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Subject: NPS Morning Report - Friday, October 20, 2000
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Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2000 05:14:20 -0400
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Friday, October 20, 2000
*** NOTICE ****
All flags are to be lowered to half staff today in commemoration of
the passing of Governor Mel Carnahan of Missouri, who was killed in a
plane crash earlier this week. Flags are to be returned to full staff
on Saturday.
ALMANAC
On this date in 1964, ex-president Herbert Hoover died in New York
City. He was buried five days later near his birthplace cottage in
West Branch, Iowa. Herbert Hoover National Historic Site contains the
birthplace and grave.
INCIDENTS
00-283 - National Capital Parks East (DC) - Follow-up: Resource
Violations
On June 7th, a 40-member interagency team led by the FBI executed a
search warrant at Anacostia Marina, a park concessionaire which
conducts boat repairs and provide slips for boat owners. The marina
has a six year history of environmental non-compliance and has been
the subject of numerous inspections by various agencies, including the
NPS. Those participating in the search were the FBI, EPA, Coast Guard,
Corps of Engineers, District of Columbia Police Department, Park
Police, and a USPP resource investigator assigned to NCR Ranger
Services. On October 18th, T.L., the marina's owner, pled
guilty in district court to lying to federal investigators about the
extent of fuel spills at the facility. T.L. acknowledged that he'd
failed to notify DC and NPS officials about the spills. T.L. could
face up to six months in prison and a fine of as much as $275,000 for
the violations. He also pled guilty to charges of violating the
federal Clean Water Act and illegal dumping on behalf of the
concession. The business could be fined $1,025,000. The NPS closed the
marina on October 11th in order to begin extensive hazmat cleanup
operations and to comply with outstanding notices of infractions filed
by the EPA, Corps of Engineers and Coast guard. These operations are
expected to take at least a year to complete. T.L. is scheduled to be
sentenced on January 17th. [Sgt. R. MacLean, USPP, NCR, 10/19]
00-657 - Colonial NHP (VA) - Special Event
Approximately 8,000 people attended the Yorktown Day celebration
yesterday. This annual observance of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis
to General Washington's combined Franco-American army is hosted by the
park and co-sponsored by the park and the 14 patriotic and civic
organizations of the Yorktown Day Association. The event included
participation by all five branches of the military (including a
flyover from Oceana NAS), greetings from France delivered by the
French consul general, and a presentation of 18th century military
tactics by the Commander-in-Chief's Guard and by the Old Guard Fife
and Drum Corps. Beautiful weather contributed to the enormous crowds,
believed to be the largest in at least the last ten years of this
event, which has been celebrated annually since 1922. [Mike Litterst,
PAO, COLO, 10/19]
00-658 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Special Event
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in El Portal on October 18th to
celebrate the completion of the El Portal road improvements project.
The road was severely damaged during the flood of 1997 and required
extensive repairs. The two-year repair and reconstruction project,
undertaken in conjunction with the Federal Highway Administration, was
completed at the end of September. The six-and-a-half mile project
included widening of lanes, realignment of curves and improvements to
drainage along the road. The ceremony concluded with the driving of a
historic park vehicle through the park entrance. The event was
attended by about 200 people, including about 30 protestors. There
were no incidents. [Scott Gediman, PIO, YOSE, 10/19]
00-659 - President's Park (DC) - Special Event
On October 18th, the park was the site of the issuance of a new
postage stamp commemorating the 200th anniversary of the White House
as the official residence of the president (John Adams was the first
resident). The ceremony was held at the park's visitor center and was
attended by the postmaster from Washington, the chief usher at the
White House, and other dignitaries. Ranger Steve Perlman from
Independence NHP portrayed President John Adams. "Pershing's Own," the
U.S. Army band, provided music, and the NPS honor guard presented the
colors. [Phil Walsh, CR, WHHO, 10/19]
00-660 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Suicide
During the early morning hours of October 18th, four visitors saw an
unidentified man swan dive from a point near First Trailview overlook
on the South Rim. Rangers responded within minutes and spotted his
body about 300 feet below the rim. A recovery team hiked to the area
and confirmed the fatality. The body was extricated by helicopter.
Brian Lakes was IC. [Brian Lakes, IC, GRCA, 10/19]
CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No submissions.
INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES
No submissions.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
No submissions.
MEMORANDA
No submissions.
INTERCHANGE
No submissions.
PARKS AND PEOPLE
National Park of American Samoa (SA) - Pacific West Region is looking
for a qualified NPS employee interested in a training detail as acting
GS-025-12 superintendent to the park. This relatively new NPS area is
rapidly increasing in staff, developing facilities, and forging
cooperative relationships with surrounding communities and government
agencies. At present, the park staff consists of seven full-time, one
part-time and one seasonal employee; another two FTE's will be in some
stage of hiring during the detail and three other PD's are being
developed. The park has a budget of over $1 million. American Samoa is
a U.S. territory located 2,600 miles southwest of Hawaii in the
tropical South Pacific. The 10,500-acre park, located on three
islands, helps preserve the "old world" rainforests and Indo-Pacific
reefs. Preserving Samoan cultural knowledge and traditions in a
rapidly changing society is also an important aspect of this park's
mission. Travel, housing and per diem will be provided by the park;
salary will need to be covered by the benefiting account. If you have
questions about this detail or about life in the South Pacific,
contact superintendent Charles Cranfield at 011-684-633-7082 or via
cc:Mail. American Samoa is east of the date line, so there is no date
difference with the U.S. mainland - it is four hours earlier than the
west coast and seven hours earlier than the east coast. Interested
GS-11 or 12 candidates should send applications or resumes to Lynn
Guidry, Human Resources, Pacific Great Basin Support Office, 600
Harrison St., San Francisco, CA 94107, no later than November 1st. If
you have any questions, call 415-427-1346. [Dave Davies, WASO]
* * * * *
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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