NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Friday, January 26, 2001

INCIDENTS

00-415/431/596/632 - North Cascades NP (WA) - Follow-up: Drug          
                     Smuggling

Early last summer, rangers uncovered the smuggling routes of a crime 
syndicate while investigating reports from park staff of unusual 
helicopter activity over remote areas of the park. The subsequent 
investigation ultimately involved the National Park Service, U.S 
Customs and Border Patrol, the British Columbia Organized Crime 
Bureau, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the U.S. Forest Service, 
the Skagit County Sheriff's Office, the Whatcom County Sheriff's 
Office, and the Washington State Patrol. Over the course of the 
summer, rangers and agents closely monitored a number of smuggling 
incidents in which rented helicopters were used to fly "BC Bud" 
marijuana into the U.S., and firearms, cocaine and currency into 
Canada.  The helicopters flew low-level through the park's river 
valleys and passes, with the smugglers utilizing remote forest 
clearings to transfer loads to and from motor vehicles. On occasion, 
the pilots temporarily cached loads on alpine peaks in the park. To 
date, the investigation has resulted in the arrest of nine individuals 
in the United States and others in Canada.  Additional prosecutions 
are anticipated.  Three kilos of cocaine, 970 pounds of marijuana, 
$558,000 in American currency, $104,000 in Canadian funds, a house, 
two Mercedes-Benz automobiles, a Ford truck, and a number of firearms 
have been seized.  An Astar 350 helicopter valued at $410,000 and 
recently purchased by the syndicate has also been seized. DR Hugh 
Dougher is the NPS lead investigator. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA, 1/24]

01-024 - National Capital Parks (DC) - Special Event: Inaugural        
         Opening Ceremony

On Thursday, January 18th, the Presidential Inaugural Committee 
sponsored the opening ceremony for the 54th presidential inaugural at 
the Lincoln Memorial. This ceremony featured musical performances and 
speeches and was open to members of the general public, who viewed the 
event on the Lincoln Memorial stage from the Reflecting Pool area and 
adjacent grounds. Park Police officers and staff maintained a safe 
atmosphere during this ceremony, which included maintaining several 
security access points to the area. No arrests were made during the 
event. Despite several road closures during the evening rush hour and 
several firework shows, the Park Police ensured the orderly movement 
of vehicular and pedestrian traffic into and out of the city.  [Sgt. 
R. MacLean, USPP, NCR, 1/24]

01-025 - National Capital Parks (DC) - Special Event: Inaugural Parade

Park Police personnel began preparations for the 2001 inaugural parade 
several months in advance of the January 20th event. In anticipation 
of several thousand protesters, some of whom had intentions of 
stopping the parade, the Park Police committed a significant number of 
people and resources to ensure a successful event. This included 
augmenting its complement in Washington, D.C., with personnel from the 
New York and San Francisco Field Offices.  The Park Police horse 
mounted patrol unit and the USPP helicopter (Eagle 1) were deployed to 
numerous incidents in and around the parade route. They renderied 
medical assistance to several persons, enforced vending regulations, 
and successfully maintained several demonstration sites. Several horse 
mounted personnel from the Maryland National Capital Park Police and 
the Pennsylvania State Police were also utilized and rode with the 
Park Police unit. Despite several violent outbursts by protest groups, 
Park Police officers maintained the integrity of the parade route 
along Pennsylvania Avenue and were instrumental in the overall success 
of this event.  Officers made three arrests during the parade - two 
for assaulting law enforcement personnel and one for crossing a police 
line.  [Sgt. R. MacLean, USPP, NCR, 1/24]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Plan

No new information. Please check the NPS Fire Management Program 
Center web page (www.fire.nps.gov) for further information on fire 
plan projects.

Park Fires

No fires reported.

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Facility Management Update - Don Zieman, chief of public utility 
management, and Lew Gridley, general engineer, both of whom worked for 
the division at FOTSC in Denver, both retired at the end of December. 
Messages can still be sent to them at their NPS email address for a 
limited time. Work-related correspondence of similar requests that 
would have been sent to them should now be routed to contracting 
officer Melvin Fowler. [Frank P. Weed, WASO]

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Ozark NSR (MO) - Chris Andress, chief ranger for the NPS and chief of 
the Ranger Activities Division in WASO, has been named superintendent 
of Ozark NSR in Missouri, succeeding Ben Clary, who retired last 
December. He will assume his new post on February 25th. For the last 
six years, he has overseen the division and provided policy oversight 
and policy formulation for search and rescue, wildland and structural 
fire, wilderness, aircraft overflight issues, law enforcement, 
regulations, natural and cultural resource protection, fee collection, 
the campground reservations system, uniforms, special park uses and 
rights-of-way, emergency services, and aircraft management.[Public 
Affairs, MWRO]

Buffalo NR (AR) - Ivan Miller, currently superintendent at Sleeping 
Bear Dunes NL, has been selected as the new superintendent for Buffalo 
NR in Arkansas, effective April 1st. He replaces Jack Linahan, who 
retired from the NPS last September. [Public Affairs, MWRO]

Harpers Ferry NHP (WV) - The park is recruiting for two GS-9 
protection rangers. The park's management responsibilities have 
expanded recently. The park offers a diverse protection operation, 
including natural, cultural, and archeological resource protection, 
physical security, EMS, wildland and structural fire suppression, 
technical rescue, boat operations and river rescue. One of the 
positions is required occupancy of a two-bedroom house, the other 
position is not required occupancy. The park is located at the 
confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers and has units in three 
states (West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia). Through an agreement 
with the Appalachian Trail Park Office, park staff also respond to 
emergencies on 17 miles of the AT. Excellent training opportunities 
exist in the area. Harpers Ferry NHP falls under the Washington, D.C., 
locality pay.  The vacancy announcement is on USA Jobs and closes on 
February 2nd. For more information, call supervisory ranger Todd 
Roeder at 304-535-6455 or chief ranger Larry Johnson at 304-535-6232. 
[Larry Johnson, HAFE]

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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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