NPS Morning Report - Wednesday, February 13, 2002



                           NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                              MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, February 13, 2002

INCIDENTS

00-661 - Arches NP (UT) - Follow-up: Resource Violations

On the morning of September 19, 2000, visitors reported that fires had been
set in the area immediately around Delicate Arch. Investigating rangers
found that four fires had apparently been lit on the previous night, one of
which was still smoldering. Three of the fires, set on bare rock and sand
directly underneath and beside Delicate Arch, caused scorching and
discoloration of the red sandstone. Efforts by local park staff to restore
the fire scars were unsuccessful, in part because of the presence of an
oily or waxy substance that stained and penetrated into the rock surface
beneath each of the scars. An intensive investigation led to the
identification of M.F., 36, of Springdale, Utah, as the man who
had set the fires. On October 19,2001, M.F. was charged in federal court
with several violations of federal law in connection with these fires and
others set at Canyonlands NP. Restoration efforts were largely successful.
Two of the three fire scars are no longer visible, and the worst of the
three fire scars - the one directly beneath the arch - looks much better
than before, though still visible. On December 7, 2001, M.F. pled guilty
to seven misdemeanor charges for injuring/defacing mineral resources in a
national park, setting an unauthorized fire in a national park,
lighting/using a fire that damaged or burned park resources, leaving a fire
unextinguished on public lands, and aiding and abetting. As a part of the
plea agreement, M.F. agreed to "personally make full restitution to the
National Park Service (Arches NP and Canyonlands NP) for the offenses
charged." The park subsequently recently received a cashier's check in the
amount of $10,922.90. On February 1st, M.F. was sentenced to two years'
probation, during which time he will not be allowed to enter Canyonlands or
Arches National Parks. He will also be serving 150 hours of community
service. [Karen McKinlay-Jones, ARCH, 2/12]

02-036 - New River Gorge NR (WV) - Probable Suicide

A West Virginia highway courtesy patrol employee found a rental vehicle
parked on the New River Gorge Bridge around 4:30 a.m. on February 11th.
Personal items left in the vehicle and a set of vehicle keys found near the
bridge railing indicated a possible suicide. Park rangers and Fayette
County Sheriff's Office deputies were notified. A check of the vehicle
rental records revealed that a 37-year-old man from Troy, Michigan, had
rented the vehicle on February 8th in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Rangers,
deputy sheriffs, and local rescue personnel searched the New River Gorge
below the bridge, where they found a body that resembled the man's physical
description. The body was retrieved and transferred to the state medical
examiner for positive identification. An interview with a family member
indicated that the victim had recently been terminated from his job with a
trucking company and was believed to be en route back to Michigan. No
suicide note was found; the investigation is continuing. [Gary Hartley, CR,
NERI, 2/11]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Valley Forge NHP (PA) - The park is advertising for a GS-13 facility
manager. Valley Forge is a 3,400-acre park of rolling hills, meadows, a
dozen 18th century historic buildings, and a modern infrastructure that
supports 85 employees and almost two million visitors per year. It is
located in the suburbs approximately 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
The park is just beginning a GMP, and has entered into a major
public-private partnership that offers the promise of transforming the park
into a world-class educational attraction with a diversity of recreational
opportunities in a historic setting. The maintenance program has
approximately 25 FTE and a budget of $1.6 million. Housing may be
available. This is a great time to come to Valley Forge for a person who
interested in contributing to the park's future.  For more info, contact
deputy superintendent Bob Krumenaker at 610-783-1098. [Bob Krumenaker,
VAFO]

Assateague Island NS (MD/VA) - The park has issued an announcement for a
GS-025-9 protection ranger, open to all qualified persons. This is an
opportunity for a seasonal who has worked at the GS-7 level for a year and
is interested in becoming a permanent employee. The park is located on the
coast of Maryland and Virginia, about 130 miles southeast of Washington,
D.C> The person selected will perform the full range of enforcement
functions and will operate 4WD vehicles, powerboats and ATV's. The
announcement numbers is PHRP-2-132798SO and closes on February 22nd. It can
be found on USA Jobs. [Karen Burns, ASIS]

                               *  *  *  *  *

Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation
and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

                                --- ### ---