NPS Morning Report - Friday, May 24, 2002
- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Friday, May 24, 2002
- Date: Fri, 24 May 2002
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Friday, May 24, 2002
*** NOTICE ****
Flags are to be flown at half staff on Monday, May 27th, from first
raising until noon only. Flags are to be returned to full staff at noon.
INCIDENTS
01-028 - Saguaro NP (AZ) - Follow up on ARPA Case
During a routine check of a seismic sensor on January 21, 2001, rangers
Carin Harvey and Rich Hayes spotted and contacted T.K.J. of
Tucson and his son, who were hiking in an area that is closed to protect
more than 500 rock art images dating to the Hohokam period (AD 700 -
1250). The rangers found a large carpenter hammer, two screwdrivers, and
14.5 pounds of fragmented rock with petroglyph markings during a consent
search of T.K.J.'s pack. T.K.J. subsequently agreed to show rangers the
petroglyphs' original location. The petroglyph panel had a hole that
measured 14 by 15 inches, with an average depth of three inches and
surface damage to petroglyphs nearby. Harvey worked closely with
archeologists from the Western Archeological Center and a private
conservator on a damage assessment, then with the park's court liaison
and U. S. Attorney's Office to reach a plea agreement. T.K.J. pled guilty
on January 30th to one misdemeanor count of violating the Archeological
Resource Protection Act. He received eighteen months' probation and will
pay restitution to the park in the amount of $7,637. Because the
petroglyph is beyond actual repair, this money will be used in part to
fund an educational display in the visitor center on archeological
resources and in part to fund future resource protection efforts. The
court also ordered T.K.J. to make a formal apology to the four southern
tribes in Arizona and to perform 60 hours of community service.
[Patrick W. Hattaway, Acting CR, SAGU, 5/20]
02-160 - Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP (VA) - Follow-up on
ARPA Conviction
On March 3, 2001, P.L.G., Jr., 34, and two companions were
apprehended while relic hunting in a wooded section of the Wilderness
Battlefield by rangers Steve Davis and Craig Johnson. As was noted in
the Morning Report earlier this month, P.L.G. plead guilty on May 8th
to excavation of archeological resources and the unlawful sale of an
archeological resource through interstate commerce, both at the felony
level. The metal detector, GPS unit, and metal detecting equipment
associated with P.L.G. were forfeited. On May 21st, a second defendant,
D.A.S., 39, plead guilty to the excavation of archeological
resources and the unlawful sale through interstate commerce of an
archeological resource taken in violation of state law, both as
misdemeanors. D.A.S. was sentenced to one year of supervised
probation. He is required to pay $1,253 (one-half of the cost of
restoration and repair) in restitution to the NPS and $1,500 (one-half
of the sale price) in restitution to the private landowner. He also
forfeited a metal detector and relic hunting equipment. D.A.S.'s
cooperation and acceptance of responsibility were taken into account. In
return for a recommendation for probation, both P.L.G. and D.A.S. have
already pre-purchased a $5,000 contract with two local newspapers for
advertising a looter prevention message. P.L.G. is scheduled for
sentencing on July 26th. [Mike Greenfield, SPR, FRSP, 5/23]
02-183 - Valley Forge NHP (PA) - Death of Employee
Protection ranger JoAnn Gillette passed away suddenly on Tuesday morning
of natural causes at the age of 42. JoAnn began her career at Cape
Hatteras NS (1983-1989). She then worked at Independence NHP
(1989-1991), Everglades NP (1991-1994), Lake Mead NRA (1994-1997), and
again at Cape Hatteras NS (1997-2002). She began at Valley Forge in
March. JoAnn is survived by two brothers, Wi.G. of Mt. Airy,
Maryland, and Wa.G. of Pensacola, Florida. Funeral
arrangements are pending, but it is likely that she will be buried next
week near the family farm north of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Information
regarding the funeral will be released when it becomes available. For
additional information, contact Doug Germeraad at 610-783-1056. [Doug
Germeraad, ACR, VAFO, 5/23]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Fire Situation
Preparedness Level 2
Initial attack was light nationwide on Thursday. Eight new large fires
were reported; five others were contained. Among the more significant
were the following:
Newly Reported
* West Fork Chena, Alaska Division of Forestry (400 acres, 0%
contained, 27 FF/OH) - Extreme fire weather conditions for this time of
the year are presenting problems. Structures and a watershed are
threatened. The fire is about 50 miles east of Fairbanks.
* Kalskag, Alaska Division of Forestry (3,370 acres, 0% contained, 56
FF/OH) - A shift in wind direction could push the fire back toward the
village of Kalskag, which is about 20 miles west of Aniak.
* Vinesale, Alaska Division of Forestry (3,840 acres, 0% contained,
16 FF) - Sixteen smokejumpers have been assigned to theis fire. Heavy
smoke is drifting into the town of McGrath.
Previously Reported
* Bullock Fire, Coronado NF (9,500 acres, 35% containment, 548 FF/OH)
- Humphrey's Type 1 team will take over from Kvale's Type 2 team at 6
p.m. MST today. The fire is burning in grass, oak and chaparral about 15
miles northeast of Tucson. Drought conditions and upslope winds are
causing extreme fire behavior with rapid rates of spread. Crews are
flanking with direct attack hand lines and burnout operations as the
fire continues to burn to the northwest. Over 700 structures and a ski
area are threatened.
* Borrego Fire, Santa Fe NF (6,000 acres, 0% contained, 423 FF/OH) -
Bateman's Type 1 team has been assigned. The fire is burning in pinion
and ponderosa pine two miles southeast of Cordova, New Mexico. Crowning,
running and spotting up to a mile and a quarter ahead of the fire front
have been observed. The town of Truchas has been evacuated, and
residents of Cordova have been advised that they may have to do so as
well. About 430 structures are threatened.
* Schoonover Fire, Pike-San Isabel NF (4,000 acres, 20% contained,
410 FF/OH) - A Type 1 team (Hart) is managing the fire, which is burning
three miles southwest of Deckers, Colorado, in ponderosa pine, Douglas
fir and grass. The fire has ben backing, torching and making short,
upslope runs. Aircraft are being used to hold the fire on divisions that
are not staffed. Highway 67 has been reopened. The evacuation of Deckers
remains in effect. A total of 13 structures have been lost.
* Bucktail Complex, Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison NF (3,480 acres,
25% containment, 329 FF/OH ) - Sisk's Type 2 team has been assigned to
the three fires in the complex, which is five miles northeast of Nucla.
The fires are burning in ponderosa and pinion pine, juniper, sagebrush
and oakbrush. Crews have spiked out and are constructing direct attack
lines. Problems include inaccessibility, extremely rugged terrain, and
strong and erratic winds.
* Blackjack Bay Complex, Okefenokee NWR (95,741, 0% containment, 131
FF/OH) - A fire use management team (Adams) is operating under a unified
command with Georgia and Florida forestry. Water levels in the swamp
have decreased and fire activity has resumed.
* Tram Fire, Coconino NF (197 acres, 100% contained, 153 FF/OH ) -
The fire has been fully contained.
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, Colorado,
Kansas, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah.
National Resource Commitments
Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
Date 5/17 5/18 5/19 5/20 5/21 5/22 5/23
Crews 41 31 13 14 53 83 128
Engines 124 94 13 23 107 107 200
Helicopters 13 12 5 7 24 25 45
Air Tankers 2 0 2 4 4 1 3
Overhead 379 345 89 82 444 459 690
Type 1 IMT 1 -- -- -- 1 2 3
Type 2 IMT -- -- 1 2 4 3 1
Fire Use IMT 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Fire Warnings and Watches
NICC has issued two FIRE WEATHER WATCHES - the first for minimum RH,
northeast winds and high dispersion indices for Florida, the second for
low RH in northern interior Alaska.
Park Fire Situation
Everglades NP (FL) - The fourth section of the East Everglades Rx burn
was completed on Wednesday. About 40 acres were burned. Planning began
yesterday on the Hole-in-the- Doughnut Rx burn.
Park Fire Danger
Extreme - Grand Canyon NP Very High - Everglades NP High - N/A
[NPS Situation Summary Report, 5/23; NICC Incident Management Situation
Report, 5/24]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Resource Stewardship for Protection Rangers Training Course - During the
week of May 6th, Mount Rainier NP hosted a course entitled "Resource
Stewardship for Protection Rangers" - the second course in a six-part
resource stewardship and protection curriculum currently being developed
in Pacific West Region with guidance from the Epply Institute at the
University of Indiana. The goal of the curriculum is to develop and
strengthen the capabilities of commissioned and interpretive rangers,
resource managers and maintenance employees in an interdisciplinary
effort to better protect NPS resources on both a local and a national
scale. The second course targeted commissioned rangers with 38 LE credit
hours of top-notch instruction and field exercises. Upon completing the
course, participants have a better understanding of the laws and tools
available to commissioned employees as well as an increased
understanding of the importance of protecting park resources. The
course, which is subsidized by Natural Resource Challenge funds slated
for resource protection, drew a diverse group of attendees, including a
Washington state park ranger and NPS rangers from Acadia NP to Channel
Island NP. Participant Jim Rosenstock from National Capital Parks East
had this to say about the course: "Without doubt, it was the best, most
effective training I've had in 20 years! Every ranger should have this
experience." Instructors participating in the training included:
* Ken Johnson, criminal investigator, Shenandoah NP
* William Douglas Back, deputy regional solicitor, Oregon
* Jeri Hall, resource protection branch chief, Yosemite NP
* Paul Brink, wilderness coordinator for BLM in California
* Dick Anderson, environmental specialist, Death Valley NP
* Rick Dawson, manager for the Service's damage assessment program
* Fred York, anthropologist, CCSO
* Mark Butler, physical science specialist, Yosemite NP
* Ken Mabery, NPS representative to the Northwest interagency forest plan team
* Ellen Gage, historical architect, Mt. Rainier NP and Olympic NP
* Kathy Jope, PWR natural resources team leader
* Beth Waldow, resource protection coordinator, Yosemite NP
* Joe Johns, AUSA, California
* Bob Andrews, retired NPS
Jeri Hall of Yosemite NP is the course coordinator and curriculum
manager for the resource stewardship and protection curriculum and can
be contacted for information through email at jeri_hall@nps.gov. [Curt
Sauer, OLYM]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Sitka NHP (AK) - The park is recruiting for a GS-341-11 chief of
administration. The announcement (SITK 02-25) can be found on USA Jobs
and closes on June 7th. The position is open to all current and former
DOI employees with competitive status. The chief of administration is a
key member of the park management team, responsible for directing and
managing all administrative programs. The park is seeking candidates
with the ability to build and maintain relationships within and outside
the park - a team builder and team player - with excellent
communications skills and a broad understanding of federal
administrative laws, regulations, processes, and procedures. Sitka,
Alaska, is a beautiful, historic, coastal community in southeast Alaska
with a population of 8,800, two colleges, and all the necessary
amenities (schools, shops, recreation opportunities, etc.) It's located
on Baranof Island and is served by the Alaska ferry system as well as
daily jet service to Seattle, Anchorage, and other areas. For more
information, call Gary Gauthier or Virginia Hirayama at 907-747-6281.
[Gary D. Gauthier, SITK]
* * * * *
Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the
cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.
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