NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, May 29, 2001

INCIDENTS

01-234 - Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP (CA) - Special Event:             
         Presidential Visit

On May 21st, the Pacific West incident management team was activated 
to manage a visit today and tomorrow by President Bush and Secretary 
of Interior Gale Norton. The visit includes an overnight stay in the 
park, a speech to park employees, and a hike. About 200 people are 
assigned to the incident, including three special event teams from 
Pacific West Region and one from Intermountain Region. Another 50 park 
employees are providing incidental support. The IMT is working closely 
with White House staff, the Secret Service, the Marine Corps and the 
California Highway Patrol. More than 450 press and invited guests are 
expected to attend the event. For more information, contact the 
Pacific West IMT via cc:Mail at PacWest IMT or by phone at 
559-565-3204. Demobilization of personnel is expected to be completed 
on June 1st. [Hugh Dougher, IC, IMT, 5/28]

01-235 - Denali NP (AK) - Multiple Rescues

P.L., a member of the Glaronia-Swiss Expedition, was 
descending to the 14,200-foot camp with a heavy pack on May 23rd when 
she severely twisted her left knee. Her three teammates helped her 
reach the ranger camp, where she was examined by NPS patrol staff and 
a physician on another expedition. P.L., who is a physiotherapist 
in Switzerland, likely tore ligaments in her knee. Due to the knee's 
instability and inflammation, park staff considered an evacuation 
necessary. Air transport was delayed for several days due to weather, 
during which time P.L.'s knee was immobilized and treated with 
anti-inflammatory medications. She was flown off the mountain on May 
26th and released on her own accord at the 7,200-foot Kahiltna base 
camp. Anchorage fireman M.H. was evacuated from the 14,200-foot 
ranger camp the next day. M.H., who was a member of a guided 
expedition that began its climb on May 19th, was suffering from a lung 
infection, pulmonary edema, and acute mountain sickness when he 
reached the ranger camp on the evening of the 20th. Rangers at the 
camp treated him with oxygen and altitude medications, but he remained 
in serious condition and an air evacuation was considered necessary. 
The park's Lama helicopter picked him up and flew him to the Kahiltna 
base camp, where he was transferred to a LifeGuard helicopter and 
flown to Providence Hospital in Anchorage. M.H., who is president of 
the Anchorage Firefighters Union, was dedicating his climb to the 
memory of firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty. 
[Daryl Miller, IC, DENA, 5/26]

                   [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Plan

No new information. Please check the NPS Fire Management Program 
Center web page (www.fire.nps.gov) for further information on fire 
plan projects.

National Fire Situation - Preparedness Level 1

New large fires were reported on Monday in northern California and 
Texas. High pressure building over northern California will bring 
windy, dry and warm conditions to that area today. New Mexico and 
Arizona will also have winds and warm sunny conditions. Florida and 
southern Georgia will be partly cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. 
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, 
California, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas.

NICC has posted three FIRE WEATHER WATCHES today:

o   for atmospheric instability and wind in portions of northern 
    Florida.
o   for moderate north winds and warm, dry conditions in the northern 
    Sacramento Valley and nearby foothills this afternoon and 
    tomorrow.
o   for strong winds and low relative humidity along and east of the 
    central mountains of New Mexico.

The full NICC Incident Management Situation Report can be found at 
http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf

National Resource Status

Date                    5/25    5/26    5/27    5/28    5/29

Crews                   57      32      50      62      84
Engines                 101     83      153     126     169
Helicopters             16      24      31      32      35
Air Tankers             0       0       2       1       1
Overhead                299     308     353     341     383

Park Fire Situation

Carlsbad Caverns NP - Dry lightning on Friday night started several 
fires in and around the park. The Hidden Fire and Devil's Den Fire are 
the largest; although they are mostly on Lincoln National Forest, they 
both threaten park lands. All resources have been committed.

Cumberland Island NS - A lightning strike on May 27th started a fire 
in dense palmetto and oak. The area was under a red flag warning at 
the time due to fast-moving thunderstorms, low humidity and drought 
conditions. The fire is still under ten acres, but is a threat to 
nearby residences. The park will likely continue to be in extreme fire 
danger today.

Park Fire Danger

Extreme         Hawaii Volcanoes, Cumberland Island
Very High       Lake Mead, Carlsbad Caverns
High            Everglades

[Brian Peters, CR, GUIS, 5/28; NICC Incident Management Situation 
Report, 5/27; NPS Situation Summary Report, 5/28]

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 Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs 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, June 7th

House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public 
Lands (Hefley): Hearing on:

o       H.R. 1461 (Hefley, CO), a bill to amend the National Parks 
        Omnibus Management Act of 1998 to remove the exemption for 
        nonprofit organizations from the general requirement to obtain 
        commercial use authorizations.
o       H.R. 1491 (Matheson, UT), a bill to assist in the preservation 
        of archaeological, paleontological, zoological, geological, 
        and botanical artifacts through construction of a new facility 
        for the University of Utah Museum of Natural History, Salt 
        Lake City, Utah.

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

Tuesday, June 12th

House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public 
Lands (Hefley): Hearing on:

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. 1668 (Roemer, IN), a bill to authorize the Adams Memorial 
        Foundation to establish a commemorative work on federal land 
        in the District of Columbia and its environs to honor former 
        President John Adams and his family.

Hearing time and location TBA.

Tuesday, June 19th

House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public 
Lands (Hefley): Hearing on:

o       H.R. 1462 (Hefley, CO), 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, nonnative weeds on public and private land. 

Hearing time and location TBA.

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 (May 22nd): 

o       H.R. 1925 (Edwards, TX), a bill to direct the Secretary of the 
        Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of 
        designating the Waco Mammoth Site Area in Waco, Texas, as a 
        unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes.
o       H.R. 1932 (Berry, AR), a bill to preserve and protect 
        archeological sites and historic resources of the central 
        Mississippi Valley through the establishment of the 
        Mississippi Valley National Historical Park as a unit of the 
        National Park System on former Eaker Air Force Base in 
        Blytheville, Arkansas.
o       H.R. 1953 (Lantos, CA), a bill to revise the boundaries of 
        Golden Gate NRA in California, to extend the term of the 
        advisory commission, and for other purposes.
o       H.R. 1963, a bill to amend the National Trails System Act to 
        designate the route taken by American soldier and frontiersman 
        George Rogers Clark and his men during the Revolutionary War 
        to capture the British forts at Kaskaskia and Cahokia, 
        Illinois, and Vincennes, Indiana, for study for potential 
        addition to the National Trails System.
o       H.R. 2008 (Watt, NC), a bill to authorize the Secretary of the 
        Interior to study the feasibility and suitability of 
        designating the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, 
        located in Greensboro, North Carolina, as a unit of the 
        National Park System, and for other purposes.
o       S. 920 (Breaux, LA), a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code 
        of 1986 to provide a credit against income tax to individuals 
        who rehabilitate historic homes or who are the first 
        purchasers of rehabilitated historic homes for use as a 
        principal residence.
o       S. 921 (DeWine, OH), a bill to adjust the boundary of William 
        Howard Taft NHS in Ohio to authorize an exchange of land in 
        connection with the historic site, and for other purposes.
o       S. 930 (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 
        National Park to secure bonds for capital improvements, and 
        for other purposes.
o       S. 941 (Feinstein, CA), a bill to revise the boundaries of 
        Golden Gate NRA in California, to extend the term of the 
        advisory commission, and for other purposes.
o       S. 978 (Craig, ID), a bill to provide for improved management 
        of, and increased accountability for, outfitted activities by 
        which the public gains access to and occupancy and use of 
        federal land, and for other purposes.

NEW LAWS

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

H.R. 1696 (Stump, AZ), a bill to expedite the construction of the 
World War II memorial in the District of Columbia. The PL (public law) 
number is not yet available. The site for the memorial is on the 
National Mall between the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial, an 
area administered by the National Park Service. President Bush issued 
the following statement at the signing, which took place on May 28th: 
"Today I have signed into law H.R. 1696, a bill to expedite the 
construction of the World War II memorial in the District of Columbia. 
It is indeed fitting that this measure becomes law on Memorial Day. 
This legislation will allow the Nation to express the appreciation due 
the World War II generation for their selfless sacrifices that 
preserved the freedoms we all enjoy.  I commend the Congress for a 
truly bipartisan effort to expedite construction of the memorial. Now 
that debate over the site and basic design is concluded, the time has 
come for all concerned with the creation of the memorial to act with 
the same determination and sense of common purpose so wonderfully 
displayed by those we honor.  We must get the job done, so that those 
who served are able to see the Nation's permanent expression of 
remembrance and thanks."

                            *  *  *  *  *

The Morning Report solicits entries from the field and central offices 
for its daily and weekly sections (below). The general rule is that 
submissions, whatever the category, should pertain to operations, be 
useful to the field, and have broad significance across the agency. 
Additional details on submission criteria are available from the 
editor at any time (Bill Halainen at NP-DEWA, or 
Bill_Halainen@nps.gov). Ask for either incident reporting criteria 
(issued by WASO, June 18, 2000) or general criteria. 

Daily and weekly sections are available for news or significant 
developments pertaining to:

Field incidents                 Interpretation and visitor services
Natural resource management     Cultural resource management
Operations (WASO only)          Memoranda (WASO only
Requests/offers of assistance   Park-related web sites
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Training, meetings, and events  Queries on operational matters  
Reports on "lessons learned" 

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Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the 
cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

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