NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Monday, November 13, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1982, dedication ceremonies were held at the Vietnam 
Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The memorial bears the names of 
more than 58,000 members of the U.S. armed forces killed or missing in 
action in that war.

INCIDENTS

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

U.K.M. and B.M., the couple accused of 
kidnapping 22-month-old E.P. from Davis Bayou campground on 
October 25th were indicted last Tuesday on federal kidnapping charges. 
The couple remain in the county jail near Houston, Texas, but will be 
returned to Mississippi and be tried in federal district court.  Local 
authorities plan to cooperate with the federal prosecution and will 
probably not prosecute the M.s in state court. E.P. and 
the M.'s three-year-old daughter remain in the care of the Texas 
child protective services.  The child welfare investigation of E.P.'s 
parents is continuing and no decision has been made at this time about 
returning her to her parents. [Mark Lewis, DR, GUIS, 11/8]

00-691 - Midwest Regional Office (NE) - Death of Employee

Linda Witkowski, 52, associate regional director for administration 
and information technology, lost her struggle with cancer on November 
4th.  She leaves behind her husband, Gary, sons Michael and Jason, and 
two granddaughters.  Linda started her NPS career in Midwest Regional 
Office in 1980 as a secretary in the Ranger Activities Division.  In 
1986, after spending some time as a personnel clerk and as secretary 
to ARD John Kawamoto, she was chosen for an upward mobility program 
for administrative technicians. On completion of the training, she 
became the administrative officer at Apostle Islands, then assistant 
superintendent at Isle Royale. In 1998, she became Midwest Support 
Office superintendent, then ARD when the support office was integrated 
into the regional office in 1999.  Cards of condolence and notes 
celebrating her life can be sent to her husband and children in care 
of Midwest Regional Office, 1709 Jackson Street, Omaha, Nebraska 
68102. Her secretary, Lois Vander Tuin, offers this remembrance: 
"[Linda's] high ethical standards, along with her personal and 
professional integrity, made her highly respected by many.  She had an 
exceptional amount of energy, as is evidenced by the many projects we 
are now trying to complete. Linda believed in the mission of the NPS; 
but even more, she cared about people...Linda always conducted herself 
with dignity and grace, and she will be missed in body and spirit."  
[Lois Vander Tuin, MWRO, 11/9]

00-692 - Great Smoky Mountains NP (TN/NC) - Drug Lab

On November 6th, ranger Albert Faria approached a 1984 Dodge Ram off 
Newfound Gap Road at the Thomas Divide trailhead regarding an 
out-of-bounds camping violation. The two occupants - W.B. and 
K.W., both 28 - were noticeably nervous, and Faria could smell 
the odor of ether in the truck. Faria asked if he could conduct a 
consent search of the vehicle, but was denied permission. W.B. said 
that his license was suspended and that he had a weapon in the truck. 
While retrieving the weapons, Faria detected a very strong odor of 
ether in the vehicle and saw cans of starter fluid on its floorboard. 
W.B. admitted to being an IV drug user and to having chemicals used 
to manufacture methamphetamine in the vehicle. He also said that he'd 
been cooking meth for the past three months. Agents from DEA, the 
North Carolina Special Bureau of Investigations and Swain County 
responded along with a North Carolina decontamination unit and a 
hazmat unit from Knoxville. Investigation revealed that W.B. and K.W. 
were "cold-cooking" methamphetamine when Faria contacted them. 
Methamphetamine and enough ephedrine tablets to make about 25 grams of 
meth were found, along with a complete lab for production of the drug. 
W.B. and K.W. were charged with misdemeanor violations and with 
felony manufacturing of illicit narcotics (21 USC 841), which carries 
a prison sentence of ten years to life if convicted. [Lisa Slobodzian, 
DR, GRSM, 11/8]

                  [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Plan

The National Fire Plan was developed from a September report by the 
Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture to President Clinton regarding 
last summer's wildfires.  It contained an analysis of the causes of 
the fires and recommended actions to deal with the risk of similar 
fire seasons in the future. The plan has five key provisions:

o       Hazardous Fuel Reduction - Invest in projects to reduce fire 
        risk.
o       Suppression - Continue suppression activities for the 
        remainder of the 2000 season and be adequately prepared to 
        fund average-year fire suppression costs in the future.
o       Rehabilitation and Restoration - Restore landscapes and assist 
        communities damaged by wildfires.
o       Community and Rural Fire Assistance - Work directly with 
        communities and local fire response to ensure adequate 
        protection and education.
o       Accountability - Be accountable and establish adequate 
        oversight, coordination, program development and monitoring 
        for performance.

The information in the report was included in the Administration's 
budget request to Congress. The House and Senate approved an 
appropriations bill which funded most of the recommended actions. The 
bill, which was signed into law in October, contains about $2.8 
billion in funding for the five land management agencies involved in 
wildland fire management. Of this sum, $101 million is for National 
Park Service projects and activities identified in the National Fire 
Plan.  The funding will be used to ensure sufficient firefighting 
resources for the future, restore ecosystems damaged by the recent 
fires, assist impacted communities and reduce future fire risk through 
fuel reduction efforts. The funding will be used as follows:

o       Fire Preparedness ($34,000,000)  - Enhanced readiness, joint 
        fire science program, cooperative research and technology, 
        development of new systems and technology, increase fire 
        workforce, emergency fire contingency, fire cache replacement, 
        fire operations facilities construction, improve community 
        outreach and education. 
o       Fire Operations ($67,000,000) - Suppression costs, hazardous 
        fuel reduction, burned area rehabilitation.

Money will also be available for the legislatively-mandated Rural Fire 
Assistance Program. The exact amount will be determined once an 
interagency needs analysis is completed.

Some of this money will be used for personnel. Preparedness funding 
will be used to hire additional temporary employees, convert temporary 
employees to permanent seasonals, and add full-time employees in order 
to meet the levels of initial attack required.  Additional personnel 
will also be needed to complete fuel treatment and restoration 
activities and to conduct educational outreach efforts. Current 
projections estimate an equivalent of 195 full-time positions will be 
created with the implementation of the plan.  Some tasks may also be 
contracted, which will result in providing jobs to local communities.

The House-Senate conference committee report accompanying the 
appropriations bill contains some specific directions to the NPS and 
other agencies on use of the appropriations. The full report ("Making 
Appropriations For Departments of Interior and Related Agencies For 
The Fiscal Year," House Report 106-914) can be found on the Internet 
at thomas.loc.gov.

Among the requirements are a number of detailed reports to Congress:

o       By December 1, 2000 - Report to Congress on rehabilitation 
        criteria.
o       By December 11, 2000 - Publish in the Federal Register an 
        inventory of "at risk" communities, ongoing hazard fuel 
        treatment projects, and planned hazard fuel reduction actions.
o       By December 11, 2000 - Apprise Congress if expedited NEPA 
        procedures are required and by April 11, 2000, effect 
        modifications. 
o       By December 31, 2000 - Establish a joint Fire Science Program 
        Stakeholder Advisory Group.
o       By January 11, 2001 - Develop a financial plan showing how all 
        funds will be spent.
o       By January 11, 2001 - Develop an action plan to show how work 
        proposed will be accomplished. 
o       By May 1, 2001 - Submit recommendations for additional funding 
        needs, an inventory of "at risk" communities, and any 
        additional needed authorities.
o       By December 31, 2001 - Develop a performance report to include 
        financial accountability and accomplishments.

In order to accomplish the many associated tasks by the prescribed 
deadlines, the NPS has called up an incident management team. Rick 
Gale is the IC in Washington; Steve Holder is deputy IC in Washington, 
Dan O'Brien is deputy IC in Boise. Sue Vap, head of the NPS Fire 
Management Program Center in Boise, is the agency administrator for 
the project. The delegation of authority to the team, signed by the 
director, appeared in last Wednesday's Morning Report, and will be 
reiterated again in the future.

A good deal of information associated with this project will have to 
be relayed to the field as quickly as possible. A permanent "Fire 
Management" section has accordingly been created in the Morning 
Report. Please check it regularly for updates on developments. Updates 
will also be posted on the NPS Fire Management Program Center web 
page - www.fire.nps.gov.

Park Fires

Shenandoah NP (VA) - The Shenandoah Complex (24,197 acres, 85% 
contained) consists of the Pinnacles Fire and the Old Rag Fire, which 
have burned together into one fire. Fire dangers dropped significantly 
at the end of last week, so many firefighters were released. As of 
yesterday, firefighting and rehabilitation forces were down to a 
single helicopter, two crews, and associated support staff. 
Rehabilitation of all areas disturbed during fire suppression 
operations will continue. These activities include removal of 
hazardous snags along Skyline Drive and on trails that were used as 
fire lines.  Water bars have been constructed on steep sections of 
line to minimize erosion. The suppression of this fire required the 
commitment of many people. Firefighters from Page, Madison and 
Rappahannock counties and many other local departments were involved 
in fire suppression efforts from the beginning of the incident and 
were instrumental in bringing it to a successful conclusion. Many 
other agencies were involved, including firefighters from the Virginia 
Department of Forestry, the NPS, Forest Service, BLM, BIA, Fish and 
Wildlife, and 27 other states. Previously reported closures remained 
in effect through the weekend. [Lyn Rothgeb, SHEN, 11/11]

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

Northeast Regional Office (PA) - Northeast Region currently has a 
vacancy announcement posted for applicants for a GS-025-12/13 regional 
recreation fee manager. The vacancy is listed on USAJobs. The position 
will be located in the Philadelphia Support Office and will be 
supervised by the regional chief ranger. If you'd like additional 
information, contact either John Lynch in the Boston Support Office 
(617-223-5069) or Russ Smith in the Philadelphia Support Office 
(215-597-5723).

Haleakala National Park (HI) - The park is seeking a GS-025-9 FTE 
protection ranger for a direct lateral reassignment.  Due to staffing 
shortages, this person needs to currently hold a Level I law 
enforcement commission and National Registry EMT-Basic certification 
to be considered.  The park is attempting to fill this position as 
soon as possible.  Government housing is available and required, with 
rental rates ranging from $400/month for a one bedroom apartment to 
$1,000/month for a three bedroom house. The COLA for Maui is 23.75%. 
If you are interested in a ranger position with strong emphasis on 
commercial operations, LE, and EMS, consider applying.  For more 
information, contact Summit DR Greg Moss via cc:Mail.

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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