NPS Morning Report - Friday, June 29, 2001
- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Friday, June 29, 2001
- Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 11:11:16 -0400
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Friday, June 29, 2001
INCIDENTS
01-315 - Shenandoah NP (VA) - Death of Employee
Allan D. Sager, 48, district ranger for the park's North District,
passed away yesterday at his home in McGaheysville, Virginia, after a
long and courageous battle with cancer. Alan is survived by his wife,
N.G.S., an NPS employee, his children, R.S., 17, T.S.,
11, and D.S., 10, and his parents and a brother. Alan's memorial
service has been planned for 2 p.m. on Monday, July 2nd, at the Mill
Creek Church of the Brethren in Port Republic, Virginia. Alan's
family will receive friends at the church immediately following the
service. They have requested that friends and co-workers send written
memories, photos and other memorabilia relating to Alan's life instead
of sympathy cards so that his children may understand the impact Alan
had on his friends and extended Park Service family. These can be sent
to Shenandoah National Park, 3655 Highway 211 East, Luray, Virginia
22835, Reference: Sager Family. Kyger and Trobaugh Funeral Home is
handling the funeral arrangements (115 Nicholson Road, Elkton,
Virginia 22827, phone 540-298-1279). The park has set up an automated
phone line for directions to the church, details on flower
arrangements for the service, updates or changes, and other pertinent
information. The number is 540-999-3299 and will be in operation
beginning at noon today. Additional information on the uniform of the
day will be posted there. For information on lodging assistance, call
the park's communications center at 540-999-3422. [Ginny Rousseau, CR,
SHEN, 6/29)
01-316 - St. Croix NSR (MN/WI) - Assist; Tornado
Over the past month, the park has dealt with the highest sustained
water levels in years and the biggest flood in recent memory, plus a
steady stream of severe weather events, including high winds,
excessive rains, and hail. On the evening of Monday, June 18th, a
category F3 tornado with winds over 200 mph touched down just outside
the park. Although there was little damage to park resources or
employees' private residences, the neighboring community of Siren,
Wisconsin, was essentially destroyed. There were also three deaths and
numerous injuries. On Tuesday, the park sent two employees to help
with search and rescue (compliance specialist Jill Medland, with the
United K-9 SAR unit) and traffic and access control (Namekagon DR Dan
Watson). On Wednesday, the park provided a maintenance crew from the
Marshland District (Jerry Cummings, Mike Linquist, Mark Denker),
Marshland SDR Keith Nelson, biological technician Ann Hebig, and
several pieces of heavy equipment. On Thursday, the park increased its
support by sending all three district maintenance crews (about 20
people), several HQ administrative staff, and additional heavy
equipment. The park will continue to provide support as needed.
Facility manager Kevin Baumgard is coordinating the response;
Marshland District maintenance foreman Jerry Cummings is leading the
park's on-site support effort. [CRO, SACN, 6/22]
01-317 - Harpers Ferry NHP (WV/MD/VA) - Assist; Multiple Rescues
On Saturday, June 9th, a large group of Boy Scouts and their leaders
were canoeing on the rain-swollen Potomac River adjacent to the park
when their canoes capsized. Two Maryland State Police helicopters
attempted unsuccessfully to retrieve the victims. Using the
helicopters as spotters, Rangers Robbie Sampsell and David Mayeski
responded in the park's jet-drive zodiac boat while Ranger Ryan Levins
coordinated shore-based efforts with the local responders. A total of
eight scouts and leaders were rescued by rangers, who had to interrupt
the rescue effort to rescue nine local volunteer fire company
responders whose three boats swamped or capsized. The rescues were
conducted in Class IV whitewater flowing at above normal stage. River
advisories were in effect due to high water. The incident occurred
during an unrelated park special event. [Larry Johnson, CR, HAFE,
6/22]
01-318 - Amistad NRA (TX) - Border Incidents
Amistad - along with Organ Pipe Cactus, Big Bend, Coronado and other
sites - is dealing with dramatic increases in drug and illegal
immigrant smuggling across the border from Mexico. In order to provide
an accurate picture of the volume of these incidents, they will be
summarized periodically by park under the heading "Border Incidents:"
o April 19th - T.S., the concessions marina manager at
Diablo East Marina, was arrested for importation of 14 grams
of cocaine. He was originally arrested by Customs last year in
connection with a 600-pound load of marijuana and subsequently
became an information. The NPS and Customs conducted several
counter-narcotic operations based on information he supplied,
but no seizures were made. Investigation and a subsequent
confession after this arrest led to the discovery that
T.S. was working for both sides. The 14 grams of cocaine
had been purchased for personal use. He bought it at Marina
Amistad, which is located on the Mexican side of the lake.
o June 17th - Border Patrol agents seized a vehicle containing
468 pounds of processed marijuana and arrested one person. The
seizure occurred on the Pecos access road near the Pecos
ranger station. A ranger and Border Patrol agent employed a
park boat in an effort to apprehend the "mules" who had
carried the load to the waiting vehicle. Although they were
not successful, they found the point where they had crossed
the border, a site that hadn't previously been identified or
documented.
o June 20th/22nd - Border Patrol agents found marijuana plants
growing in the park in a side canyon of the Rio Grande about
50 feet from the river and near a small spring. The plants
appeared to have been tended, but there was no sign of recent
foot traffic in the area.
Over the past three months, rangers and Border Patrol agents have also
apprehended 126 undocumented aliens in the park at various locations.
Interviews confirmed that they and others are being transported by
boat across the lake and up river to a drop-off point. The significant
increase in illegal immigration has caused a corresponding increase in
resource damage, litter and human waste. [D. Van Inwagen, DR, Rio
Grande District, AMIS, 6/28]
01-319 - Organ Pipe Cactus NM (AZ) - Border Incidents
The following incidents occurred in May (plus one in June) at Organ
Pipe. Lukeville port of entry (POE) is on Customs land between the
border and the park. Vehicles leaving the POE immediately enter the
park and travel through it for 23 miles before exiting on the north
side. Incidents occurring there are therefore typically park-related:
o May 1st - A Customs search dog alerted on a vehicle at the
Lukeville POE and officers found almost $310,000 hidden in its
spare tire. The driver denied any knowledge of the money,
which was seized by Customs.
o May 3rd - Border Patrol agents found fresh tracks of a
possible group of undocumented aliens near Ajo. They employed
night vision goggles to track the group, but a member of the
group spotted the agents and all of them fled and evaded
arrest. Agents searched the area and recovered 610 pounds of
marijuana in nine bundles.
o May 5th - Customs seized 12.55 pounds of cocaine and 23.78
pounds of methamphetamine at Lukeville.
o May 7th - Customs seized 688 pounds of marijuana at the POE.
o May 13th - Customs seized over 767 pounds of marijuana in two
cases at the POE.
o May 14th - Border Patrol agents spotted three vehicles
traveling through the desert within the park. Two of them were
stopped, but the occupants were able to escape. Agents found
and seized 52 bundles containing 904 pounds of marijuana. The
third vehicle was able to evade officers.
o May 18th - Border Patrol agents found a bundle with 59 pounds
of marijuana near "The Tailings" east of Ajo. No arrests were
made.
o May 22nd - Customs seized 23.23 pounds of cocaine at
Lukeville.
o May 23rd - Customs seized 77 pounds of cocaine at the POE.
Rangers assisted with security as it was moved to an NPS
helispot and transferred to a Customs helicopter.
o May 27th - Customs seized 95 pounds of marijuana at Lukeville.
o May 30th - Border Patrol helicopter pilots saw what appeared
to be several bundles of marijuana hidden in a wash south of
Gunsight. Seven bundles containing 314 pounds of marijuana
were found and seized.
o June 4th - Border Patrol agents advised the park that two
vehicles that were driving in the desert at milepost 58 on
Highway 85 had failed to yield and were returning to Mexico at
a high rate of speed. A ranger deployed stop sticks at mile
post 76. Two tires on the first vehicle were deflated; the
driver lost control of his vehicle, which traveled 500 feet
down the left right-of-way, crossed the highway and continued
for another 250 feet before rolling twice. Blood was found in
the vehicle, but both occupants were able to flee back to
Mexico. Rangers found 561 pounds of marijuana and turned it
over to the Border Patrol. The second vehicle made it back to
Mexico via a park road and an illegal drive-through.
[Karl Pearson, ORPI, 6/16]
[Additional reports pending....]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Fire Situation - Preparedness Level II
One new large fire was reported in Texas and one large fire was
contained in southern California. Initial attack was moderate in
California and light elsewhere. Very high to extreme fire indices were
reported in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New
Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.
The full NICC situation report for today can be found at
http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf.
National Resource Status (Five Day Trend)
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
Date 6/25 6/26 6/27 6/28 6/29
Crews 164 155 103 83 89
Engines 248 257 183 94 121
Helicopters 55 50 44 33 52
Air Tankers 6 4 1 0 0
Overhead 572 497 534 394 488
Park Fire Situation
Denali NP - The B288 Fire has burned 100 acres near Heron River.
Surveillance aircraft flew the fire on Wednesday and found it about
50% active and creeping.
Yukon-Charley NP - The B284 Fire has burned two acres at Windfall
Mountain.
Park Fire Danger
Extreme Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Very High Lake Mead NRA
High Joshua Tree NP, Dinosaur NM, Rocky Mountain NP,
Carlsbad Caverns NP
[NPS Situation Summary Report, 6/28; Alaska Wildland Fire Situation
Update, 6/28; NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 6/29]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Servicewide Benefits-Sharing EA - An NPS-wide environmental assessment
(EA) under NEPA has begun regarding the environmental impacts of
implementing "benefits-sharing agreements" when scientific research in
national park units leads to discoveries with commercial value.
Usually, benefits-sharing refers to agreements between researchers and
their institutions or companies and the National Park Service that
return benefits to parks when the results of research lead to the
development of commercially valuable applications. Currently, the NPS
facilitates research in the parks, but the parks receive no direct
benefits if an approved research project results in a valuable
discovery. If implemented, benefits-sharing would only apply to
research results from projects permitted under NPS research permit
regulations (36 CFR 1.6 and 2.5). Additional regulations prohibit
harvesting or commercial use of park resources; thus, benefits-sharing
agreements would not permit these activities. Benefits-sharing
agreements are authorized by the National Parks Omnibus Management Act
of 1998 and the Federal Technology Transfer Act. Benefits resulting
from these agreements could include scientific expertise to address
resource management issues, training for park staff, scientific
equipment, and opportunities to receive economic benefits if research
results in commercial success. A benefits-sharing agreement was first
used in Yellowstone National Park in 1997. In April, 2000, a federal
court upheld the use of benefits-sharing in Yellowstone, pending the
completion of an environmental assessment. Led by Mike Soukup, AD for
natural resources, and John Varley, director of Yellowstone NP's
Center for Resources, this EA will apply to all 384 units of the
National Park System. The public scoping period began on June 25th and
comments will be accepted until August 10th. The benefits-sharing EA
team is particularly interested in comments from NPS employees. A
briefing packet will be sent to regional directors, NEPA coordinators,
and natural resource contacts in each region. Additional information
is available online at www.nature.nps.gov/benefitssharing. Please
feel free to contact the EA Team with questions or comments at
BenefitsEA@nps.gov or 307-344-2203 (John Varley, Sue Mills, or Kevin
Schneider). Comments may also be mailed to: NPS Benefits-Sharing
Team, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190. [Kevin
Schneider, WASO]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Ranger Activities Division, WASO (DC) - The vacancy announcement for
the GS-301-12/13 Servicewide special park uses coordinator has been
posted on USA Jobs. It opened on June 25th and closes on July 20th.
[Dennis Burnett, RAD/WASO]
FILM AT 11...
A story about Olympic National Park will air on CNN this Saturday
morning (June 30th). The program is called CNN Travel Now, and it will
air at 6:30 am and 11am EDT (3:30 am and 8am for west coasters). The
program will feature interviews with ranger Jack Hughes and
superintendent David Morris. [Barb Maynes, OLYM]
* * * * *
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)
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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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