NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Thursday, March 22, 2001

INCIDENTS

01-099 - Fort Sumter NM (SC) - Boat Accident, Closure

On Monday, March 19th, a Fort Sumter concession tour boat approached 
the fort's dock in order to disembark 119 visitors. Winds were blowing 
from the northeast at approximately 25 knots with higher gusts. The 
boat crew had managed to tie one docking line to the boat when the 
wind combined with the incoming tide caused the boat's stern to swing 
away from the dock. The captain was unable to overcome the wind and 
tide to release pressure from the single line attaching the vessel to 
the dock. The concrete-imbedded dock cleat pulled away from the dock 
under the pressure, so the crew cut the line. The boat then turned 
around and made a safe landing on it's starboard side without further 
incident. There were no injuries to either passengers or crew. Because 
of the weather conditions, the boat's third and final trip for the day 
was canceled. The next day all tours to Fort Sumter were canceled 
because of continuing high winds and the fort remained closed for the 
day. (Bill Martin, PIO, FOSU, 3/21)

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Plan

Prevention through education is one of the operating principles of the 
National Fire Plan. Employees, visitors and park neighbors looking for 
good information about protecting their homes from wildland fire 
should check out www.firewise.org, the website of the national 
wildland-urban interface protection program. The NPS is one of the 
site sponsors.

A number of parks offer programs for the public to help make them 
partners in protecting their homes from wildland fire. One success 
story is from Shenandoah NP. For the third year in a row, the park is 
offering a one-day seminar on the subject. This year, the seminar 
includes a visit to the site of the largest fire in the park's history 
and a chance to observe the challenges firefighters face when fires 
threaten homes in woodland settings. Participants also learn ways to 
reduce threats to their own homes. Some of the information used is 
from an earlier collaborative effort among the park, the Forest 
Service, the Virginia Department of Forestry, and a neighboring 
county.

Park Fires

No fires reported.

[Barb Stewart, NPS Fire Information, WASO, 3/21]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Isle Royale NP (MI) - Annual Winter Wolf-Moose Study

Park staff and Dr. Rolf Peterson of Michigan Technological University 
recently completed the 43rd annual winter wolf-moose monitoring 
program study. For the first time in several years, more "typical" 
wintry weather conditions prevailed, with deep snowfall and cold 
temperatures common throughout the 50-day study period. The wolf 
population continued a pattern of marked annual fluctuations, dropping 
from 29 individuals one year ago to just 19 this winter.  The island 
population has again organized into three main packs, with an 
additional pair and two loners also present. Wolves made frequent 
moose calf kills this winter, likely due to the increased calf 
production and the deeper snow, which significantly diminishes their 
ability to escape wolf predation. Although the wolves appeared to be 
in good health, live-trapping efforts will be attempted this spring to 
assess the health of several animals and to continue to track the 
genetic decay within this highly inbred population. The moose 
population continued it's slow rise, increasing from about 850 to 900 
animals. Poor winter food sources remains a continual problem for the 
population, particularly on the west end of the island, where moose 
often must rely on lichens as a primary food source. Moose on the east 
end of the island rely largely on balsam fir trees as their winter 
food source. One other note of interest from this winter's project 
included the observation of a pine marten by a park employee, the 
first such confirmed sighting of a pine marten within the park in 
years. It's suspected that martens have persisted in extremely low 
numbers in the park since they were considered extirpated by trapping 
in the early 1900s. The bird's continued presence verifies the number 
of mammal species in the park at 15, compared to the approximately 50 
species found on the adjacent mainland. [Jack Oelfke, Chief, Branch of 
Natural Resource Management, ISRO]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Wrangell-St. Elias NP&P (AK) - The park is filling five permanent 
jobs:

o       GS-11/12 Kennecott program manager - Multi-series opening.
        Either GS-808 historic architect, GS-810 civil engineer, or 
        GS-801 general engineer. Contact: Will Tipton, 907-822-7250.
o       GS-028-12 environmental protection specialist - Contact Vicki 
        Snitzler, 907-822-5234.
o       GS-1811/12 criminal investigator - Contact Jim Hannah, 
        907-822-7294.
o       GS-486-12 wildlife biologist - Contact Devi Sharp, 
        907-822-7236.
o       GS-1712-11 training specialist/environmental education 
        specialist - Contact Edmond Roberts, 907-822-7254.

All are posted on USA Jobs. There may be dual career opportunities. 
[Vicki Snitzler, WRST]

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

Thursday, March 22nd

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, 
Historic Preservation, and Recreation (Thomas): Oversight hearing on 
the implementation of the concessions program, as authorized by the 
National Parks Omnibus Management Act. Witness: AD/Park Operations and 
Education Dick Ring. The hearing will be at 2:30 p.m. in 192 Dirksen.

House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public 
Lands: Markup of 

o       H.R. 107 (Hefley, CO), a bill to require that the Secretary of 
        the Interior conduct a study to identify sites and resources, 
        to recommend alternatives for commemorating and interpreting 
        the Cold War, and for other purposes.
o       H.R. 146 (Pascell, NJ), a bill to authorize the Secretary of 
        the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of 
        designating the Great Falls Historic District in Paterson, New 
        Jersey, as a unit of the National Park System, and for other 
        purposes.
o       H.R. 182 (Simmons, CT), a bill to amend the Wild and Scenic 
        Rivers Act to designate a segment of the Eight Mile River in 
        the State of Connecticut for study for potential addition to 
        the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other 
        purposes.
o       H.R. 601, a bill concerning hunting and grazing issues at 
        Craters of the Moon NM, Idaho.

The hearing will be at 10 a.m. in 1324 Longworth.

Tuesday, March 27th

House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public 
Lands (Hefley): Oversight hearing on issues surrounding the 
implementation of the Yosemite Valley Plan and the final supplemental 
EIS. Witness: PWR RD John Reynolds. The hearing will be at 10 a.m. in 
1334 Longworth.

Thursday, March 29th

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, 
Historic Preservation, and Recreation (Thomas): Oversight hearing on 
all other titles (except concessions) of the National Parks Omnibus 
Management Act. Witness: Acting Director Deny Galvin. The hearing will 
be at 10 a.m. in 628 Dirksen.

Tuesday, April 24th 

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies 
(Burns): Hearing on FY 2002 budget request for the Department of 
Interior. Witness: Secretary Norton. The hearing will be at 9:30 a.m. 
in SD-138 Dirksen. 

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior (Skeen): Hearing on FY 
2002 budget request for the Department of Interior. Witness: Secretary 
Norton. The hearing will be at 10 a.m. in B-308 Rayburn.

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 (March 14th): 

o       H.R. 980 (Wamp, TN), a bill to establish the Moccasin Bend 
        National Historic Site in the state of Tennessee as a unit of 
        the National Park System.
o       H.R. 1000 (Portman, OH), a bill to adjust the boundary of the 
        William Howard Taft National Historic Site in the state of 
        Ohio, to authorize an exchange of land in connection with the 
        historic site, and for other purposes.
o       H.R. 1002 (Ros-Lehtinen, FL), a bill to direct the Secretary 
        of the Interior to make certain adjustments to the boundaries 
        of Biscayne National Park in the state of Florida, and for 
        other purposes. 
o       H.R. 1013 (Deal, GA), a bill to promote recreation on Federal 
        lakes, to require Federal agencies responsible for managing 
        Federal lakes to pursue strategies for enhancing recreational 
        experiences of the public, and for other purposes. 
o       H.R. 1027 (Olver, MA), a bill to establish the Freedom's Way   
        National Heritage Area in the commonwealth of Massachusetts 
        and in the state of New Hampshire, and for other purposes.
o       H.R. 1066 (Capp, CA), a bill to amend the Outer Continental 
        Shelf Lands Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to 
        cease mineral leasing activity on submerged land of the Outer 
        Continental Shelf that is adjacent to a coastal state that has 
        declared a moratorium on such activity, and for other 
        purposes.
o       H.R. 1081 (Ose, CA), a bill to amend title 44, United States 
        Code, to direct the Archivist of the United States to maintain 
        an inventory of all gifts received from domestic sources for 
        the President, the Executive Residence at the White House, or 
        a Presidential archival depository. 
o       S. 531 (Lincoln, AR), a bill to promote recreation on Federal 
        lakes, to require Federal agencies responsible for managing 
        Federal lakes to pursue strategies for enhancing recreational 
        experiences of the public, and for other purposes. 

NEW LAWS

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

No new laws.


ADDITIONAL SECTIONS

Regular sections not appearing today but available at all times for 
submissions:

o       Interpretation/Visitor Services - Significant developments in 
        these fields.
o       Operational Notes - Any information of consequence to the 
        field on operational matters.
o       Memoranda - Memoranda from WASO to the field on all 
        operational matters.
o       Interchange - Requests or offers from any park or office for 
        materials, information or any other operational needs.
o       Film at 11 - Reports on current or upcoming print or 
        electronic media stories on the NPS.

                           *  *  *  *  *

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.

                             --- ### ---