NPS Visitor and Resource Protection
The Morning Report
Monday, October 01, 2007


INCIDENTS

Lake Mead National Recreation Area (AZ,NV)
Tour Helicopter Hits Eagle, Makes Forced Landing

A tour helicopter en route to the Grand Canyon made an emergency landing at the Pearce Ferry airstrip on the afternoon of September 27th after being struck by a golden eagle with an eight-foot wing span. The eagle hit and went through the windshield on the passenger side, striking the middle rear passenger, a 64-year-old woman. She sustained some trauma to her face and head and was flown via Mercy Air Ambulance to the UMC trauma center. The pilot and two other passengers were also reportedly injured, but refused medical treatment. The Grapevine Mesa Fire Department coordinated emergency care. Rangers from the Mohave District are investigating. [Submitted by Mary Hinson, Chief Ranger]


Yellowstone National Park (ID,MT,WY)
Woman Dies In Fall To Canyon Floor

A California woman died in a fall off a cliff along the Yellowstone River in the Calcite Springs area on Friday evening. Rangers responding to the scene spotted the woman lying immobile on the canyon floor near the Yellowstone River. A ranger who rappelled down the steep 500-foot embankment to reach her confirmed that she was dead. Rangers remained at the scene overnight and a helicopter flew the body out the next morning. The 32-year-old woman was from the Los Angeles, California, area.  Her name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The park has asked that anyone who has information on the incident call dispatch at 307-344-7381, extension zero. [Submitted by Public Affairs, Yellowstone National Park]


Amistad National Recreation Area (TX)
Body Of Probable Illegal Immigrant Found In Creek

Fishermen found a man's body floating in the water of Cow Creek, a tributary of the Rio Grande River, on September 28th. He was clothed in two pairs of jeans, two shirts and tennis shoes. Two small bags were found nearby containing underwear, socks, empty Gatorade bottles, and toiletries with Mexican labels. These and other indicators point to the strong possibility that the man was attempting to illegally enter the United States from Mexico. Rangers Erich Robb and Regina Klein Dissler assisted the Val Verde County Sheriffs Office and justice of the peace in recovering the body. The investigation continues in an effort to identify the man, who was not identifiable and carried no identification. The sheriff's office is the lead agency in the investigation. [Submitted by Regina Klein Dissler, Supervisory Ranger]


OPERATIONAL NOTES

Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs
Weekly Legislative Activities Report

Floor Action

On September 24th, the House suspended rules and passed the following bills of interest to the National Park Service:

  • H.R. 1389 (Sarbanes) - To establish the Star-Spangled Banner and War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission.  The Department has not taken a position as no hearing was held.
  • H.R. 1520 (Hinchey) - To establish the Champlain Quadricentennial Commemoration Commission, the Hudson-Fulton 400th Commemoration Commission.  The Department has not taken a position as no hearing was held.

Markups

On September 26th, the  House Resources S/C on Parks (Grijalva) reported favorably H.R. 1483 (Regula, R-OH), to amend the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 to extend the authorization for certain national heritage areas. The bill provides an authorization of an additional $5 million (for a total of $15 million) for each of the 9 national heritage areas created by the 1996 Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act, while keeping the same termination date of federal funding.  It creates six new heritage areas — Journey Through Hallowed Ground, Niagara Falls, Muscle Shoals, Freedom's Way, Abraham Lincoln, and Santa Cruz Valley.  Lastly, the bill authorizes a study of a potential Northern Neck National Heritage Area, and makes technical corrections to six existing heritage areas.

New Bills Introduced

The following new bills were recently introduced:

  • H.R. 3667 (Welch, D-VT) - To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of the Missisquoi and Trout Rivers in the State of Vermont for study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
  • S. 2087 (Dorgan, D-ND) — A bill to amend certain laws relating to Native Americans to make technical corrections.
  • S. 2093 (Leahy, D-VT) - To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of the Missisquoi and Trout Rivers in the State of Vermont for study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 
  • S. 2098 (Dorgan, D-ND) - A bill to establish the Northern Plains Heritage Area in the State of North Dakota.
  • H.R. 3704 (Stupak, R-MI) - To decrease the matching funds requirement and authorize additional appropriations for Keweenaw National Historical Park in the State of Michigan.

Hearings

On September 27th, the House Natural Resources S/C on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands (Grijalva) held a hearing on the following bills of interest to the National Park Service.  The DOI witness was Bill Shaddox, Acting Associate Director, Park Planning, Facilities, and Lands:

  • H.R. 830 (Young), to authorize the exchange of certain lands in Denali National Park in the State of Alaska. This bill would authorize the exchange of exclusive use easements between the National Park Service and the Alaska Railroad within Denali National Park.  The Department supports the bill.
  • H.R.  2094 (Moore), A bill to provide for certain administrative and support services for the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission.  The Department has no position on this bill as it involves providing administrative and support services for an established congressional commission by the General Services Administration.
  • H.R. 3111 (Miller, George), to provide for the administration of Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial as a unit of the National Park System.   The legislation would also help ensure long-term protection for the memorial and associated artifacts as well as increased opportunities for education and interpretation.  The Department supports the bill.

On September 27th, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources S/C on National Parks held a hearing on the following bills of interest to the National Park Service. The DOI witness was Dan Wenk, Deputy Director:

  • S. 128 (Allard), to amend the Cache La Poudre River Corridor Act to designate a new management entity, make certain technical and conforming amendments, enhance private property protections.  This bill would correct a number of technical errors, provide a more accurate definition of the national heritage area's boundary, and change the management of the heritage area to a private not-for-profit organization from a federal commission.  The Department does not object to this bill if it is amended to make it similar to other recent national heritage area bills.
  • S. 148 (Lautenberg), to establish the Paterson Great Falls National Park in the State of New Jersey.  The bill raises three main concerns with the Department: Great Falls Historic District does not meet congressionally required criteria for designation as a unit of the National Park System; it includes a resource within the boundary with no relationship to the documented period of historic significance; and there are concerns as to how the unit would be effectively and efficiently managed by the National Park Service.  The Department opposes the bill.
  • S. 189 (Levin), a bill to remove the restriction on land acquisition, to decrease the matching funds requirement and to authorize additional appropriations for Keweenaw National Historical Park in the State of Michigan.  The Department supports enactment of this legislation with one amendment, to strike the language that seeks to increase the ceiling on financial and technical assistance from $3 million to $25 million and to insert language that eliminates this ceiling.  The park has provided financial and technical assistance to owners of historic properties nearly entirely out of park operating funds.  It is expected that such assistance will continue through the use of discretionary park funds rather than specific appropriations for such purposes.
  • S. 697 (Specter), to establish the Steel Industry National Historic Site in the State of Pennsylvania.  The National Park Service has completed a draft Special Resource Study which includes the Battle of Homestead Site, the Carrie Furnace complex and the Hot Metal Bridge — sites that the bill would establish as a unit of the National Park System. The draft study concludes that the sites do not meet the criterion for feasibility as a unit, the Battle of Homestead Landing Site does not have integrity, and that there is no need for direct NPS management of the resources.  The Department opposes enactment of the bill. 
  • S. 867 (Kennedy), to adjust the boundary of Lowell National Historical Park.  The bill would authorize the Secretary to acquire five small tracts of land that are important to the park's operation.  The Department supports enactment of the bill.
  • S. 1039 (Lautenburg), to extend the authorization for the Coastal Heritage Trail in the State of New Jersey.  The Department supports enactment of this bill with two amendments.  The Department recommends amending the bill to authorize the Secretary to use federal funding to complete the strategic plan since the current authorization does not allow funds to be used for this purpose. 
  • S. 1341 (Kyl), to provide for the exchange of certain Bureau of Land Management land in Pima County, Arizona.  This bill would provide for the conveyance of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management in southern Arizona to a private developer in exchange for environmentally significant lands to be included within Saguaro National Park and the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area.  The Department supports the bill with amendments to ensure that the bill is in keeping with our land exchange practices. 
  • S. 1476 (Feinstein), to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resources study of the Tule Lake Segregation Center in Modoc County, California, to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing a unit of the National Park System.  The Department supports the bill with amendments.
  • S. 1709 and H.R. 1239 (Biden and Hastings), to amend the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998 to provide additional staff and oversight of funds to carry out the Act. This legislation would increase the authorization for the Network to Freedom program from $500,000 to $2 million annually, and decrease the authorization for the associated grant program from $2.5 million to $500,000.  The Department supports the bill.
  • S. 1808 (Murkowski), to authorize the exchange of certain land in Denali National Park in the State of Alaska.  The bill would authorize the exchange of exclusive use easements between the National Park Service and the Alaska Railroad within Denali National Park.  The Department supports enactment of the bill. 
  • S. 1969 (Hatch), to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to determine the suitability and feasibility of designating Estate Grange and other sites related to Alexander Hamilton's life on the island of St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands as a unit of the National Park System.  The Department supports enactment of the bill.  However, the Department feels that priority should be given to the 37 previously authorized studies. 

On September 27th, the House Natural Resources S/C on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans (Bordallo) held an oversight hearing on "Aquatic Nuisance Species and Activities of the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force."   

Upcoming Hearings and Markups

On October 2nd, the House Natural Resources S/C on Energy and Mineral Resources (Costa) will hold a hearing on H.R. 2262 (Rahall), to modify the requirements applicable to locatable minerals on public domain lands, consistent with the principles of self-initiation of mining claims, and for other purposes, at 2:00 p.m. The hearing will be in Room 1324, Longworth House Office Building. There's no request for a DOI witness.

On October 18th, the House Resources S/C on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands (Grijalva) will hold a hearing on H.R. 1975 (Maloney), Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act,  at 10:00 am in Room 1334 LHOB. The DOI witness not yet determined.

On October 23rd, the House Resources S/C on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands (Grijalva) will hold a hearing on the following bills of interest to the National Park Service at 10:00 a.m. in Room 1324, Longworth House Office Building:

  • HR 816 (Porter, R-NV) - Orchard Detention Basin Flood Control Act (Sunrise Mt)
  • HR 1311 (Berkley, D-NV) - Nevada Cancer Institute Expansion Act
  • HR 1922 (Mahoney, D-FL) - Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse
  • HR 2246 (Heller, R-NV) - Union Pacific Railroad Conveyances
  • HR 3473 (Bishop, R-UT) - Bountiful, Utah, Land Exchange

On October 30th, the House Resources S/C on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands (Grijalva) will hold a hearing on the following bills of interest to the National Park Service at 10:00 a.m. in Room 1324, Longworth House Office Building:

  • HR 1143 (Christensen, D-VI) - Virgin Islands National Park Lease
  • HR 1286 (Hinchey, D-NY) - Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Historic Trail
  • HR 1415 (Frank, D-MA) - Taunton Wild and Scenic River
  • HR 1545 (Fortuno, R-PR) - Fort San Geronimo Study
  • HR 1836 (Shays, R-CT) - Weir Farm National Historic Site Amendment
  • HR 3022 (Costa, D-CA) - Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park Wilderness
[Submitted by LaTonya R. Ward, Legislative Specialist]


PARKS AND PEOPLE

Big Bend National Park (TX)
GS-0810-12 Park Engineer

Dates: 09/12/2007 - 10/10/2007

Big Bend National Park is recruiting for a park engineer. An announcement has opened on USA Jobs (CK151107CP) and closes on October 10th. This position is located at park headquarters. The person selected will serve as the park's engineer on matters concerning engineering analysis, planning, design, construction, contract administration, maintenance operations, and environmental compliance. She/he will work closely with contactors and with regional, Denver Service Center and Federal Highways Administration staff to complete projects, and frequently serves as the contracting officer's technical representative (COTR). A valid state driver's license is required. Park housing is available on a bid basis. For a copy of the announcement, click on "More Information." For information on the Big Bend Area, view the park website at: http://www.nps.gov/bibe/
[Submitted by Al Mayton, 432 477-1114]  More Information...




United States Park Police
USPP Officers Compete In Equestrian Championships

On September 22nd and 23rd, officers from the United States Park Police Horse Mounted Unit competed at the North American Police Equestrian Championships held at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

The event was hosted by the U.S. Park Police and the Montgomery County and Prince George's County divisions of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police. During the two-day competition, officers from across the United States and Canada competed in uniform, equitation, and obstacle divisions.

Completing in the event were lieutenant Stacey Collins, sergeants Robert Hartnett and David Schlosser, and officers Mariea Clowers, Paul Padberg, Chuck Nail, Janet Kim, Brandi Adamchik, James Leary, Ronald Markland and Thomas LoCascio.

They competed against 105 riders from 29 federal, state, and local police agencies across the country. At the end of the event, Adamchik was awarded third place in the uniform competition. She credits her award to the support and dedication by fellow officers Kim, LoCascio and Leary, who assisted her with preparations. Clowers placed fifth and Hartnett placed seventh in the equitation competition.

USPP deputy chief David Stover was the senior ranking official at the ceremony, and presented the awards at the end of the competition. Retired horse mounted sergeant Robin Heckathorn judged the obstacle portion of the competition, and retired horse mounted sergeants Denis Ayres and John Thrift served as ring stewards. The event could not have occurred without the incredible support from horse mounted officers Pancho Gonzales, Eric Evans, Mary Jane Richardson, SWAT officer Mark Adamchik, dispatcher Jim Kerr and his wife Denise, and Sandy Nail, wife of horse mounted officer Chuck Nail. 

The history of the North American Police Equestrian Championships, formerly known as the Police Equestrian Competition, dates back to1982, when Ralph Pfister, a United States Park Police horse mounted officer, joined with other horse mounted officers to start their own competition. The goal was to create a course that would highlight the skills of mounted police officers and the trust between the rider and the horse.  Every department was invited to attend and compete, regardless of the size of their organization. Officers of various skill levels competed, demonstrating the skill and maneuvers that they utilized while on daily patrol.  The competition afforded the officers a ring and an audience to appreciate the skill required to be a mounted officer.

The first Police Equestrian Competition (PEC) was held at the Prince George's Equestrian Center, located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, in September 1983.  There were over 60 riders, a judge, and camaraderie unlike anything previously experienced between the mounted units.  In 1987, the Fifth Annual PEC was held on the grounds of the Washington Monument on the National Mall.  Over the years the competition has grown; however, the camaraderie remains as strong as ever.

[Submitted by Sergeant Robert Lachance, Public Information Officer]


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Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found at the following web site:

http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type;=Announcements&id;=3363

All reports should be submitted via email to Lane Baker in the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services in the Washington Office and to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with copies to your regional office.