NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

BLACKBERRY EDITION

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

INCIDENTS

Rocky Mountain NP

Funeral Held for Jeff Christensen

The funeral for Jeff Christensen was held last Friday at Saint Paul's Church in Ham Lake, Minnesota. More than 1,000 people attended, including eight representatives from Rocky Mountain NP and another 50 to 60 representatives from Midwest Region parks. Mississippi NR&RA staff provided much needed local assistance. The Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association and local police departments also provided outstanding support, with more than 80 officers providing traffic control for the three-mile-long process from the church to Union Cemetery in St. Paul - including shutting down traffic on a busy metropolitan interstate. If you want to assist Jeff's family, an account has been opened at a local bank. Donations should be sent to: Jeff Christensen Family Fund, The Bank of Colorado, PO Box 2560, 533 Big Thompson Avenue, Estes Park, CO 80517. Checks should be made payable to the Jeff Christensen Family Fund. Cards or remembrances may be sent to The Christensen Family c/o Rocky Mountain National Park, 1000 US Highway 36, Estes Park, CO 80517. [Scott Sticha, Public Information Officer]

Mount Rainier NP

Search for Missing Hiker

A search for Z.W., 22, of Meriden, Connecticut, continued into its fourth day Monday with ground and air operations involving more than 20 park staff. Z.W. was reported overdue from a day hike on Thursday, August 11th. The search area extends from the Nisqually Glacier west to the Kautz Glacier and from the parking area at 3,600 feet to 11,400 feet. Searchers discovered boot tracks ascending a rocky ridge to the east of Kautz Glacier to an elevation of 10,000 feet. The tracks match the type of shoe Z.W. was wearing and provide the best lead so far in the search. Searchers have been unable to find any other clues to Z.W.'s course or whereabouts. Z.W. was not equipped for an overnight stay and his exact hiking plans are unknown. Searchers are working in very challenging, steep terrain with many cliffs, waterfalls, and rivers with high water flows. A Hughes 500 helicopter and a Long Ranger are also assisting in the search. Weather conditions have been favorable, with clear skies and warm temperatures. The search was to resume on Tuesday with further ground and aerial reconnaissance, including a search of the summit crater and steam caves. The IC is John Piastuck. [Lee Taylor, Information Officer]

Great Smoky Mountains NP
Rescue Of Seriously Injured Rappeller

At around 2:30 p.m. on the afternoon of July 25th, A.H., 23, was rappelling from a cliff above Rainbow Falls in the Cherokee Orchard area when he fell approximately 30 feet, sustaining serious injuries. A.H. had hiked three miles in to the falls, scrambled to the top, then solo rappelled down the face of the 80-foot-high cliff. He employed a very small (9mm diameter) rope with an anchor and figure eight descending device. Witnesses said that he took very long bounds down the cliff, shock-loading the system, and that he was two-thirds of the way down the cliff when the rope severed and he fell about 30 feet to the boulder field at the bottom of the cliff. Bystanders employed a cell phone to call for assistance. Rangers arrived on scene by 5 p.m. Park medics stabilized A.H. and the rescue team conducted a semi-technical rescue operation to remove him from the boulder field and get him down to the trail surface. He was then evacuated by wheeled litter to an ambulance at the trailhead, transferred to a medical helicopter, and flown to the UT Medical Center in Knoxville. A.H. suffered a fractured femur, fractured vertebra in the lower back, and a fractured wrist. The investigation revealed that the rope was military surplus Kevlar material and that there was a melted/frayed cut where it crossed over a sharp rock edge during A.H.'s rappel. [Rick Brown, District Ranger]

Great Smoky Mountains NP
Interference/Resisting a Government Employee

On July 25th, ranger April Lee responded to a report of "a noncompliant vulgar female” who was refusing to restrain her dog and had improperly parked her motor vehicle at Clingman's Dome parking lot. Lee located the vehicle at the Newfound Gap parking lot, and found the operator - R.O., 42, of Sweetwater, Tennessee - walking around the area. Lee observed that R.O. appeared impaired, as she was having trouble maintaining her balance, her appearance was disheveled, and she had a vacant stare. Lee made several verbal attempts to gain R.O.'s attention and compliance, placing herself in front of R.O.'s path of travel, but R.O. refused to acknowledge or comply with Lee's orders. R.O. stepped up onto a stone wall, which has a drop-off of over 20 feet onto a cement landing, then faced away from Lee and looked down toward the drop-off. Lee ordered R.O. to get down off the wall, and R.O. replied, "Which way?" Fearing that R.O. was contemplating jumping, Lee grabbed R.O. by her clothing and pulled her down from the wall. R.O. began to struggle with Lee, attempting to pull away and telling Lee to leave her alone. Lee had applied a handcuff to one of R.O.'s wrists when R.O. forcibly pulled away, yelled "don't touch me," and turned to face Lee. Lee sprayed one shot of OC pepper spray in R.O.'s face. This distraction allowed Lee to contain R.O., and, with the assistance of a bystander, cuff R.O.'s free hand and make the arrest. Although R.O. was feeling the effects of the pepper spray, she still remained uncooperative, refusing to stand or walk to the fresh water source. R.O. was carried to Lee's vehicle, where decontamination was begun, an EMS assessment conducted, and treatment rendered. Lee sustained no injuries during the incident. R.O. was charged with three 36 CFR violations - interference/resisting a government employee in the performance of official duties, unlawful possession of a controlled substance (marijuana), and dog off leash. Because of a concern for her competency, the judge agreed to a plea agreement allowing R.O. plead to one count of dog off leash, with the other charges dropped. [Lisa Slobodzian, District Ranger]

Indiana Dunes NL

Suicide Attempt, Life Saved

While on patrol of the Mount Baldy parking lot, ranger Anthony Papesh was flagged down by two park visitors who reported a woman needing medical attention. Papesh found a 58-year-old female from Michigan City, Indiana, unconscious in her motor vehicle. After checking for signs of life and calling for a local EMS unit, Papesh noticed a suicide note and a knife on the passenger seat. It appears that she had attempted to committee suicide by consuming a large quantity of alcohol and cutting her wrist. According to her family, the victim suffers from depression and other medical health issues. The patient was stabilized at the scene and transported to St. Anthony's Hospital for further treatment and a mental health evaluation. [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]

Chattahoochee River NRA

Search in Progress for Body of Missing Fisherman

On morning of August 12th, Y.T.N., 45, of Duluth, Georgia, entered the Chattahoochee River from the Gwinnett County Jones Bridge wearing fisherman's waders. He was fishing near Jones Bridge around 8:20 a.m. when his waders filled with water and he was swept away by the current. Y.T.N.'s fishing companion watched him disappear underwater and called 911, initiating a multi-agency response. Park dispatch was notified and rangers responded with a vessel. A unified incident command was established with Gwinnett, Fulton, Forsyth and Dekalb Counties, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and the NPS. The river between Medlock Bridge and Holcomb Bridge was closed in order to protect the scene and provide for the safety of rescuers. A coordinated search of the river was begun that included county dive teams and K-9 units. The dogs alerted to a section of the river, but a search for Y.T.N. in that area was unsuccessful. The search continued over the weekend and was still underway on Monday, but no sign of Y.T.N. has yet been found. Ranger Victor Leyva is serving as the NPS IC and liaison with the Gwinnett County IC. [Scott Pfeninger, Chief Ranger]

Craters of the Moon NM&P

Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident

On August 9th, staff from all park divisions assisted Butte County Sheriff's Office deputies at a single vehicle rollover accident that occurred on Highway 93 five miles west of the entrance and within the park. Those first on scene could not get to the operator and sole occupant because the vehicle ended up on its roof and all the doors were crushed. Moments later, a passing motorist stopped at the accident scene who is a firefighter and sells extrication equipment part time. He made available his demo “Jaws of Life” pneumatic equipment, making it possible to force the doors open and remove the driver. Supervisory fee ranger Dave Durbin, who is also a member of the Arco ambulance team, took the lead in providing medical treatment. CPR was begun and continued until an AED could be attached to monitor for any signs of a treatable pulse. Durbin released control of the medical treatment when the Arco ambulance arrived approximately 20 minutes later. CPR and monitoring continued into Arco, where the driver was pronounced dead at the local hospital. This fatality is the fifth in the past month to have occurred on this stretch of the highway, which runs to the town of Carey 23 miles away. The Butte County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation. [Tammie Henderson, Supervisory Park Ranger]

Natchez Trace Parkway

Suicide From Highway 96 Bridge

On Saturday, August 13th, the Williamson County Sheriff's Department received a report of an abandoned vehicle on the Highway 96 bridge at milepost 438. Responding deputies located a body at the base of the bridge and asked rangers to assist. Their initial investigation has led officials to rule the death a suicide. The body has been identified as that of a 44-year-old Nashville resident and local musician. [Charles Cuvelier, Chief Ranger]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

NIFC remains at PL 3. Initial attack was light yesterday, and only two new large fires were reported.

Individual fire entries for today for the National Park Service can be obtained at HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/fire/news" http://www.nps.gov/fire/news . The full NIFC Incident Management Situation Report for today can be obtained at HYPERLINK "http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf" http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Law Enforcement and Emergency Services

Advisory on Green Ammunition Containing Tungsten

The NPS has issued an advisory alerting parks to complications that may arise from the use of green ammunition containing tungsten at park-owned firing ranges. Tungsten is a hard metallic element that is being used by some green ammunition manufacturers in their bullet projectiles. Recent evidence has shown that the presence of tungsten fragments in lead waste (from lead contaminated soils or bullet traps) makes the recovery of lead more complicated. In fact, some lead recovery operations will not accept lead waste that has been contaminated with tungsten. Since such material cannot be recycled, it must be disposed of as a “hazardous waste” and this could lead to significant firing range cleanup costs. In addition, tungsten reduces soil pH and this can lead to corrosion of lead fragments and increase the mobility of lead in soils. This may cause migration of lead to areas outside of firing range boundaries.

Further guidance will be issued on this subject as more information becomes available. Until then, we are providing a list of green ammunition that contains tungsten as well as a list of green ammunition that can be purchased in lieu of ammunition containing tungsten. Click on “More Information” below for a link to the advisory and the lists.

We recommend that parks utilizing “green ammunition” for practice purposes check their stock to determine whether tungsten is included in the manufacturing process. We also recommend that parks begin purchasing green ammunition without tungsten.

If you have any questions regarding this issue, please contact Tom Smith, EMP contractor, at 202-513-7077, or Fred Sturniolo, EMP environmental protection specialist, at 202-513-7078.

[Dennis Burnett, Law Enforcement Program Administrator]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Nothing today.

JOBS

Nothing today.

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Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

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