NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, February 7, 2001

INCIDENTS

01-038 - Organ Pipe Cactus NM (AZ) - Drug Incidents

The park continues to deal with drug smuggling across its roads and 
lands. The following occurred over the course of last month:

o       January 2nd - Border Patrol agents asked rangers to deploy 
        road spikes on Highway 85 to stop a vehicle fleeing to Mexico 
        at speeds of over 100 mph. The vehicle hit the spikes and went 
        into the desert; the occupants fled across the border on foot. 
        The vehicle and 400 pounds of marijuana were seized.
o       January 13th - The Border Patrol again asked rangers to use 
        road spikes to stop a fleeing vehicle, this one traveling at 
        speeds of over 95 mph. The vehicle again went into the desert, 
        and at virtually the same location as the above incident. The 
        occupants fled. Rangers weren't able to catch them, but did 
        find 20 illegal aliens during the pursuit. The vehicle and 414 
        pounds of marijuana were seized.
o       January 15th - A ranger provided EMS assistance at an accident 
        about two miles outside of the park. Border Patrol agents had 
        deployed road spikes, causing the car to crash. The driver had 
        received a neck injury from a limb that came through the 
        vehicle window. He was flown by helicopter to a hospital in 
        Tucson, where he was pronounced dead. Agents seized over 1,000 
        pounds of marijuana from three vehicles which had been 
        traveling together.
o       January 24th - A park volunteer found 37 pounds of marijuana 
        along Highway 85 while pickup up litter.
o       January 25th - Rangers and officers from other agencies 
        located a recreational vehicle in the Twin Peaks campground 
        that had loaded bundles during the night at a campsite. The 
        bundles were delivered to backpackers. A felony stop was 
        attempted the following morning, but the RV failed to yield 
        and continued north after pulling off the roadway, then back 
        onto the road. Pima County deputies put road spikes on Highway 
        85 and stopped it. Six agencies were involved in the 
        take-down. Two arrests were made and 470 pounds of marijuana 
        was seized. A revolver and an electric shock device were found 
        within reach of the driver.
o       January 26th - A ranger stopped a vehicle heading south down 
        Highway 85 at 80 mph. Both the driver and passenger were       
        illegal aliens. The vehicle's air filter was found on the 
        car's floor board, so the ranger and a county deputy checked 
        the air intake and came up with a bag containing $25,000 in 
        cash. They also found that the occupants had just purchased 
        the vehicle for $6,000 in cash. DEA has assumed jurisdiction 
        in the case.
o       January 29th - The Border Patrol once again asked rangers to 
        assist them by deploying road spikes to stop a vehicle racing 
        toward the border. The vehicle was clocked at 98 mph plus; it 
        traveled for 300 yards into the desert upon being spiked. The 
        two occupants fled into Mexico on foot. The vehicle and 435 
        pounds of marijuana were seized.

[Dale Thompson, CR, ORPI, 1/29]

01-039 - National Capital Parks East (MD) - Resource Violation

In September, 1996, neighbors of the Oxon Cove Park section of NCP 
East observed public works and contract employees for the town of 
Forest Heights burying vegetative and solid waste on park land. 
Investigation revealed that a two acre section of forested park land 
was being used as a solid waste dump site under the direction of town 
mayor Warren Adams. On January 25th, following a lengthy 
investigation, the local U.S. Attorney's Office entered into a 
deferred prosecution agreement with the township which will provide 
$17,592 restitution to the NPS for environmental testing expenses and 
restoration of the forested area disturbed by the dumping.  The 
township has 24 months to complete the actions stipulated in the 
agreement. Failure to complete all work may result in the prosecution 
of the township and former mayor on a multitude of federal and state 
criminal charges. The investigation was conducted by regional 
environmental officer Julia Hewitt and USPP resource investigators 
Dave Dyer and Jon Crichfield, with assistance from park resource 
management staff, BLM cadastral surveyors, Catoctin MP ranger Mike 
Barnhart, EPA special agents, and representatives from the Prince 
George's County health department. Media interest in the case was 
initially very high due to the concern that hazardous waste may have 
been dumped in the park.  [Einar Olsen, RCR, NCRO, 2/6]

01-040 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Manslaughter Conviction

On February 1st, T.E., 30, was convicted of manslaughter in 
connection with his girlfriend's 1999 downing at Bullfrog Marina and 
was sentenced to 15 years in prison. The jury deliberated for eight 
hours before declaring T.E. guilty of the second degree felony. 
D.F., 26, drowned when the truck T.E. was driving plunged 
into the lake on July 18, 1999. T.E. told rangers that the truck's 
brakes and steering failed, causing it to go over a cliff and into the 
water. T.E. jumped from the truck, but D.F. was unable to escape. 
Her body was recovered less than an hour later. Evidence indicated 
that T.E. altered the truck's brakes and steering mechanisms so that 
they would malfunction. The two had been dating for less than a month 
and had been at odds for three days before D.F.'s death. A coworker 
told rangers that T.E. said he was going to get drunk and kill D.F.
Besides the prison time, T.E. was ordered to pay $1,850 in fines and 
$12,500 to a crime victim's relief fund and to D.F.'s mother. [Mike 
Mayer, ACR, GLCA, 2/1]

                  [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Plan

The Western Governors' Association hosted a meeting this week of the 
work group developing the first draft of the national ten-year 
comprehensive strategy. The Denver gathering included a diverse group 
of agency, state, county, and special interest group representatives. 
The comprehensive plan will outline how people and organizations 
across the country will work cooperatively and collaboratively to 
restore and maintain health in fire-adapted ecosystems.  The first 
draft will be completed by the end of the week; the final version will 
be published in May.

Meanwhile, preparations are continuing for the National Fire Plan 
collaboration coordinators' meeting, which will be held in Denver on 
February 21st  and 22nd.

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

Yellowstone NP (WY) - Superintendent Mike Finley yesterday announced 
his retirement from the Service, effective in mid-May. Finley, who has 
been superintendent of Yellowstone since November, 1994, will become 
president of the Turner Foundation in Atlanta, Georgia. He began his 
career as a seasonal firefighter in Yellowstone 32 years ago, and has 
also served as law enforcement specialist at Grand Teton, as a 
legislative affairs specialist in WASO, as superintendent of 
Assateague Island, as ARD/Management in ARO, as superintendent of 
Everglades, as acting AD/Operations in WASO, and as superintendent of 
Yosemite. He has received the Florida Audubon Conservationist of the 
Year Award (1989), the National Park Service Honor Award for Superior 
Service (1989), the Sierra Club Public Service Award for Environmental 
Protection (1989), the Everglades Coalition Conservation Award (1990), 
and the American Rivers Distinguished Public Service Award (1996). He 
was a major influence in establishing the Yellowstone Park Foundation, 
whose purpose is to protect, preserve, and enhance Yellowstone 
National Park by raising money to fund important projects and programs 
that are beyond the financial capacity of the National Park Service.   
Since it began operations in 1996, the foundation has dedicated more 
than $3.5 million dollars worth of funding to Yellowstone. Finley had 
this to say about his decision: "I leave Yellowstone with a feeling of 
accomplishment, but it is time to move on. I've had a stimulating and 
fulfilling 32 year career with the National Park Service, but in the 
remaining years of my productive work life I want to focus my energy 
on issues that I believe are critical to the quality of life and long 
term stability of our environment. Sustainable practices related to 
energy, population, water resources, wildlife, biodiversity, 
transportation and urban sprawl are extremely important to a healthy 
society. I share the values and views of the Turner Foundation board 
regarding the sustainable use of our natural resources." [Public 
Affairs, YELL]

                           *  *  *  *  *

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.

                            --- ### ---