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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office Day/Date: Wednesday, January 30, 2002 INCIDENTS 02-021 - Buffalo NR (AR) - Rescue On the afternoon of January 27th, N.T. and seven companions went climbing in Skull Pit, which is located near the Kyles Landing road in the park's Upper Buffalo District. N.T. was off-rope at the bottom of the 110-foot vertical pit as a companion was climbing near the top. The companion got her shirt stuck in a descending device; as she and another climber tried to extricate the shirt, they dislodged several rocks. They yelled out "rocks" and those below ran for cover. N.T., who had removed the chin strap from her helmet, lost her helmet in the process and was struck on the top of her head by an eight-inch diameter rock. Rangers were notified of the accident about a half hour later. The pit site is on a steep scree slope with extremely poor footing and shear drop-offs below the pit. It took about 30 minutes for rangers to arrive and assess the situation. The entire park SAR team was activated just before 5 p.m., with most members arriving by 6:15. The team had to utilize numerous ropes and a good deal of equipment to reach N.T.. She was raised to the top of the pit, brought up the next 150-foot section of steep scree slope with a "z" rig, then carried out over moderately steep terrain with the assistance of a low-angle belay. All this was done in the dark on very difficult, damp terrain. N.T. was taken by ambulance to Kyles Landing, then picked up by helicopter and flown to St. Johns Hospital. At the time of the report, she was listed in critical but stable condition with a depressed skull fracture and inter-cranial bleeding. Approximately 76 park employees and volunteers were actively involved in the rescue. [Bill Van Cott, Acting CR, BUFF, 1/29] 02-022 - Olympic NP (WA) - MVA with Fatality; Negligent Manslaughter Arrest C.T., 21, was killed in a single-vehicle accident on the Hurricane Ridge road on January 26th. C.T. was ejected from the soft-top jeep and was pronounced dead at the scene; a subsequent autopsy revealed that she had died as a result of trauma to her neck. Witnesses who had talked to driver A.G., 25, just moments before the crash said that they had watched him drive away and that the jeep had been swerving and slaloming down the road before rolling off the roadway. They believed that he was showing off on the icy roadway. A.G., who refused a blood test, was arrested and arraigned in federal court on charges of negligent manslaughter on January 27th. The FBI will be continuing the investigation, at their request. The park will assist as needed. The county sheriff's office also assisted throughout the park's investigation of the accident. [Tim Simonds, ACR, OLYM, 1/29] 02-023 - Coronado NM (AZ) - Border Incidents Over the five-day period from January 25th to the 29th, rangers ran a special operation focusing on the smuggling of drugs and undocumented aliens through the park. During the operation, a total of 107 aliens were detained and turned over to the Border Patrol; another 33 were seen, but got away. One drug smuggling effort was also observed, which resulted in the capture of four of the ten "mules" and the seizure of 98 pounds of marijuana. [Thane Weigand, CR, CORO, 1/19] PARKS AND PEOPLE WASO Office of International Affairs (DC) - The Department of Interior is seeking specialists in planning and protected area management for a two-three week assessment trip to the Samburu Heartland in Kenya, which encompasses parts of two national parks, a game reserve and extensive ranch and communal lands. The person selected will participate in a scoping exercise to determine the framework for a GMP for the game reserve, isolate key problems and issues, provide guidance and advice on the planning process, and determine further training needs. Candidates must be DOI employees with appropriate backgrounds and previous international experience. DOI will cover all costs associated with the assignment except for base salary. For more information, contact Barbara Pitkin at 202-208-5221. The deadline for applications is February 15th. [Dave Krewson, OIA/WASO] 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/.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 (December 20th): • S. 1894 (Sen. Bob Graham, D-FL), a bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to determine the national significance of the Miami Circle site in Florida and the suitability and feasibility of its inclusion in the national park system as part of Biscayne NP.• H.R. 3630 (Rep. Carrie Meek, D-FL), a bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to determine the national significance of the Miami Circle site in Florida and the suitability and feasibility of its inclusion in the national park system as part of Biscayne NP.HEARINGS/MARK-UPS Thursday, February 7 House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands (Radanovich): Hearing on: • H.R. 2628 (Cramer, AL), a bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area in Alabama.• H.R. 2643 (Wu, OR), a bill to authorize the acquisition of additional lands for inclusion in the Fort Clatsop National Memorial in the State of Oregon, and for other purposes.• H. Res. 261, a resolutions stating that the aquia sandstone quarries on Government Island, Virginia, have historical significance. Witness: Randy Jones, Deputy Director, NPS. The hearing will be at 10 a.m. in 1334 Longworth.Thursday, February 14 House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands (Radanovich): Hearing on: • H.R. 1712 (Faleomavaega, AS), a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to make minor adjustments to the boundary of the National Park of American Samoa to include certain portions of the islands of Ofu and Olosega within the park, and for other purposes. The witness is to be announced. The hearing will be at 2 p.m. in 1334 Longworth.FLOOR ACTION On January 23rd, the house passed H.R. 2234 (Rep. Ed Pastor, D-AZ), a bill that revises the boundary of Tumacacori NHP by adding two separate parcels totaling 310 acres adjacent to the original unit of the park. The Department supports the bill. 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. --- ### --- |