matter."

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Capitol Reef NP (UT) - The park has an opening for a GS-0025-5/7/9 
ranger in its Visitor and Resource Protection Division. The 
announcement (IMDE-00-90) closes on October 31st. This permanent 
full-time position requires a commission and carries a primary 6c 
designation. Duties include both frontcountry and backcountry patrol. 
Capitol Reef, a 378-square-mile park, is known for its extensive 
backcountry and the spectacular slot canyons of the Waterpocket Fold. 
For more information, call Tom Cox at 435-425-3791 ext. 130. [Tom Cox, 
CARE]

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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