NPS Morning Report - Tuesday, June 26, 2001
- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Tuesday, June 26, 2001
- Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 09:19:28 -0400
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Tuesday, June 26, 2001
INCIDENTS
01-296 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Concession Employee Fatality
T.S., 20, an employee for Yosemite Concession Services, died
while hiking the Yosemite Falls Trail on June 24th. T.S. was hiking
with four friends to the top of El Capitan when he and another person
became separated from the group. He and his companion stopped at the
base of Upper Yosemite Fall and scrambled down into the basin at the
bottom of the waterfall. While there, T.S. slipped and stumbled,
falling 40 feet to his death. The park's SAR team responded by
helicopter. T.S. was pronounced dead at the scene. No foul play is
suspected. T.S. was a housekeeper at the Ahwahnee and had been
working in the park for less than a month. [Public Affairs, YOSE,
6/25]
01-297 - Yukon-Charley Rivers NP (AK) - Search in Progress
The NPS and Alaska State Troopers have been conducting a search in the
Tatonduk River area of Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve since
Tuesday, June 19th, when R.C., 70, was reported overdue by
local residents. R.C. has lived a subsistence lifestyle for over 30
years in a remote area of Alaska within the boundaries of the
preserve. His home was a rustic cabin on the Tatonduk River,
approximately 23 river miles from Eagle, Alaska; his primary mode of
travel in the summer was via motorized canoe. NPS and local volunteer
ground searchers, air and ground scent dog teams with trackers and
handlers, river boats, an NPS Firepro contract helicopter, an Alaska
State Trooper helicopter and crew, an NPS airplane and a private
airplane have been committed to the search. Considerable debris has
been found in the river, including R.C.'s 17-foot Grumman canoe, with
its outboard jet motor still attached. It was found submerged in the
river about three-and-a-half miles downstream from his cabin on June
23rd. The search continues, but was scaled back on June 25th. [Roger
Semler, IC, GAAR, 6/25]
01-298 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Rescue
On the morning of Sunday, June 24th, SAR shift ranger KJ Glover
received a report of two hikers trapped on a ridge in the Hance Creek
drainage. The hikers were on a commercially-led backpacking trip and
were returning with their guide from a hike to the Colorado River the
previous day via a seldom-used route. While descending a talus slope
150 feet above the creek, one of the hikers, a 14-year-old male,
dislodged a 200-pound boulder which struck him and caused possible
fractures to an arm and leg. The guide treated him, then hiked back to
their campsite and returned with water and bivouac equipment so the
trio could spend the night at that location. The guide hiked out to
the South Rim early the next morning and reported the accident. A park
helicopter with pilot Greg Haufle and helicopter manager Carl Helquist
aboard flew to the scene. Rangers Bil Vandergraff and Ken Phillips
were then short-hauled by helicopter from the Tonto Plateau down a
thousand feet to a narrow pass near the victim's location. The hikers
were evacuated by helicopter to the South Rim. The juvenile was taken
by ambulance to Flagstaff Medical Center. (KJ Glover, GRCA, 6/25]
[Numerous additional reports pending - all will be posted over the
next few days...]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Fire Situation - Preparedness Level II
Six new large fires were reported yesterday - three in New Mexico, two
in Montana, and one in Idaho. Four others were contained. Initial
attack was moderate in California, the eastern Great Basin, the
Southwest, the Rockies and the South. Very high to extreme indices
were reported in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho,
Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, 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)
Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue
Date 6/22 6/23 6/24 6/25 6/26
Crews 149 140 127 164 155
Engines 220 233 226 248 257
Helicopters 52 47 57 55 50
Air Tankers 1 1 4 6 4
Overhead 508 486 562 572 497
Park Fire Situation
Grand Canyon NP - The park reported one new fire in the 24-hour period
ending on Monday - the tenth of an acre Uinkaret Fire. No crews had
yet been assigned to it.
Lake Mead NRA - A park crew and engine extinguished a Class A blaze on
Sunday.
Zion NP - The park had three fires in its response area on Saturday,
but only one of them was in the park. The two outside the park were
contained by park engine crews and turned over to the state fire
warden. The Goose Creek Fire in the park was contained on Saturday
night and a squad was assigned to mop-up on Sunday.
Carlsbad Caverns NP - There were three new starts in Slaughter Canyon
on Saturday, and they all subsequently jointed together to form one
fire that was moving rapidly east at the time of the report on Sunday.
The fire had burned 50 acres and was part of the Guadalupe Complex
with fires on neighboring BLM and USFS land.
Park Fire Danger
Extreme Hawaii Volcanoes NP, Lake Mead NRA
Very High Zion NP, Big Bend NP, Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP
High Joshua Tree NP, Everglades NP, Dinosaur NM, Guadalupe
Mountains NP
[NPS Situation Summary Report, 6/25; NICC Incident Management
Situation Report, 6/26]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Medical Review Board Update - In an effort to offer more rangers the
opportunity to participate in and observe the medical review board
(MRB) process, volunteers are being sought who are interested in
serving on the MRB as law enforcement subject matter specialists. MRB
members must have a significant law enforcement work history that
includes a varied background in the discipline of resource and visitor
protection. The backlog of appeal cases will likely be reduced over
the next six months, thus necessitating fewer MRB hearings. The time
commitment would therefore be minimal. Travel costs would be covered
by WASO. If you are interested, please send a cc:Mail message to
acting medical standards program manager Pat Buccello. Include a brief
synopsis of your work history and your contact information. New
members will be selected by the present MRB by mid-July. [Pat
Buccello, RAD/WASO]
MEMORANDA
"Update on RM 57 Medical Standards Program," signed on June 19th by
Sue Masica, associate director for administration, and sent to all
regional directors. An informational copy follows:
"We are aware that many concerns have been raised about the Medical
Standards Program and our efforts to resolve issues associated with
the Service's implementation of this program. To address these items,
an interdisciplinary workgroup has developed a series of programmatic
change recommendations which we support and are being incorporated
into revised policy guidance for the program.
"We are indebted to the following individuals who have worked
tirelessly on behalf of the ranger workforce: Patty Neubacher and Hal
Grovert (co-chairs) and team members: Michael Fogarty, Bill Sanders,
David Davies, Paul Broyles, John Townsend, Michelle Jackson, Tim
Simonds, Jay Wells, Randy King, Don Coelho, Ed Clark, Donna Goldsmith,
Sue Hawkins and Pat Buccello.
"This memorandum is to apprise you of progress being made on revisions
to the Medical Standards Program. Please distribute this widely
throughout you area.
Issue
"The National Park Service Medical Standards Program, as described in
DO/RM-57, has substantially impacted many rangers and park operations
since implementation began in March 1999. This occupational safety
program has been affected by minimal staffing and office support,
varying application and guidance, changes in the roles of the National
Park Service and Federal Occupational Health in making medical
qualification decisions, and delays in issuing waiver or accommodation
decisions.
Background and Status
"Law requires medical standards for positions covered under enhanced
annuity retirement to enable agencies to field a work force capable of
performing the rigorous duties of law enforcement and fire fighting.
"The Department of the Interior in 1998 approved the current medical
standards for commissioned park rangers. The standards were developed
following a job task analysis of rangers performing law enforcement
under field conditions.
"Through April 23, 2001, 1,923 rangers (applicants and incumbents) had
taken the medical exam. Of these 1,528 (79.4%) were medically
qualified; 207 (10.8%) were requested to provide additional medical
information; and 188 (9.8%) had significant medical issues. Forty
appeals of a medical disqualification have been heard to date; the
Medical Review Board has denied just 5 of these appeals. Placement of
those individuals for whom waivers have not been granted is ongoing.
Ultimately, it is anticipated that only 1% of rangers might have a
need to pursue the waiver process once the backlog of cases is
completed.
"A case by case analysis must be conducted in each case where an
employee or applicant does not meet a medical standard and appeals to
the Medical Review Board. The analysis considers the nature and
severity of the medical condition, and the individual work history in
safely performing rigorous duties. The agency decision can either be
a medical disqualification, a waiver of the medical standard, or an
accommodation (some modification of duties or work environment to
mitigate work safety issues.)
"Federal regulation, 5 CFR §339.204, requires an agency to waive a
medical standard 'when there is sufficient evidence that an applicant
or employee, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the
essential duties of the position without endangering the health and
safety of the individual or others.'
"The Associate Regional Directors for Administration, and Park
Operations and Education, charged a workgroup in the summer of 2000 to
review the Medical Standards Program and develop recommendations to
improve it. The RM-57 workgroup is comprised of Associate Regional
Director leadership, and rangers and human resource representatives
from parks, regions and WASO.
The workgroup has developed proposals under current review by the
Associate Regional Directors, Associate Directors, Office of Personnel
Management and the WASO Solicitors Office. Key
recommendations/actions include:
1. Modification of process, roles and responsibilities described
in the DO/RM.
o Clarify the roles of Federal Occupational Health
(FOH) and the NPS. (FOH makes a medical
recommendation/NPS makes the medical qualification
decision.)
o Light duty recommendations would be vetted through the
Medical Standards Program Manager to better ensure
Servicewide consistency.
o The waiver and accommodation and appeal processes will
be fully described, with timelines and instructions to
guide employees/applicants and supervisors.
o The responsibility for making initial agency decision
on waivers, accommodations, or medical
disqualification would rest with the Medical Standards
Program Manager. Subject matter experts in LE,
safety, and human resources would assist the program
manager in a risk analysis process.
o The Medical Review Board would serve as an appeal body
for medical disqualifications. The Medical Review
Board members will be rotated, allowing the
opportunity for Servicewide participation.
o Returning seasonals will be allowed to provide an
affidavit that their medical condition has not changed
instead of completing a physical every year and
waiting for determination. Seasonals and permanents
will be placed on the same age-based schedule for full
exams.
o A national outplacement program would be available to
all employees medically disqualified. This program is
being developed to serve multiple occupational series.
o A national database is presently being developed for
LE personnel to enable tracking and reporting of
medical status and other commission related
requirements. Access to medical information will
remain restricted.
2. Minimum program staffing. Staffing for this complex and
important program will include a full-time Medical Standards
Program Manager and a full-time program assistant. Subject
matter specialists in protection, safety and human resources
will also be required to augment staffing. A task group
approach will be explored to expedite clearance of the
substantial backlog of employees/applicants requiring further
medical information, or having significant medical issues.
o The Medical Standards Program Manager position
description has been established to reflect the duties
outlined by the workgroup. The position is expected
to be advertised the week of June 16, 2001. Given the
current medical program emphasis on law enforcement
standards, the workgroup has recommended that an
individual qualified in the GS-025 Park Ranger
occupational series with a protection background be
recruited to fill the position.
o Policy and guidance documents will need to be revised
or created and clearly communicated throughout the
Service.
o The consequences of inaction are severe for employees,
parks, and the Service. A substantial, long-term
commitment is required to establish an effective,
functioning medical standards program.
o Each region has appointed points of contact for
information /assistance regarding the Medical
Standards Program.
o The Medical Standards Review Board will be seeking to
increase the size of their cadre to enable scheduling
of more frequent Review Boards to work through the
backlog of cases.
"Field input has been critical in the review and modification of this
program. Until the Medical Standard Program Manager position is
filled, the function will be staffed by detailed law enforcement
personnel familiar with the program. Please direct any questions you
may have to the Acting Medical Standards Program Manager at (202)
208-5229."
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
Tuesday, June 26 - 10 a.m., 1334 Longworth
House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public
Lands (Hefley): Hearing on:
o H.R. 695 (Peterson, PA), a bill to establish Oil Region
National Heritage Area in Pennsylvania.
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.
o H.R. 1628 (Rodriguez, TX), a bill to amend the National Trails
System Act to designate El Camino Real de los Tejas as a
National Historic Trail.
Wednesday, June 27 - 9:30 a.m., 366 Dirksen
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (Bingaman): Confirmation
hearing on the nomination of Frances P. Mainella to be director of the
National Park Service.
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 (June 19th):
o H.R. 2216 (Young, FL), a bill making supplemental
appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001,
and for other purposes.
o H.R. 2217 (Skeen, NM), a bill making appropriations for the
Department of the Interior and related agencies for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 2002, and for other purposes.
o H.R. 2234 (Pastor, AZ), a bill to revise the boundary of the
Tumacacori National Historical Park in the State of Arizona.
o H.R. 2238 (Rogers, KY), a bill to authorize the Secretary of
the Interior to acquire Fern Lake and the surrounding
watershed in the States of Kentucky and Tennessee for addition
to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, and for other
purposes.
o S. 1061 (McConnell, KY), a bill to authorize the Secretary of
the Interior to acquire Fern Lake and the surrounding
watershed in the States of Kentucky and Tennessee for addition
to Cumberland Gap National Historic Park, and for other
purposes.
o S. 1069 (Levin, MI), a bill to amend the National Trails
System Act to clarify Federal authority relating to land
acquisition from willing sellers from the majority of the
trails in the System, and for other purposes.
o S. 1077 (Byrd, WV), an original bill making supplemental
appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001,
and for other purposes.
NEW LAWS
The following bills have passed Congress and been signed into law by
the President:
No new laws.
* * * * *
Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the
cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.
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