NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, March 27, 2001

INCIDENTS

01-103 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Rescue

On March 13th, two park concession employees used a cell phone to call 
for help from the "ice cut," a section of trail blasted into a cliff 
on the John Muir trail between Nevada and Vernal Falls that fills with 
ice and snow in the winter. R.C., 23, and E.P., 
27, had become stuck on this section of trail, which is closed 
seasonally due to avalanches and icy conditions. The two men had gone 
around a locked gate on the trail and ended up in an area where they 
could neither continue nor go back. Rangers used crampons, chopped 
steps with ice axes, and set ice screws to get to the pair. They were 
put into harnesses, then belayed across the steep ice and snow slope. 
Neither R.C. nor E.P. was injured. They hiked out under their 
own power. [Michael Nash, PR, YOSE, 3/26]

01-014 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Rescue 

Brothers Ad.V. and An.V., ages 22 and 23, began yelling for 
a rescue in the area of the Royal Arches just before 6:30 p.m. on 
March 19th. The brothers had started the 17-pitch climb at 9 a.m. that 
morning. By the time they began calling for help, they had climbed 
only five pitches and were having problems finding the route. A ranger 
and a SAR team member climbed the 5.9 route to the same level as the 
brothers, only to find that they could not reach the two men, who were 
some 200 yards to the west. The rescue team descended and the brothers 
spent the 38-degree night on a small ledge. In the morning, the same 
rescue team climbed back up to the brothers and assisted them in 
descending to the valley floor. The pair had just one rope with them 
and were not confident enough to attempt a self-rescue. One brother 
had two years of climbing experience, but had never attempted a 
multi-pitch climb without a guide; the other had only climbed at an 
indoor gym. Neither was injured. [Michael Nash, PR, YOSE, 3/26]

01-015 - Sagamore Hill NHS (NY) - Special Event

Two foreign dignitaries toured the Theodore Roosevelt home during 
recent visits to the United States. On March 11th, Kiichi Miyazawa, 
Japanese minister of finance, was the guest of Theodore Roosevelt IV, 
a conservationist and the former president's great-grandson. On March 
19th, Madame Zhou Han Qion, wife of China's vice premier, visited the 
park with staff from the Chinese embassy and the counsel general's 
office. No incidents occurred. [Michael Shaver, PR, SAHI, 3/26]

                   [Additional reports pending...]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Plan

Department of the Interior fire management bureaus have joined forces 
in the fire job recruitment arena. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
Bureau of Land Management, and Fish and Wildlife Service have joined 
with the National Park Service to take advantage of the Service's 
contractor, Employment Network Inc., for recruiting activities.  
Posters, new brochures, and other materials will include fire-related 
jobs in all four bureaus. The toll-free number will be advertised as 
1-866-677-FIRE (rather than NPS-FIRE).  

Following are some of the job fairs scheduled by Employment Network: 

o       April 11 - Yavapai College, Prescott, AZ
o       April 19 - San Juan Community College, Farmington, CO
o       April 24 - Fort Campbell Army Base, Fort Campbell, KY

The NPS Human Resource Franchise Office has issued the announcements 
for a number of GS-0301-9/11 fire education, prevention and 
information specialist positions. They are located at BAND, BUFF, 
GRTE, GRCA, LAVO, MWRO, NERO, OZAR, ROMO, SAMO, SERO, and ZION.

The announcements can be obtained at the Service's fire jobs website. 
The announcement #s are NPS FIREJOBS 01-050 and NPS FIREJOBS 01-051.

Park Fires

Great Smoky Mountains NP (NC/TN) - Park firefighters responded 
yesterday to a wildland fire near Deep Creek. The size was estimated 
at between 10 and 15 acres; the cause was not known. The weather 
forecast calls for cool and dry conditions, high winds, and low 
relative humidity today.

[Debee Schwarz, NPS Fire Information, WASO, 3/26; Mike Warren, NPS 
FMPC, 3/26]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

National Ranger Activities Council (RAC) Update - This is first in a 
series of monthly Morning Report updates to keep the field informed on 
RAC activities. The RAC was established in June, 1997, by the 
associate director, park operations and education. Here are some 
particulars on the council:

Mission - The Ranger Activities Council is a group comprised of 
representatives from ranger activities operations and established to 
provide field perspective, assistance and recommendations on 
servicewide issues. The council is charged with maintaining effective 
communications both "vertically" and "laterally," and works to promote 
and enhance the professionalism and integrity of ranger programs.

Purpose - The RAC provides recommendations to the associate director 
and works to resolve  issues that affect rangers servicewide. The 
council also seeks to strengthen communications among the Washington 
Office, national and regional advisory committees, central offices, 
clusters and parks.

Goals - As an advocate for the improvement of ranger activities 
programs and an organization charged with providing advice and 
assistance on servicewide issues, the RAC:

o       Identifies and prioritizes national ranger issues, recommends 
        actions, and assists in implementation and evaluation of 
        results.
o       Advises the Ranger Activities Division in WASO on the 
        development of policy, program formulation, directives and 
        standards.  Assists in implementation and evaluation of 
        results.
o       Reviews, assesses and evaluates impacts on ranger activities 
        from present and future legislation, trends and technology.  
        Develops appropriate recommendations and alternatives.
o       Develops interdependency with other advisory committees to 
        provide a cohesive approach to problem solving.
o       Develops and strengthens communication with regional, cluster, 
        and ranger advisory groups.  Promotes communication with the 
        field to encourage lateral and vertical information flow.

Representatives - There are two representatives for each of the seven 
regions plus WASO liaisons. They are: Curt Sauer (chair, PWR), Ginny 
Rousseau (vice chair, NER), Rick Gale (deputy chief,  Ranger 
Activities Division), Hal Grovert (associate regional director, IMR), 
Andy Banta (MWR), Mike Pflaum (MWR), Greg Dudgeon (AR), Chuck Young 
(AR), Judy Forte (SER), Gordon Wissinger (SER), Randy King (IMR), 
Paula Nasiatka (IMR), Einar Olsen (NCR), Steve Shackelton (PWR), Jack 
Schamp (US Park Police) and Sheila Williams (NIFC). Vacant at present 
are slots for the chief, Ranger Activities Division, the regional 
chief ranger, NER, and one representative from NCR.

Past accomplishments include the recruitment recommendations included 
in the National Workforce Challenge, reinstatement of emergency 
services coordinator position in WASO Ranger Activities, participation 
in changes to the Service's medical standards (RM-57), and 
participation in the review of Ranger Activities.  RAC is now working 
on narrowbanding, the "Ranger of the 21st Century" initiative, 
consolidating regional resource protection programs, and improving the 
visibility of resource education component of ranger duties and 
responsibilities.

Your input and feedback on Ranger Activities issues is important and 
is encouraged through the regional representatives. The RAC meets 
formally twice a year.  In addition, RAC members pull in subject 
matter experts from the field to assist with projects during the year. 
 The next meeting will be in Boise from April 8th to the 10th.  Please 
contact your regional representative before the meeting if you have 
issues or discussion points you would like brought forward. Regular 
RAD/RAC updates will appear in the Morning Report each month. [Curt 
Sauer, Chair, RAC; Paula Nasiatka, IMR Representative, RAC)

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Ranger Activities Division, WASO - Ranger Activities is seeking a 
person to serve on a detail to the division as the regulations program 
manager, effective immediately and continuing through September 14th. 
Although this is a full-time position, a part-time assignment might be 
considered. The person selected will oversee the program during the 
incumbent's absence. Specific duties include assisting the field 
and/or headquarters staff in drafting regulations, notices and other 
related Federal Register documents; responding to Congressional 
correspondence and phone inquiries regarding issues related to the 
regulations program, including personal watercraft, snowmobiles, etc.; 
coordinating on-going Servicewide regulatory projects, including 
personal watercraft rules and their associated NEPA analysis; 
rewriting NPS boating (36 CFR Part 3), general (36 CFR Part 2), and 
other regulations; providing subject matter expertise for 
Congressional hearings and attending them as needed; assisting in 
responses to recent legislation affecting parks; and assisting with 
historical rulemaking research. The detailee may also be required to 
respond to Freedom of Information requests, gather material for 
lawsuits, or compile administrative records for the Solicitor's 
Office.  Salary, per diem and travel costs will be paid by Ranger 
Activities. Interested persons must have the ability to communicate 
effectively orally and in writing, familiarity with Congress and the 
legislative process, experience with researching and interpreting 
Federal regulations, the ability to work independently, familiarity 
with NEPA and the analyses required to substantiate rulemaking, strong 
organizational skills, and the ability to handle more than one project 
at once. Send an email message of one page or less identifying your 
interest, qualifications, a reference contact, and availability dates 
directly to Kym Hall, regulations program manager by close of business 
on March 30th.  Please also send a copy to your supervisor for 
concurrence.  A selection will be made as soon as possible.  If you 
have further questions, please contact Kym Hall at 202-208-4206.

ADDITIONAL SECTIONS

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

o       Natural/Cultural Resource Management - Significant 
        developments in these fields.
o       Interpretation/Visitor Services - Significant developments in 
        these fields.
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.

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