NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, December 19, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1777, George Washington's Continental Army marched 
into its winter encampment at Valley Forge, now Valley Forge National 
Historical Park.

INCIDENTS

00-753 - Everglades NP (FL) - EMS Incident; Life Saved

On the afternoon of November 17th, rangers Phil Selleck and Tim 
Thompson were investigating a car burglary in the main visitor center 
parking lot when they were approached by a visitor who reported a 
serious medical problem. The woman, who spoke only Spanish, said that 
her husband, R.G., 76, was allergic to bee stings and had 
just been stung.  She said it had happened before and that her husband 
had been given medication as treatment. R.G.'s condition began to 
deteriorate rapidly, so Thompson requested EMS assistance from 
Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue through park dispatch. Ranger Ben Morgan 
arrived shortly thereafter and joined Selleck and Thompson in treating 
R.G., who soon went into respiratory arrest. The rangers were 
unable to find a pulse, so an airway was inserted and CPR was begun. 
At the same time, a doctor from Holland and a registered nurse came to 
their assistance. The nurse, who was also allergic to bee stings, 
offered an Epi-Pen, which Morgan quickly administered. Selleck and 
Thompson continued artificial respiration while Morgan and fire and 
aviation personnel set up a landing zone for Miami-Dade Air Rescue on 
the main park road. R.G. began to breathe on his own shortly before 
the helicopter arrived.  Miami-Dade Air Rescue took R.G. to a local 
hospital, where he was treated and released on the following day.  
[Phil Selleck, ACR, EVER, 12/16]

00-754 - Valley Forge NHP (PA) - HazMat Incident

On the morning of Friday, December 15th, a tractor trailer 
transporting 6,500 gallons of number six fuel oil rolled over on Route 
23 near the intersection with County Line Road. The trailer ruptured, 
spilling 600 to 700 gallons of oil.  The spill was initially contained 
by the King of Prussia and Valley Forge Fire Departments, then by the 
park's spill contractor. The trucking company's efforts to upright the 
trailer led to the spillage of another 1,500 gallons of oil. Route 23 
was closed for seven hours. The contractor will remove an estimated 90 
tons of contaminated soil  from the site.  The cause of the accident 
is still under investigation.  The driver of the tractor trailer was 
treated for minor injuries and has been released. This incident 
closely mirrors an accident that occurred at exactly the same location 
on December 23, 1999, and also involved a spill of number six fuel 
oil. [Earl Cram, Park Safety Specialist , VAFO, 12/18]

00-755 - Kings Canyon NP (CA) - Special Event

The 75th annual "Nation's Christmas Tree" ceremony took place at Grant 
Grove on Sunday, December 10th. This event celebrates the two honors 
held by the General Grant, the third largest giant sequoia in 
existence. In 1926, the General Grant was designated as the Nation's 
Christmas Tree by President Calvin Coolidge; in 1956, the tree was 
established as the only living national shrine in honor of those who 
have given their lives in service to their country. During the 
one-hour ceremony, rangers placed a large wreath at the base of the 
tree in remembrance of those who have sacrificed their lives. This 
year's event attracted about 450 visitors, as the lack of snow 
facilitated access to the area. There were no accidents or injuries. 
About 22 people from various divisions in the two parks assisted with 
the incident. [Kris Fister, PIO, SEKI, 12/13]

                   [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Plan

The sixth National Fire Plan update - entitled "Workforce Planning 
Group Summary" - has been transmitted by the Fire Management Program 
Center in Boise. The text follows:

The workforce planning group has made substantial progress in 
addressing the human resources needs of the National Fire Plan.  The 
group is currently focusing the majority of its efforts on position 
management and outreach.  Group members met with the Fire Management 
Leadership Board (FMLB) via telephone conference on Wednesday, 
December 13th.  As a result of that conference, the group is ready to 
move forward with an aggressive timetable for establishing standard 
position descriptions and staffing vacant positions.

During the week of January 8th, several subject matter experts and 
personnel specialists will meet to write and classify standard 
position descriptions.  Those PD's will be reviewed for 6c coverage 
and made available for use in a timely manner.  At the end of this 
process, standard position descriptions will be available for the 
majority of fire-related positions at the most common grade levels.    

Staffing requirements will reach far beyond simply filling the "new" 
positions resulting from additional funding.  A significant number of 
currently encumbered positions will be vacated as employees seek new 
opportunities (and grades) both within and outside the NPS.  Given the 
large number of new jobs being created governmentwide, coupled with 
what is sure to be aggressive competition for a limited number of 
qualified employees, this coming calendar year may bring unprecedented 
turnover rates.  This game of musical employees has the potential to 
maintain a healthy pace for at least a year.  

The workforce planning group is in the process of establishing a 
centralized staffing (recruitment) process that will be administered 
by the NPS Human Resources Franchise Office in Denver.  All standard 
positions with multiple vacancies servicewide will have a centralized 
announcement.  These announcements will have a six month open period, 
with various cut-off dates for receipt of applications within that 
period.   An inventory of qualified candidates will be established for 
the various positions specific to individual parks.  As the need 
arises for positions to be filled (various dates for hire), lists of 
eligibles will be provided to individual parks for 
interviews/selections. 

The centralized staffing process will significantly reduce the 
servicewide time and cost in staffing positions, provide parks ready 
access to an inventory of qualified candidates as needed, and provide 
servicewide consistency in how applications are solicited and 
processed.  In addition, a centralized staffing process will reduce 
the potential "clutter" of vacancy announcements that applicants will 
have to sift though.  If parks feel they have positions that should be 
an exception to the centralized process, they should discuss it with 
their regional FMOs'.  It is also important for program managers to 
work closely with their local personnel staff and/or servicing 
personnel office for advice and guidance with position management.

Classification and staffing services for fire positions are available 
through the NPS Human Resources Franchise Office in Denver at no cost 
to parks, including positions that will not go through the centralized 
process.  For additional information about the Human Resources 
Franchise Office, contact Penni Sandoval at 303-969-2543.

Other projects the workforce planning group is currently working on 
include employee development, outreach/recruitment planning and 
implementation, and a web site specifically for fire jobs.  Questions 
regarding group activities should be directed to group manager Paul 
Menard at 360-452-0318.

Park Fires

No fires reported.

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

Klondike Gold Rush NHP (AK) - The park is currently advertising for an 
interdisciplinary GS-12 resources management chief, a GS-7/9 park 
ranger (interpretation), and a GS-5/6 purchasing agent. Dual career 
opportunities exist.  The vacancy announcements can be found on 
USAJobs under numbers DBO-01-036, DBO-01-037, FH-PS-1-7065, 
FH-PS-1-7066, FH-PS-1-7068, and ARO-00-24.  Inquiries about the 
positions can be directed to 907-983-2921. [Bruce Noble, KLGO]

                             *  *  *  *  *

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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