NPS Morning Report - Friday, November 9, 2001


                        
                        NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Friday, November 9, 2001

INCIDENTS

00-216 - Rock Creek Park (DC) - Follow-up: Serious HazMat Spill

On May 18, 2000, the pesticide Prevail, which contains cypermethrin as 
its active ingredient, was released into Rock Creek from an industrial 
area in Silver Spring, Maryland.  The highly toxic pesticide killed 
most fish and invertebrates down an eight-mile stretch of Rock Creek, 
including the five-mile section in Rock Creek Park. A multi-agency 
investigation led by EPA's Criminal Investigation Division followed. 
On November 7th, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Baltimore filed a 
criminal information against Pied Piper Pest Control, owner M.I.R.,
47, and employee C.L.T., 49, for several felony 
and misdemeanor violations of the Clean Water Act (33 USC 1311 and 
1319) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (7 
USC 1361).  The investigation revealed that C.L.T. spilled some of the 
pesticide in the parking lot at the Pied Piper facility and washed it 
into a storm drain that led to Rock Creek. This was not in compliance 
with the labeling instructions for the pesticide; hence  the FIFRA 
charge. The Clean Water Act prohibits discharges of pollutants into 
the waters of the United States without a permit. M.I.R. was charged 
personally because he failed to properly train and supervise C.L.T. 
The firm and individuals face fines up to $500,000 and imprisonment. 
USPP/Ranger Services investigator Jon Crichfield is representing the 
NPS in this case. [Einar Olsen, RCR, NCRO; USAO press release, 11/8]

01-596 - Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/VA) - Poaching Arrests

On October 30th, G.L. and H.L. were apprehended 
with 7,500 galax stems in their possession as they were leaving the 
park. The galax was found during a search of their vehicle.  Both men 
are in the country illegally and carried no form of identification. 
The area of the park in which the violation occurred is near Mt. 
Mitchell, a state park that contains some of the largest populations 
of this plant. Forest Service areas with similar habitat are reporting 
heavy declines in the plant's population. Galax is used exclusively in 
the floral industry. Larry Johnson is the case ranger. [John Garrison, 
Protection Specialist, BLRI, 11/8]

HOMELAND SECURITY

No reports today.

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Situation - Preparedness Level 2

Initial attack was heavy in the South on Wednesday and light 
elsewhere. Two new large fires were reported, one in the East and one 
in the Rockies. Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in 
California, Colorado, Indiana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia.

Park Fire Situation

No new reports.

Fire Management Notes

No reports.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 11/8]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

National Leadership Council News - The sixth edition of the National 
Leadership Council (NLC) Journal is now available. It has been sent to 
all superintendents via e-mail. Supervisors are asked to ensure that 
employees without access are able to view a hard copy of the report. 
This edition should be posted to the web sometime next week. The 
previous five editions can be accessed by scrolling down on the web 
page at www.nps.gov/policy.html. The latest Acrobat Reader program 
should be installed to read the pdf version. If you receive the 
journal attachment via email, open it by clicking on the "pdf" icon 
within the message. [Marcia Keener, Office of Policy, WASO]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Zion NP (UT) - On February 4th, the Olympic torch will pass through 
Zion National Park.  It will be carried by torch-bearers down the 
Pa'Rus trail to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, where there will be a 
short photo opportunity before it moves on. Park visitor use assistant 
George Hadges was nominated and selected to be one of the torch 
bearers along this section. George has been an NPS employee for seven 
years. He started in 1994 as a VUA at Desert View in the Grand Canyon 
and moved to Zion in 2000. George has been managing cerebral palsy his 
entire life and has been on a fitness program to improve his mobility. 
He can regularly be seen walking five to seven miles a day up the road 
to the park. He does a great job for the park and is an inspiration to 
the entire staff at Zion. [Rick DeLappe, Fee Supervisor, ZION]

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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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