02-523
Cape Krusenstern National Monument (AK)
Barge Grounds on Cape Krusenstern
A fierce autumn storm accompanied by 60 knot winds and rough seas
struck northwest Alaska late on the night of Monday, October 7. The
Kivalina, a 274-foot Foss Maritime barge, broke away from its tug
during heavy seas of between 18 and 20 feet and grounded on to the
gravel beach of Cape Krusenstern on Tuesday morning. On board the empty
ore barge from Red Dog Mine Operations are 22,000 gallons of diesel
fuel, 700 gallons of miscellaneous lubricants and two 988 loaders. The
barge remains hard aground on the northwest coast of Cape Krusenstern in
the NHL archeological district near Rabbit Creek in an area of low-lying
salt-water marshes that is an important waterfowl nesting and
subsistence area. Thus far, there is no sheen on the water, nor any sign
of spilled fuel. The Coast Guard is taking the lead in coordinating the
response in conjunction with the NPS, Alaska Department of Environmental
Conservation and Foss Marine. Fuel in the barge is being transferred to
portable bladders in the cargo hold, and three tugboats are standing by
offshore to attempt to free the barge. Helicopters will be used for
support in hooking up hawsers to the stranded barge. At the time of the
report yesterday afternoon, the storm was diminishing, the barge
appeared to be holding up well, and recovery efforts were
underway.
[Submitted by Maureen Nolan, Acting Chief
Ranger]
02-524
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (AZ)
September Border Incidents
While protecting park resources and providing homeland security
during the month of September, Organ Pipe and detailed rangers were
involved in ten high-speed pursuits (see below for one of them),
recovered seven stolen vehicles, impounded 14 more vehicles, conducted
eight drug interdiction overflights, responded to five EMS incidents
(one with three fatalities), detained 58 undocumented aliens, recovered
two bodies, arrested seven people on drug possession charges (one of
whom was wandering in the desert with cocaine and $6,400 in hundred
dollar bills in his possession), seized 670 pounds of marijuana, and
delivered one baby girl. One of the pursuits proved particularly
hair-raising. On September 28, Tohono O'Odham PD officers attempted to
stop a full-size Dodge truck for speeding on Route 86. The driver failed
to stop and a pursuit followed with speeds up to 100 mph. Upon entering
the community of Why, the truck left the road and rolled over, landing
on its wheels. It sustained heavy damage to its front end and lost its
windshield, but was not disabled. The pursuit continued south into the
park at a high rate of speed. Rangers joined the chase. Border Patrol
agents spiked the truck's tires at the park's northern boundary, and it
stopped after continuing for another three miles. The driver, an illegal
immigrant, was taken into custody and turned over to the county
sheriff's office. The truck had been stolen in Tucson.
[Submitted by Chief Rangers Office]
02-525
North Cascades National Park (WA)
Rescue from Mount Shuksan
On September 28, rangers were notified that a pair of climbers had
made a radio call to any listening party, stating that they were
stranded on the Northwest Arete route on Mount Shuksan. The call was
made on a commercial CB handheld radio. The late hour and an incoming
storm precluded any rescue response for two days, but rangers, deputies
and Bellingham Mountain Rescue volunteers were able to maintain radio
contact with the man and woman, who were bivouacked with only minimal
food and gear on a ledge at the mountain's 7,300-foot level. During a
break in the weather on September 29, rangers flew to the area, located
the pair, and extracted them from the mountain. When interviewed, M.C.
and L.R., both 24 and from Abbotsford, British
Columbia, said that they had primarily rock climbing backgrounds, and
acknowledged that they were in over their heads on this mixed
mountaineering route.
[Submitted by Kelly Bush, District
Ranger, Wilderness District]
02-526
Amistad National Recreation Area (TX)
Drug Seizure
On September 28, two campers found eleven suspicious, tape-wrapped
bundles at an unoccupied campsite in the San Pedro campground and
reported their find to park rangers. The bundles contained 218 pounds of
processed marijuana with an estimated value of almost $175,000. The
marijuana was found during a combined agency narcotics interdiction
operation; involved were the NPS, Border Patrol, Customs, and Texas DPS
Narcotics Division.
[Submitted by Bruce Malloy, Chief
Ranger]
02-527
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine (MD)
Special Event: Presidential Visit
President Bush arrived at the park by helicopter on October 2 to
attend a function in downtown Baltimore. He was greeted by
superintendent Laura Joss, given a brief introduction to the park, and
shook hands with park staff. A total of five helicopters landed on park
grounds adjacent to the historic Star Fort. Park staff assisted Secret
Service, White House staff and the Marine Corps helicopter support staff
in planning for the visit. The motorcade was supported by over 50
Baltimore police officers and firefighters. There were no incidents.
[Submitted by Charles Strickfaden, Chief Ranger/Incident
Commander]
02-528
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site (SD)
Special Event: Transfer Ceremony
The Air Force and NPS publicly marked the transfer of two national
register eligible properties - the Delta One launch control facility and
Delta Nine launch facility (missile silo) - to the National Park Service
in a ceremony on Friday, September 27. The hour-long ceremony featured
Assistant Secretary Craig Manson (who once worked at the Minuteman
launch facility), Director Mainella, and high-level representatives from
the Air Force. Media coverage included a live broadcast from the
underground capsule on the Today show.
[Submitted by
Marianne Mills, Acting Site Manager]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Office of Policy
Information Sought on Part 6 Waste Disposal Issues
Several parks have raised the issue of amending Part 6 regulations regarding solid waste disposal. Some units with particularly remote employee housing or inholdings have a need to collect or receive solid waste, since the NPS is the only agency able to provide trash collection for those residences. There are at least a few areas with such situations - North Cascades NP at Stehekin, Kalaupapa NHP in Hawaii, and possibly a few parks in Alaska. Part 6 currently prohibits receiving solid waste, and its necessary to determine whether a change to Part 6 is in order or if special regulations should instead be developed for specific parks. If you need an exemption from Part 6, please send a note to Kym Hall in WASO Regulations, including a brief description of the area, the issue and the park name.
[Submitted by Kym Hall, Regulations Manager]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Yosemite National Park (CA)
GS-025-11 Emergency Services Coordinator
The park is seeking a qualified person to serve as an emergency services coordinator for SAR and EMS. The GS-025-11 positions is permanent full-time and is covered by 6c. The person selected will manage a complex SAR/EMS program that averages nearly 200 search and rescue operations and over 600 EMS incidents annually. She/he should be prepared to make decisions that develop, change and significantly improve the park's SAR and EMS programs. He/she will have wide latitude in managing all programs within this arena and will need to be team-oriented and progressive. The merit promotion announcement (UOSE-02-64-MPP) has been posted and will be open for 14 days. For additional information, contact Cameron Sholly, assistant chief ranger for operations, at 209-372-0520.
[Submitted by Dan Horner]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.