NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, November 1, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1948, President Harry S Truman made a radio broadcast 
from the living room of his home in Independence, Missouri, on the eve 
of the election in which he upset New York governor Thomas E. Dewey to 
win a full term as president.  The home is now Harry S Truman National 
Historic Site.

INCIDENTS

00-669 - Gulf Islands NS (MS/FL) - Follow-up: Kidnapping 

A 22-month-old girl was kidnapped from the Davis Bayou campground on 
Wednesday, October 25th. The girl, E.P., had been staying in a 
tent at the campground with her parents, C.S. and W.P., 
and the M. family, whom they'd met several days 
previously at a truck stop. B.M., 32, and U.K.M.,
21, took E.P. to a truck stop for dinner along with their 
own three-year-old daughter, but never returned. An extensive 
investigation ensued, involving Ocean Springs police, the FBI, a 
regional task force, NPS rangers, and police in several cities across 
the United States. A considerable effort was made to target public 
campgrounds and truck drivers, including an interview on the late 
night radio talk show, "Road Gang", which is popular with truckers.  
The effort to gain public assistance in the case paid off, as numerous 
leads were called in from all over the country.  The big break came on 
Friday, when a trucker in Gulfport, Mississippi reported to police 
that he had spoken to a fellow trucker via CB radio who saw the 
suspects at a truck stop just outside Houston, Texas.  This 
information was relayed to agents at the Houston office of the FBI, 
who immediately descended on the truck stop. Both M.s were 
arrested without incident, and both girls were taken into custody and 
later turned over to Texas child protective services.  The M.s 
have been charged with kidnapping and will face extradition to 
Mississippi. The investigation is continuing, and no decision has been 
made concerning federal charges against the couple. Interviews with 
both the M.s and the parents have revealed that E.P. was 
"loaned" by her parents to U.K.M. to be used as a prop while 
begging for money at the truck stop. Child welfare officers in 
Mississippi will be investigating E.P.'s living situation to 
ensure she is returned to a healthy living environment.  Since that 
investigation has not been concluded, a decision about when to return 
E.P. to the family has not been made. [Mark Lewis, DR, GUIS, 10/29]

00-677 - Haleakala NP (HI) - Rescue 

On the evening of October 29th, ranger Erik Larson and two Maui 
residents rescued two stranded visitors who had been swept off the 
Hana Highway six miles outside the park's Kipahulu District. Larson 
answered the call for assistance when both Hana police and fire teams 
found that they could not reach the area due to flooding and debris on 
the road.  The visitors and their car were swept from the highway by a 
swollen stream that had jumped its banks.  Larson found the couple in 
a tree above the swift-moving floodwater and rescued them with help 
from the two local residents. Both were okay. A reported 12.6 inches 
of rain fell in the Hana area in a 24-hour period, causing the severe 
flooding. [Jennifer Spaulding, PIO, HALE, 10/31]

                [Additional incident reports pending...]

FIRE SITUATION

Shenandoah NP (VA) - The Shenandoah Complex consists of three fires - 
the Pinnacles Fire, Old Rag Fire and Rapidan Road Fire. A Type I team 
has been ordered to manage the incident; 20 crews are also on order. 
ICS 209's have been received on the first two fires:

o       The Pinnacles Fire, which was probably started by a campfire 
        in the Pinnacles picnic area in the Central District, started 
        on October 29th and has burned about 780 acres. Yesterday, the 
        fire jumped Skyline Drive, made runs to the east, and burned 
        north along the ridge top. It has also steadily moved down 
        slope toward the park boundary and private residences. A dozer 
        and hand line is being built to protect the structures. The 
        fire also continues to threaten the historic Pinnacles 
        Research Station. A total of 84 people were committed to the 
        fire as of yesterday. Containment is expected by November 
        17th. 
o       The Old Rag Fire, which started on the evening of October 30th 
        near the summit of Old Rag Mountain in the Central District, 
        has burned 380 acres. The cause is not known. The fire is 
        burning in extremely rough terrain; containment efforts are 
        being hampered by gusty winds. The fire has made wind-driven 
        runs to the east and south and is backing down the mountain to 
        the north. It is threatening private residences along the 
        park's east boundary. Dozers have been ordered to protect the 
        residences, if necessary. A total of ten people were committed 
        to the fire yesterday. Containment is expected by November 
        17th. 

Skyline Drive has been closed at the Thornton Gap entrance. Visitors 
can enter the park there, however, and travel north to Front Royal. 
They can also enter the park at Swift Run Gap and travel north as far 
as Skyland or south to Waynesboro. The Appalachian Trail is closed in 
the area of the fire. The ridge and saddle trails on Old Rag are also 
closed. [Greg Stiles, Lynn Rothgeb, SHEN, 10/31]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

National Park System Resources Protection Act Legal Victory - In a 
precedent setting case, the United States District Court for the 
Middle District of Florida has determined that the National Park 
System Resource Protection Act (PSRPA or 19jj) "trumps" other laws 
limiting liability from shipping accidents when such accidents occur 
within units of the National Park System.  On July 19, 1998, the tug 
Allie B and her tow ran aground in Biscayne National Park.  The 
grounding resulted in severe damage to resources at Biscayne, 
estimated to be in excess of $3 million.  The owners and operators of 
the ship sought to limit the recovery of those damages under the 
limitation of the Vessel Owner's Liability Act of 1851.  Under that 
law, they sought exoneration from liability or a determination by the 
court that the liability attributable to the owners and operators 
would be limited to the post-accident value of the ship and its 
freight.  In making its finding, the court noted that "the PSRPA 
effects a legislative purpose to swiftly and reliably restore damaged 
marine park resources by assessing the cost of repair and the cost of 
response directly and fully against the perpetrator. . . (T)he PSRPA 
provides for the use of funds recovered by operation of the statute.  
In this extraordinary allowance, Congress provides that 'without 
further congressional action' the Secretary of the Interior may 
accumulate and deploy money received pursuant to the act in pursuit of 
the full and immediate restoration of damaged park resources.  This 
uncommon authority to expend funds of the United States without an 
annual authorization or appropriation provides persuasive evidence of 
a manifest and eminent legislative purpose to effect the objectives of 
the Act by employing the means created in the Act."  The court also 
cited affirmatively the argument of the United States that the PSRPA 
is a "legislative affirmation of the imperatives of preserving a 
scarce and singularly treasured national possession."  (In the Matter 
of: Tug Allie-B, Inc. 2000 WL 1434699 (M.D. FLA.)).  For additional 
information on the application of the Park System Resources Protection 
Act, contact  Dan Hamson of the WASO Environmental Quality Division 
ERPA Branch. [Jake Hoogland, EQD/WASO]

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Submissions pending.

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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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