NPS Morning Report - Monday, June 25, 2001
- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Monday, June 25, 2001
- Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2001 10:29:41 -0400
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Monday, June 25, 2001
INCIDENTS
01-292 - Badlands NP (SD) - Fossil Poaching
On June 12th, several park bio-technicians were engaged in field work
along the access road to Sheep Mountain Table in the Stronghold
District. While walking back to their vehicle, they saw someone
standing in the badland formations. Upon being seen, the man
immediately ducked behind a small grass table. He then returned to his
vehicle, which was parked along the roadside, and left the area. A
search of the area led to the discovery of a bag containing over 100
fossils and various collecting tools. Rangers and paleontologists
conducted a thorough search of the area and found several disturbed
sites. As they were leaving the area, they saw the suspect's vehicle
traveling toward the town of Scenic. Rangers contacted him as he was
walking out of the CH Merrill Museum of Natural History. As he was
being approached and before anyone asked him a question, he told the
rangers: "I can tell you that I have fossils in my car but they did
not come from the park." Rangers confirmed that he was the man who
had been seen in the park, and that he'd been collecting fossils when
he was scared off by the bio-technicians. They also learned that he
has ties to several natural history organizations and museums and a
private collecting business. A search of his vehicle led to the
discovery of additional fossils and a ledger. The case was forward to
the U.S. Attorney's Office for prosecution and for civil action under
the National Park System Resource Protection Act. [Mark Gorman, Acting
CR, BADL, 6/14]
01-293 - Carlsbad Caverns NP (NM) - Significant Vandalism
Rangers Laura Denny and Bridget Bohnet received a report of visitors
off-trail in a closed area of the cave on the afternoon of June 9th.
Park employees Paul Burger and Stan Allison had been taking water
samples in the Kings Palace area when they saw two people leave the
trail and enter a darkened area. Denny and Bohnet searched the area
and found Brian Stanley and Micah Brosius hiding in an extremely
delicate area of the Queen's Chamber. The pair, who were traveling
from Maine to Oregon, had several freshly-broken stalactites and drug
paraphernalia and marijuana in their possession. They were issued nine
mandatory-appearance violation notices, including citations for
destruction of natural resources, off-trail travel, entering a closed
area, smoking in a cave, and possession of a controlled substance. A
court date is pending. In recent months, the park has experienced an
increase in incidents involving vandalism and damage to cave
formations. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Las Cruces is handling the
prosecution of all of these cases. [Bridget Bohnet, PR, CAVE, 6/13]
01-294 - Yellowstone NP (WY) - Sewage Spill
On June 15th, a visitor notified the park that water was flowing from
a pipe in the Bridge Bay area at Yellowstone Lake. Park staff
immediately checked the Bridge Bay lift station and found that an
outside valve to a drain line had been partially opened and was
leaking raw sewage onto the beach. They closed the valve and began
cleaning up the area. It appears that very little sewage leaked from
the line, and that it was caused by vandalism. The valve, which is
easily accessible to the public, had been closed last fall and had not
yet been reopened. [PIO, YELL, 6/20]
01-295 - Gulf Islands NS (FL/MS) - Attempted Suicide
Early on the morning of June 16th, a visitor notified rangers at the
Fort Pickens entrance station that there was a woman with numerous
cuts on her arms and legs in a nearby parking lot. Rangers found the
woman lying on a blood-stained blanket with lacerations on both of her
arms and legs. She had evidently lost a lot of blood. She told rangers
that she'd inflicted the wounds on herself with a razor blade. EMS was
dispatched, but the woman said she didn't need any help and began
getting hostile. Emergency personnel arrived and took her to Baptist
Hospital for treatment of her injuries. She was placed under a
psychiatric hold by hospital personnel. [CRO, GUIS, 6/18]
[Additional reports pending....]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Fire Plan Update
Department of the Interior chief of staff Brian Waidmann delivered the
opening remarks for the "New Tools for Managing Wildland Fire"
workshop held last week in Washington. Waidmann said that fire
management has been a concern of the secretary since her first day in
office, noting that a number of her "firsts" pertained to wildland
fire - her first official trip outside Washington was to the National
Interagency Fire Center in Boise; her first official signing was to
approve the release of Section 7 consultation funds to the FWS in
support of the National Fire Plan; the first thing she reads in the
morning is the daily fire report. Another first he talked about was
Norton's teaming up with the Oak Ridge Boys to produce public service
announcements for recruiting federal firefighters. Waidmann said fire
management is important because of the lives, property, and resources
that are saved and protected. He said that it is time to change the
direction of fire management to include fuels treatment and resource
management. The two-day workshop, hosted by the National Academy of
Public Administration, was attended by more than a hundred federal,
state, and local fire management personnel.
National Fire Situation - Preparedness Level II
One new large fire was reported in California. Initial attack activity
was moderate in California, the eastern Great Basin, the Southwest and
the Rockies. Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico,
Oregon, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.
No fire watches or warnings have been issued for today.
The full NICC situation report for today can be found at
http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf.
National Resource Status (Five Day Trend)
Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon
Date 6/21 6/22 6/23 6/24 6/25
Crews 133 149 140 127 164
Engines 220 220 233 226 248
Helicopters 50 52 47 57 55
Air Tankers 1 1 1 4 6
Overhead 465 508 486 562 572
Park Fire Situation
Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Forty of the 200 acres of the Yumtheska Fire
are within park boundaries. The fire was rained out on Sunday.
Zion NP (UT) - The park reports numerous lightning strikes in the area
on Friday night, with one start just north of the park boundary and
holdover fires expected.
Park Fire Danger
Extreme Zion NP, Lake Mead NRA, Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Very High Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP, Point Reyes NS, Big Bend NP
High Everglades NP, Dinosaur NM
[Debee Schwarz, NPS Fire Information, WASO; NPS Situation Summary
Report, 6/24; NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 6/23-25]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Crater Lake NP (OR) - The park is seeking applicants interested in a
lateral reassignment opportunity into the permanent full-time GS-6
communications center supervisor position (communications operator,
GS-392). The major duties and responsibilities include coordinating
radio and telephone communications, managing law enforcement records
and reports, serving as the park CIRS coordinator, coordinating the
park's use of a regional interagency 911 and law enforcement dispatch
system, and providing a variety of information and services to park
employees, park visitors and other agencies. The park is seeking an
employee who can contribute high energy, new ideas and a collaborative
approach, and provides an ideal opportunity for someone interested in
an entry-level supervisory position. Successful completion of a
background investigation (ANACI) is required for the position. This
position is not required occupancy, but park housing may be available
under a bid system. Interested applicants should contact David Brennan
at 541-594-2211 ext. 300 or by e-mail. [Dave Brennan, CRLA]
National Capital Region (NCR) - The announcement for a GS-14 biologist
or ecologist has been posted on USA Jobs (NPS-NCR-01-41). It opened on
June 18th and closes on July 30th. The person selected will serve as
coordinator of the Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies
Unit (CESU); duties include developing and implementing an integrated
program for natural, cultural and social science research, education
and technical assistance in support of the resource management
responsibilities of NCR and other areas within the watershed; serving
as liaison with other federal research and land management agencies
and CESU members; developing partnerships and securing outside sources
of support; and providing the NPS with technical leadership in an
integrated program of research, technical assistance, and education at
the regional and Servicewide levels. More information about the CESU
system can be found at http://www.cesu.org/cesu. [Jim Sherald, NCR]
Ozark NSR (MO) - The park has an opening for a supervisory GS-12/13
park ranger who will service as the chief of resource management and
education. The announcement is on USA Jobs under CK113544JR. It closes
on July 16th. [Personnel, OZAR]
FILM AT 11...
Disney's "Atlantis: The Lost Empire," which opened nationwide on June
15th, was inspired by the rooms and formations of Carlsbad Caverns NP.
Hoping to get a feel for what their underground Atlantis would be
like, Disney representatives first contacted the park in the fall of
1997. The movie's producer and artists spent three days at the park
with cave specialists Dale Pate and Jason Richards, who took them on a
tour through Carlsbad Caverns, Slaughter Canyon Cave and Spider Cave.
Richards is also featured in a 10-minute segment of "The Movie
Surfers: Inside Disney's Atlantis." This program has been airing on
the Disney Channel for the past month and has lots of children
bringing their parents to Carlsbad Caverns for their summer vacation.
[Bridget Eisfeldt, CAVE]
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TRAINING CALENDAR
This calendar appears every other Monday as an addendum to the Morning
Report. Please note:
o Entries are listed no sooner than FOUR months before a training
course begins, except in cases in which registration dates close
much earlier.
o Brevity in submissions is required and appreciated.
o Please send along web sites for additional information where
possible.
o Asterisks (*) indicate new entries.
**********************************************************************
July 31 - August 2: OSHA 226 - PERMIT REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE ENTRY,
Albuquerque, NM. No closing date given. The course is geared to
maintenance employees and supervisors, but LE rangers and resource
managers are also encouraged to attend and bring confined space issues
that pertain to their fields. The course meets a required safety and
loss control competency. Tuition: $350. Contact: Course announcement
and nomination forms are available on the Learning Place BB; course
info from Andre Perera, PETR. [Christie Porter, PETR]
August 13 - 16: OSHA 510 - BASIC COURSE IN CONSTRUCTION SAFETY,
Albuquerque, NM. Closes on June 29th. Introduction to OSHA policies,
procedures and standards for construction health and safety. Contact:
Regional employee specialists; Learning Place BB; or FLETC for
additional information (on email at WASO FLETC-NPS, or 912-267-2246).
[Wiley Golden, FLETC]
August 6 - 16: DRIVER INSTRUCTOR TRAINING, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Closes
on June 28th. Teaches driving instructors on proper highway response,
defensive driving, skid control, vehicle stops, pursuit driving and
evasive maneuvers. Contact: Regional employee specialists; Learning
Place BB; or FLETC for additional information (on email at WASO
FLETC-NPS, or 912-267-2246). [Wiley Golden, FLETC]
August 8 - 31: SMALL CRAFT ENFORCEMENT TRAINING, FLETC, Glynco, GA.
Closes on July 12th. Training on inland water enforcement. Contact:
Regional employee specialists; Learning Place BB; or FLETC for
additional information (on email at WASO FLETC-NPS, or 912-267-2246).
[Wiley Golden, FLETC]
August 13 - 17: ARPA TRAINING (XP-ARPTP-107), Las Vegas, NV. Closes on
July 11th. Basic ARPA training. Contact: Regional employee
specialists; Learning Place BB; or FLETC for additional information
(on email at WASO FLETC-NPS, or 912-267-2246). [Wiley Golden, FLETC]
August 20 - 31: PHYSICAL FITNESS COORDINATOR TRAINING, FLETC, Glynco,
GA. Closes on July 12th. Training on administering FLETC's five-part
physical efficiency battery (PEB). Contact: Regional employee
specialists; Learning Place BB; or FLETC for additional information
(on email at WASO FLETC-NPS, or 912-267-2246). [Wiley Golden, FLETC]
August 27 - 31: INLAND SAR COORDINATION, Yorktown, VA. Comprehensive,
graduate-level look at inland SAR theory and its application to
planning land and air searches for missing persons and aircraft.
Taught by USAF National SAR School. Contact: Chuck Anibal,
304-535-6401. [Joyce Howe, STMA]
September 10 - 14: ARPA TRAINING (XP-ARPTP-108), Gatlinburg, TN.
Closes on August 2nd. Basic ARPA training. Contact: Regional employee
specialists; Learning Place BB; or FLETC for additional information
(on email at WASO FLETC-NPS, or 912-267-2246). [Wiley Golden, FLETC]
September 10 - 21: DEFENSIVE TACTICS INSTRUCTOR TRAINING, FLETC,
Glynco, GA. Closes on August 2nd. A "train the trainer" course on
defensive tactics. Contact: Regional employee specialists; Learning
Place BB; or FLETC for additional information (on email at WASO
FLETC-NPS, or 912-267-2246). [Wiley Golden, FLETC]
September 16 - 22: ADVANCED RESOURCE PROTECTION (ARPT-101), FLETC, San
Luis Obispo, CA. Closes on August 1st. Topics include resources
crimes, a legal update, warrant service planning, building clearance,
defensive tactics, and two days of scenarios. Contact: Regional
employee specialists; Learning Place BB; or FLETC for additional
information (on email at WASO FLETC-NPS, or 912-267-2246). [Wiley
Golden, FLETC]
September 17 - 21: INTRODUCTION TO MANAGING NPS LEGACY INFORMATION,
Mather Training Center, Harpers Ferry, WV. Closes on July 3rd. This
introductory course will provide basic training on evaluating and
managing audiovisual, electronic and textual records, archival and
manuscript collections, and related materials. Contact: Tony Knapp,
304-535-6178 or via email. [Joyce Howe, STMA]
* September 17 - 21: INLAND SEARCH AND RESCUE COORDINATION, St. Paul,
MN. Closes on July 18th. Comprehensive, graduate-level look at inland
SAR theory and its application to planning land and air searches for
missing persons and aircraft. Taught by USAF National SAR School.
Contact: Learning Place BB, or peggy_sandretzky@fws.gov. [Joyce Howe,
STMA]
* October 21 - 26: INTERDISCIPLINARY RESOURCE PROTECTION (IDRP-101),
San Luis Obispo, CA. Closes on September 1st. Intensive course
designed to give employees from various disciplines an opportunity to
work together in teams to solve resource crimes. Participants will
work in teams and be rotated through day-long scenarios practicing
recognition of violations, processing of crime scenes, collecting and
examining evidence, conducting interviews, and making damage
assessments. Evening sessions will be held. Contact: Leaning Place BB
or FLETC for additional information (on email at WASO FLETC-NPS, or
912-267-2246). [Wiley Golden, FLETC]
* * * * *
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
Parks and employees Media stories on parks
Training, meetings, and events Queries on operational matters
Reports on "lessons learned"
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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