NPS Visitor and Resource Protection
The Morning Report

Monday, December 09, 2002


INCIDENTS


02-619
Biscayne National Park (FL)
Follow-up on Boat Collision with Reef

The 49-foot cabin cruiser Evening Star struck Anniversary Reef in the park last Wednesday and sank minutes later. All three occupants were safely taken aboard another vessel. Lift bags were employed on Thursday and Friday to float the boat off the reef. About 600 gallons of diesel fuel were removed from the vessel in an effort to minimize the possibility of a fuel spill. Park staff are working with contractors, local salvage companies and the responsible parties to remove the boat from the park. Park biologists have begun an assessment to determine resource damage. The park typically has over 200 documented vessel groundings each year, which together pose a serious threat to marine habitat.
[Submitted by David Bremen, PIO]



02-623
War In The Pacific National Historical Park (GU)
Typhoon Pongsona

Operations and preparations have been completed in the preparation for the arrival of Typhoon Pongsona, packing winds of approximately 125 mph with gusts up to 150 mph. At the time of the report (Saturday afternoon, U.S. time), the storm was located approximately 130 miles southeast of Guam and 205 miles southeast of Saipan and headed in a northwesterly direction at approximately 10 mph. The eye of the typhoon was expected to come within two miles of Guam and within 85 miles of Saipan. Heavy rains were falling and the wind was gusting. All operations at War in the Pacific NHP and American Memorial on Saipan will remain suspended until Tuesday. American Memorial's marina, designated as a safe harbor during typhoons, had been shut down and was full of large recreational marine and small commercial boats tied down and waiting for the storm's passage.
[Submitted by Chuck Sayon, Superintendent]



02-624
Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Fatality; Arrest for Rock Throwing

On the afternoon of December 5, park dispatch received several calls reporting a man down with CPR in progress on the Bright Angel Trail. The response was immediate, with rangers Ken Phillips, Hunter Bailey, Ivan Kassovic, and assistant helibase manager Mark Murray on scene three-quarters of a mile down the trail within 14 minutes of the initial call. Rescue personnel attempted resuscitation with advanced cardiac life support measures, but the 68 year old man did not survive. The man and his wife of 47 years had just spent two nights at Phantom Ranch and were hiking out of the canyon when he collapsed. This was the third fatality in six days. Following the recovery operation, incident personnel were hiking up the Bright Angel Trail when they heard loud noises and people yelling "rock." A rock fall of significant magnitude sent rescue personnel running for cover. They feared the worst for each other and for park visitors on the trail. Fortunately, nobody was injured. As the crew neared the rim, two hikers reported seeing a man throwing a large boulder from the trail down into the canyon. Rangers arrested C.H., 40, for disorderly conduct/creating a hazardous condition.
[Submitted by KJ Glover, IC]




OPERATIONAL NOTES


Servicewide Training
Weekly Listing of Current Training Opportunities

This calendar appears every Monday as an addendum to the Morning Report and a separate entry for InsideNPS. It is not meant to be replace the Learning Place; rather it is a quick summary of what's available with links (as available) to relevant Learning Place pages.

Please note:

  • New entries are in bold face.
  • Submissions for other training courses should conform to the style used here.
  • Please include the URL to the web sites where readers can obtain the requisite forms and/or find out additional information about the training course. If a URL is not specifically listed, the announcement can likely be found on the Learning Place, the NPS training page found at http://www.nps.gov/training/announcements/index.doc.
  • Closing dates for applications are underscored.
  • Contact names are listed at the end of each entry with parentheses and are given as email addresses.

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January

January 6 - January 17: Physical Security Training (PSTP-303), FLETC, Glynco, GA. Physical security systems and procedures. Announcement: http://www.nps.gov/training/announcements/PSTP.303.doc. Closes on December 10. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]

January 25 - January 27: NREMT-B Level EMT Refresher, Joshua Tree NP, CA. The refresher will meet the requirements for NREMT re-registration. The class will be limited to 25 people. Fax a one page nomination form to Kathy Krisko at 760-367-5546. Include an email address for future correspondence. [Kathy_Krisko@nps.gov]

January 27 - February 7: Seized Computer and Evidence Recovery Specialist (SCERS-301), FLETC, Glynco, GA. Training on how computer data is created, stored, modified and manipulated and on accessing and extracting evidence from computers. Closes on December 17. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]

January 27 - February 7: Technical Investigative Equipment Training (TIETP-303), FLETC, Glynco, GA. Installation, operation and maintenance of surveillance equipment. Announcement: http://www.nps.gov/training/announcements/TIETP.303.doc. Closes on December 17. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]


January 27 - January 30: Basic Peer Support Training, Phoenix, AZ. Peer supporters are interested in helping fellow employees deal with "normal reactions to abnormal events" Peer supporters are not considered counselors but listeners. Closes on December 13. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]

February

February 11 - February 14. Occupational Safety and Health for NPS Supervisors (OSHA-600), Pensacola, FL. This course is designed to train supervisors to recognize hazardous conditions and unsafe behaviors. Methods on eliminating accidents and maintaining a healthier workforce will also be identified. Closes on January 8. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]


February 18 - February 21: Instructor Techniques for Non-Lethal Training Ammunition, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Must be experienced firearms instructor, actively engaged in firearms training, and in good physical condition. Announcement: http://www.nps.gov/training/announcements/ITNTA.303.doc. Closes on January 8. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]

February 24 - February 28. National Wilfire Investigation Training (XP-NWITP-301), city TBA, Kentucky. Topics include determining fire causes and origins, processing crime scenes, arson laws, and investigative techniques. Closes on January 17. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]

March

March 3 - March 14. Criminal Investigations In An Automated Environment (CIAETP-303), FLETC, Glynco, GA. Training in skills needed for successful computer-related investigations. Closes on January 22. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]

March 3 - March 7: National Wildfire Investigation Training (NWITP-301), FLETC, Glynco, GA. Topics include determining fire causes and origins, processing crime scenes, arson laws, and investigative techniques. Closes on January 15. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]

March 3 - March 7: GIS Technical Specialists Training, Atlanta, GA. Training on use of geographic information systems. For more information, contact Don Washco at 602-906-5535. The announcement is at http://inside.nps.gov/documents/ACF49.pdf. [Don_Washco@tc.blm.gov]

March 17 - March 28: Physical Security Training (PSTP-304), FLETC, Glynco, GA. Physical security systems and procedures. Announcement: http://www.nps.gov/training/announcements/PSTP.304.doc. Closes on January 28. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]

April

April 7 - April 11: GIS Technical Specialists Training, Sacramento, CA. Training on use of geographic information systems. For more information, contact Don Washco at 602-906-5535. The announcement is at http://inside.nps.gov/documents/ACF49.pdf. [Don_Washco@tc.blm.gov]

May

May 5 - May 9: GIS Technical Specialists Training, Salt Lake City, UT. Training on use of geographic information systems. For more information, contact Don Washco at 602-906-5535. The announcement is at http://inside.nps.gov/documents/ACF49.pdf. [Don_Washco@tc.blm.gov]




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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.