NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Monday, February 5, 2001

INCIDENTS

01-032 - Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP's (CA) - Serious Employee Injury

Sequoia District FMO D.A. suffered extensive injuries in a 
single vehicle accident on Thursday, February 1st. He is in intensive 
care at Kaweah Delta Medical Center in Visalia with a broken neck, 
concussion, and injuries to his shoulder, pelvis and head. Although 
his neck was broken, he is able to move his extremities. Since he is 
in intensive care, the park has asked that cards, flowers, and/or 
requests for additional information be sent to the park's fire 
management office until he is stabilized. The address: Sequoia and 
Kings Canyon National Parks, Fire Management Office, 47050 Generals 
Highway, Three Rivers, CA 93271. The park also asks that you keep D.A. 
in your thoughts, as he's facing a long road to recovery. [Debbie 
Bird, CR, SEKI, 2/2]

01-033 - Ozark NSR (MO) - Employees Involved in MVA with Fatalities

Motor vehicle operator R.H. and maintenance mechanic J.T. 
were involved in a serious motor vehicle accident on the 
morning of February 1st. R.H. and J.T. were returning to the 
park after delivering equipment to Hot Springs NP for ice storm damage 
cleanup. Their park-owned 1985 GMC tractor trailer collided with a 
pickup truck on U.S. Highway 167 near Cave City, Arkansas. Both 
occupants of the pickup were killed, but neither J.T. nor R.H. 
was injured. The accident is being investigated by the NPS and the 
Arkansas Highway Patrol. [Bill Terry, Acting CR, OZAR, 2/2]

                   [Additional reports pending...]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Plan

A marketing program designed by an NPS contractor is underway which is 
aimed at recruiting applicants for seasonal and permanent fire-related 
positions. Several new aspects of this program came on line this week. 
Ads have been placed in the college newspapers at 33 colleges and 
universities across the country that have forestry/natural resource 
programs.  Ads will also be placed in targeted media,  including High 
Country News, and, after February 5th, military newspapers.

The toll free job information line (1-866-NPS-FIRE) has been installed 
and is operational with a taped message.  Callers may leave a message 
and have their calls returned.

Pens and other promotional material bearing the NPS logo, FireNet web 
address (www.nps.gov/fire), and toll free number will be delivered 
soon.  These, along with posters and brochures that will soon be 
ready, will be used to make people aware of seasonal and career 
opportunities in the NPS.

Contacts have also been made with a wide variety of organizations, 
including ski resorts, forestry associations, volunteer fire 
departments and youth volunteer organizations.

This NPS recruiting program is part of the larger interagency 
implementation of the National Fire Plan, which calls for an expanded 
fire management workforce in order to achieve 100% normal year 
readiness, as well as other goals outlined in the plan.

Park Fires

No fires reported.

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No submissions.

MEMORANDA

"Greetings," sent by Secretary Norton to all employees on February 
2nd. The full text follows:

"Greetings to my fellow employees!  

"It is a honor and a pleasure to return to the Department of the 
Interior as its 48th Secretary and to have the opportunity to work 
with you again.  

"As many of you know, I previously worked in the Department's 
Solicitor's office some 14 years ago as its Associate Solicitor for 
Conservation and Wildlife.  While much has changed over the years, my 
overriding memory from that experience has never changed.  It is that 
the knowledge, talent, and dedication which Interior employees bring 
to their jobs in this great Department is second to none.  In the 
mid-80's, I quickly learned to work closely with and rely upon the 
employees of this Department and their unselfish dedication to highest 
ideals of public service.  

"When I took the oath of office on Wednesday, I hoped to be able to 
speak to many of you this week.  Later that same day, we received our 
initial budget passback from OMB, and I have had to devote a great 
deal of attention to this matter over the last 48 hours. 

"However, I did not want to end this first week without contacting 
you.  I did have an opportunity to meet with a group of nearly 50 of 
the Department's career executives, representing each and every 
bureau.  It was my first meeting in the Department.  I asked those in 
attendance to convey to you the excitement I feel in having the 
opportunity to work with you to meet the President's commitments for 
this Department.  

"In my confirmation hearings, I pledged to make conservation of 
America's natural resources my top priority.  I will be looking 
forward to your help in meeting this critical and fundamental 
objective that binds us together as a Department.  

"Unfortunately, I have discovered that as Secretary, I will not be 
able to maintain an e-mail address that would allow me to correspond 
back and forth to each of you.  However, I do want to meet as many 
Interior employees as quickly as I can.  I hope to begin that effort 
shortly with a meeting here with the employees in the Washington, D.C. 
area.  We will broadcast the meeting to as many DOI locations as we 
possibly can.  

"I look forward in the near future to visiting some of our field 
locations and getting to know more directly both you and the important 
work you are doing for the Nation.  

"With warmest regards, Gale A. Norton"

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

No submissions.

UPCOMING IN CONGRESS

The following activities will be taking place in Congress during 
coming weeks on matters pertaining to the National Park Service or 
kindred agencies.  

For inquiries regarding legislation pertaining to the NPS, please 
contact the main office at 202-208-5883/5656 and ask to be forwarded 
to the appropriate legislative specialist. For additional information 
on specific bills (full text, status, etc.), please check Congress's 
web site at http://thomas.loc.gov.

HEARINGS/MARK-UPS

No hearings or mark-ups scheduled.

LEGISLATION INTRODUCED

The following bills either directly or indirectly pertaining to the 
NPS have been introduced since the last Morning Report listing of new 
legislation (October 19th): 

o       S. 198 (Craig, ID), a bill to require the Secretary of the 
        Interior to establish a program to provide assistance through 
        States to eligible weed management entities to control or 
        eradicate harmful, non-native weeds on public and private 
        land.
o       S. 202 (Warner, VA), a bill to rename Wolf Trap Farm Park for 
        the Performing Arts as "Wolf Trap National Park for the 
        Performing Arts."
o       S. 213 (Hatch, UT), a bill to amend the National Trails System 
        Act to update the feasibility and suitability studies of four 
        national historic trails and provide for possible additions to 
        such trails.
o       H.R. 358 (Kennedy, RI), a bill to authorize appropriations for 
        the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor in 
        Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and for other purposes.
o       H.R. 359 (Kolbe, AZ), a bill to authorize the Secretary of the 
        Interior to set aside up to $2 per person from park entrance 
        fees or assess up to $2 per person visiting the Grand Canyon 
        National Park and certain other units of the National Park 
        System to secure bonds for capital improvements to these 
        parks, and for other purposes.
o       S. 224 (McCain, AZ), a bill to authorize the Secretary of the 
        Interior to set aside up to $2 per person from park entrance 
        fees or assess up to $2 per person visiting the Grand Canyon 
        or other national park to secure bonds for capital 
        improvements to those parks, and for other purposes.

NEW LAWS

The following bills have passed Congress and been signed into law by 
the President: 

No new laws.

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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