NPS Morning Report - Tuesday, September 25, 2001



                        NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, September 25, 2001

                          *** NOTICES ***

By direction of the Department of Interior and the National Park 
Service and in accord with protocol recommended by the International 
Association of Chiefs of Police, employees will continue wearing 
mourning bands on badges through Sunday, September 30th. This advisory 
also applies to other mourning ribbons and devices worn on uniforms or 
civilian clothes.

Questions have arisen regarding the proper display of the United 
States flag. A useful web site, complete with legal citations, 
protocols, and illustrations, can be found at 
http://www.legion.org/americanism/flagtoc.htm.

INCIDENTS

01-509 - Servicewide - Follow-up: Terrorist Attacks

The National Park Service continues to provide support to its parks 
and employees, gather information on the status of field areas for 
DOI, and deal with security issues throughout the country, including 
the brokering of numerous requests for operational support. The 
Service's Type 1 incident management team (Skip Brooks, IC) continues 
its operations from the South Interior Building; a regional Type 2 
team from Southeast Region (Bob Panko, IC) is overseeing the NPS 
expanded dispatch operation at Shenandoah NP. 

Members of the team are in the processing of making individual calls 
to every park in the nation to establish a comprehensive list of 
qualified people (i.e., LE commissions, EMS certifications, etc.) and 
equipment (i.e., front-loaders, backhoes, etc.) that can be utilized 
in emergencies if needed. About 75 calls have been made so far; more 
will follow this week. 

The phone number for the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) listed in 
Director Mainella's message to all employees was for Federal 
Occupational Health (1-800-222-0364), one of several health care 
providers that offer counseling services to NPS employees. Employees 
should contact their human resources specialist for an alternative EAP 
provider if they are not served by Federal Occupational Health. Links 
to helpful information on all aspects of the aftermath of the 
terrorist attacks can be found at www.foh.dhhs.gov.

[EICC/Type 2 IMT, SHEN, 9/24; NPS Type 1 IMT, WASO, 9/25; Marcia 
Keener, WASO, 9/24]

01-523 - Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP (VA) - ARPA/Drug          
         Sentencing

On April 8th, rangers received a visitor report of a man relic hunting 
in the Chancellorsville Battlefield unit of the park. H.T., 
34, was contacted as he was driving away from the area; he admitted 
that he was trying to learn how to use a metal detector that he had 
just received for his birthday, but denied doing any digging in the 
park. The metal detector was found in his vehicle, but rangers 
couldn't find any obvious digging tools or any artifacts. The only 
item found that could have been used for digging was a throwing 
hatchet, but it was perfectly clean. Also found in the vehicle were 
marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Rangers searched the area without 
finding any dig holes. Ranger Lyne Shackelford contacted the visitors 
who made the complaint on their cell phone. They were from out of 
state and traveling but agreed to meet with Shackelford on April 10th. 
Both visitors were able to identify H.T. from a photo lineup as the 
person they saw using a metal detector. The visitors also showed 
Shackelford the specific area where they saw him using the detector. 
Dig holes were found at that location. H.T. was charged by criminal 
information with ARPA and drug possession.  On September 18th, H.T. 
accepted a plea agreement. He was sentenced to one year of supervised 
probation that includes substance abuse counseling.  He has paid 
$1,553.60 to the park in restitution, which was the cost for repair 
and restoration determined by the archeological damage assessment. He 
was also fined $500 and forfeited his detector and hatchet.  [Mike 
Greenfield, SPR, FRSP, 9/19]

01-524 - Natchez Trace Parkway (MS/AL/TN) - Apparent Suicide

On the evening of September 21st, Leipers Fork ranger Mark Cyr checked 
a vehicle parked near the Highway 96 bridge and found a note 
prominently displayed inside it that prompted Cyr to investigate the 
area around and underneath the 155-foot-high bridge. He quickly 
discovered the body of a 42-year-old man from Nashville, Tennessee, on 
the ground beneath the bridge. There was a suicide note in a sealed 
baggie inside his clothing. This was the third suicide from the bridge 
in the past year. A woman was successfully talked down from her 
threatened suicidal perch on the bridge's railing on July 12th 
following a two-hour-long negotiation. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 
9/24]

                   [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Situation - Preparedness Level 2

Three national Type 1 teams continue to support FEMA operations in 
Washington and New York. No changes from previous status reports 
appear in today's NICC summary.

Initial attack was moderate to heavy in northern California yesterday 
and light elsewhere. Three new large fires were reported in southern 
California and two others were contained in the Northwest. 

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, 
California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Texas, 
Washington and Wyoming.

NICC has issued a host of warnings and watches for today. RED FLAG 
WARNINGS have been posted for isolated dry thunderstorms and strong 
gusty winds for Idaho zones 102 and 103; for strong winds, low minimum 
relative humidity and possible dry lightning for extreme southeast 
Oregon; and for the same conditions for all of southwest Idaho. FIRE 
WEATHER WATCHES have been posted for strong gusty winds and possible 
isolated dry thunderstorms for Montana zones 103 through 112, 114, 116 
and 118; for possible dry lightning for northeast Washington; for 
increasing winds, low minimum relative humidity and isolated dry 
thunderstorms for western Utah; and for strong, gusty winds for the 
Upper Snake River plains in Idaho.

Park Fire Situation

Glacier NP (MT) - NICC has not reported any new developments on the 
Moose fire, which has burned 69,890 acres and remains 45% contained.

Fire Management

The accident investigation team examining the death of four U.S. 
Forest Service firefighters on July 10th in the Okanogan National 
Forest will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. Pacific daylight time 
(1:00 p.m. EDT) on Wednesday, September 26th, in Yakima, Washington. 
The team will release its findings regarding the Thirty-Mile Fire 
accident. The press conference will be broadcast via satellite from 
the Yakima Convention Center at 10 North Eighth Street. The satellite 
coordinates are as follows: Ku-Band GE3 satellite, transponder 18, and 
C-Band Telsat E1 satellite, transponder C14. Questions regarding the 
broadcast may be directed to Ron DeHart at 425-744-3573 or 
206-499-9769. For viewers in WASO, DOI's Office of Telecommunications 
will carry the broadcast on Channel 6 at 1:00 p.m.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 9/25; Rick Lewis, NPS 
Communications, 9/24]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Gateway NRA (NY/NJ) - The Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway NRA has 
opportunities for lateral transfer, detail, and seasonal law 
enforcement positions to fill staffing shortages. Housing is 
available. The length of a seasonal hire or detail is negotiable. 
Interested commissioned rangers should contact chief ranger Tadgh 
McNamee at 732-872-5918 or via cc:Mail. [Russ Wilson, GATE/SHU]

Fire Management Program Center (ID) - The National Park Service is 
recruiting for a replacement representative on the Interagency Aerial 
Ignition Working Group (IAIWG).  The previous NPS representative has 
taken a new job with another agency.  This work group is primarily 
responsible for revising the existing interagency aerial ignition 
guide. A background in helitorch and plastic sphere dispenser (PSD) 
operations in either prescribed or wildland fire is highly desirable. 
Time commitments include one or two meetings every two years, 
conference calls, and reviewing draft information for compatibility 
with NPS operations.  Funding for travel and per diem will be covered 
by FMPC. If you're interested, contact Gary Johnson at 208-387-5182 or 
via email at gary_r_johnson@nps.gov. [Gary Johnson, FMPC]

Saguaro NP (AZ) - REVISED - NEW CLOSING DATE: The park currently has 
an opening for a GS-025-7/9 backcountry ranger.  The vacancy opened on 
USA Jobs on August 29th and closes on October 3rd. The person in this 
position serves as a commissioned law enforcement ranger responsible 
for visitor and resource protection in the Rincon Mountain District 
(East) and has primary responsibility for the care and management of 
58,000 acres of wilderness. He/she will spend extensive time hiking 
and on horseback patrols in arduous conditions and must be available 
for regular backcountry overnight travel in which the ranger camps in 
backcountry settings. He/she also conducts horse patrols from November 
through May, assists in managing the use and care of park stock, and 
participates in wildland and prescribed fire activities, emergency 
medical services, search and rescue, and the NPS physical fitness 
program. The job may also require oversight of volunteers, seasonal 
employees, or SCA assistants to complete backcountry projects.  For 
more information on this position, please contact district ranger Bob 
Lineback at 520-733-5111 or chief ranger Paula Nasiatka at 
520-733-5110.

Lincoln Home NHS (IL) - The park has dual career opportunities 
available. The park is currently advertising for a permanent 
GS-2210-9/11 information technology specialist.  Announcements are 
open through both merit promotion and open competitive procedures and 
close on September 26th.  Vacancy announcements for three other 
permanent positions will open soon. These positions will be announced 
through both merit promotion and open competitive procedures. The park 
anticipates filling one LE and two interpretive ranger  positions as 
soon as possible.  Look for more information on USA Jobs or call 
personnel assistant Violet Hampton at 217-492-4241 ext. 226. 
Additional information about Lincoln Home NHS can be found on the 
park's website (http://www.nps.gov/liho) and information about the 
Springfield area can be found at http://www.springfield.il.us/. 
[Barbara Fearon, LIHO]

Golden Spike NHS (UT) - The park currently has an opening for a 
GS-025-5/7/9 protection ranger. The vacancy announcement is listed on 
USA Jobs as IMDE-01-67.  The closing date has been extended to 
September 27th. This position requires a commission, is 6c covered, 
and is subject-to-furlough. This is a great opportunity for the person 
who enjoys diversity and being involved in a variety of duties.  In 
addition to protection duties, the ranger hired for this position will 
also be involved with wildland fire management and prescribed burn 
operations, formal and informal interpretation, fee collection, 
natural and cultural resources management, special event planning and 
coordination, monitoring special park uses and filming permits, and 
EMS. Golden Spike is a 2,735-acre historic site that receives an 
average 48,000 visitors per year.  Housing and most amenities are 
available in the nearby communities of Brigham City (population 
15,600) and Tremonton (population 4,300), both about 30 miles from the 
park.  The Ogden/Layton area, 21 miles from Brigham City, has a 
combined population of over 200,000 and a full range of amenities.  
For more information, contact chief ranger Rick Wilson at 435-471-2209 
ext.19. [Rick Wilson, GOSP] 

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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