NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Thursday, March 29, 2001

INCIDENTS

01-018 - Harpers Ferry NHP (WV/MD/VA) - Assist to Agency: Bomb Threat

On Wednesday, March 28th, a written bomb threat was found on an Amtrak 
train en route to Washington, D.C. The train stopped at the Harpers 
Ferry train station adjacent to the park to evacuate it's 145 
passengers. While a bomb sniffing dog was brought in, park staff 
assisted the Harpers Ferry Police Department by establishing a 
perimeter and were available to provide EMS. After the dog cleared the 
carry-on baggage,  four of the park's shuttle buses and a handicapped 
accessible van were used to transport the passengers to the Brunswick, 
Maryland, train station ten miles away. This was done at the request 
of CSX Railroad. The dog didn't find a bomb on the train. No injuries 
or property damage were reported, but numerous commuter trains were 
disrupted.  The FBI is investigating. Media interest is high.  [Larry 
Johnson, CR, HAFE, 3/28]

                   [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Plan

The Department of Interior is producing a variety of fire-related 
public service announcements for nationwide distribution. Secretary 
Gale Norton has recorded two messages on recruitment for firefighting 
and fire-related jobs. Messages by the Oak Ridge Boys will cover 
recruitment and tips about what the public can do to protect their 
homes from wildland fires. Additional spots will be recorded in 
Spanish. The radio spots will begin airing nationwide in late April.

Park Fires

Great Smoky Mountains NP (NC/TN) - The Tunnel Fire had burned 550 
acres as of yesterday and was 80% contained. Crews cut a quarter mile 
of line yesterday and conducted burnout operations. Showers are 
forecast for today and tomorrow.

Shenandoah NP (VA) - The park conducted a 137-acre burn at Big Meadows 
yesterday as part of its meadow restoration program.

[Debee Schwarz, NPS Fire Information, WASO, 3/29; Mike Warren NPS 
FMPC, 3/28; Doug Wallner, Philadelphia SO, 3/28]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Denali NP&P (AK) - Wolf Mortality

During the period from March 14th to the 21st, three wolves died after 
being immobilized and radio collared as part of a long-term research 
project involving predator/prey relationships between wolves and moose 
and caribou. The wolves died in three separate incidents on different 
days. Two wolf carcasses were recovered for necropsy; a third was 
totally consumed by other wolves. Preliminary necropsy results on the 
two wolves recovered indicate that each had a defective heart valve 
(endocarditis) that MAY have contributed to its death. The wolf that 
was consumed by pack members was in very poor health (emaciated). An 
investigation has been begun into the deaths. Ranger Tom Habecker is 
the case officer. A panel consisting of outside experts will be 
convened to review the incident. Immobilizations have been suspended 
until further notice. Media interest has been high. At least one of 
the wolves had been widely photographed and was well known to park 
visitors and professional photographers and film crews. [Tom Habecker, 
DR, North District, DENA]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Medical Standards - At the request of Dick Ring, associate director 
for park operations and education, a meeting was held in WASO on March 
21st to discuss expedited processing of backlogged 6c cases. Attending 
were representatives from DOI, the fire and law enforcement retirement 
team (FLERT), and affected bureaus. The meeting dealt with some 
misperceptions that FLET had concerning jurisdiction, authority and 
law enforcement. A test case involving an NPS ranger was reviewed 
during the session and favorably resolved following a presentation by 
Irv Tubbs from DOI's law enforcement office. An agreement was 
ultimately reached regarding the NPS backlog that will satisfy DOI's 
need to verify that sufficient documentation exists to certify that a 
given position should be designated as a covered positions. Ring 
subsequently prepared a memorandum summarizing key points of the 
agreement (see "Memoranda" below). [Ed Clark, RAD/WASO]

Policy Office Update - The status of several DO's (director's orders) 
currently in the works is as follows:

o       DO-6, Interpretation and Education - Released for 60 day 
        review on March 6th. The comment period closes on May 7th.
o       DO-7, Volunteers in Parks - Released for 60 day review on 
        March 23rd. The comment period closes on May 22nd.
o       DO-13, Environmental Leadership - Released for 60 day review 
        on March 28th. The comment period closes on May 29th.
o       DO-93, Conflict Resolution - Released on February 1st for a 60 
        day comment period. The comment period closes on April 2nd.

[Marcia Keener, Policy Office]

Web Server Maintenance - On Friday, March 30th,  the Seasonal 
Employment Unit web server (www.sep.nps.gov) will be undergoing 
periodic maintenance and will be inaccessible most of the day. Service 
should be restored in phases and be complete by Sunday evening. [Steve 
Pittleman, NPS Webmaster)

MEMORANDA

"Fire and Law Enforcement Team (FLERT) Case Backlog," signed by the 
associate director, park operations and education, and sent to the 
director of personnel policy. The full text follows:

"I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for your efforts on 
behalf of hundreds of incumbent National Park Service rangers seeking 
coverage for prior service as law enforcement officers and/or 
firefighters.  As you know, our Bureau has been transitioning  these 
rangers and firefighters to the Enhanced Annuity Retirement System 
(6c).
 
"We consider this effort to be a critical component of our 
responsibility as an Agency to be good stewards of not only the 
natural and cultural resources we manage, but the human resources so 
vital to fulfilling our mission.

"Up until now, the single largest obstacle to the efficient and fair 
transition of our rangers to the 6c retirement system has been one of 
correcting our past Bureau practices and obtaining back credit for 
them without placing undue burden on the individual.  I am encouraged 
by the efforts of your office in providing a forum whereby a process 
for expeditiously handling these claims could be worked out.

"In consideration of this, I have signed and forwarded to John Combs 
the 'Agreement to Support Contract to Review FLERT.'

"It is my understanding that agreement was reached during the meeting 
held on March 21, 2001, that will serve to significantly reduce the 
backlog of cases at FLERT.  Specifically we expect that the following 
take place, effective immediately:

FLERT Will:

1.      Immediately process for completion all cases reviewed by NPS 
        teams in 2000.

1.1     Identify those cases needing additional documentation. NOTE:If 
        no documentation of deficiency exists in the record, that case 
        will be set aside and taken up again when all cases with 
        adequate documentation have been processed.
1.1.1   Fax deficiency check-sheet to NPS Law Enforcement 
        Administrator.
1.2     Process previously completed and NPS review team approved 
        cases for coverage.  Move cases ahead for signature.
1.2.1   Send case summaries to NPS Law Enforcement Administrator for 
        final concurrence.
1.2.2   Final sign-off in FLERT.
1.2.3   Send cases to Deputy Assistant Secretary for signature.

2.      Develop a revised set of Missing Position Description 
        Summary/Position Description Clarification Affidavits.  These 
        will be used when the document deficiency is a lack of a 
        position description, or one that does not adequately address 
        the incumbent's actual law enforcement/fire duties.  These 
        will include the following:

2.1     Law Enforcement, Primary/Secondary
2.2     Fire, Primary/Secondary
2.3     Combination Law Enforcement/Fire, Primary/Secondary

NPS Will:

1.      Provide previously FLERT- trained detailees to work with the 
        FLERT in completing step 1.1 above.

2.      Expedite obtaining missing documentation noted by past NPS 
        detailees on the FLERT deficiencies check-sheet.  Fax 
        necessary documentation to FLERT.

"We also expect this procedure to be used to process the remaining 
backlog of NPS cases already reviewed and forwarded for approval by 
the NPS that were not subjected to subsequent review by the joint NPS 
teams sent to assist FLERT in 2000.

"Thank you for your assistance in these matters.   They are very 
important to our Agency."

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Ranger Activities Division, WASO - CORRECTION: The following is 
revised to change the response due date to APRIL 2nd. 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 April 2nd.  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       Interpretation/Visitor Services - Significant developments in 
        these fields.
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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