The Morning Report for Friday, May 09, 2008

INCIDENTS

Yosemite National Park (CA)
School Bus Collision Causes Minor To Moderate Injuries

Two school busses headed toward Yosemite Valley from the Yellow Middle School in Newman, California, collided yesterday in a rear end collision. The accident occurred at about 10:55 a.m. about a mile north of the Big Oak Flat/El Portal Road intersection along the Big Oak Flat Road. There were a total of 40 children on the two busses. Early reports indicate that the injuries were minor to moderate. Children were taken by ambulance to the John C. Fremont Hospital in Mariposa, California. The cause of the collision is under investigation. [Submitted by Adrienne Freeman, Public Affairs Officer]

Pinnacles National Monument (CA)
Rangers Respond To Two Motorcycle Crashes, One Fatal

Over the weekend of May 3rd and 4th, Pinnacles staff dealt with several incidents, including a wildfire and two motorcycle accidents resulting in one fatality. On Saturday, May 3rd, supervisory ranger Dana Sullivan responded to a wildland fire at the Pinnacles campground. California Department of Forestry firefighters assisted with suppressing the fire, which burned about a quarter acre. The fire was evidently caused by a 13-year-old boy playing with matches. Later that day, Sullivan and rangers Brett Hergert and Sara Bartels responded to a motorcycle accident along Highway 25 and assisted the California Highway Patrol with managing the scene and providing EMS to an adult male who'd lost control of his Harley Davidson motorcycle and hit a speed limit sign. The rider had to be evacuated by air ambulance to the local trauma center. On Sunday, May 4th, while investigating the previous day's wildland fire, the three rangers responded to an agency request for assistance for another motorcycle accident on Highway 25 adjacent to the park. A man lost control of his motorcycle, went off the road, and crashed. Sullivan and Hergert were first on scene and provided EMS care to an extremely combative patient suffering from an apparent head trauma. The rider was flown out to the local trauma center, where he expired the following day. [Submitted by Albert Faria, Chief Ranger]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

NIFC/NPS Fire and Aviation Management
National Fire/Incident Situation Highlights

National Fire Activity — Preparedness Level 2

Fire activity remains centered in New Mexico, Arizona, Texas and Florida. There are no NPS fires today on the National Incident Management Situation Report.

Dry conditions and strong winds will develop over the Sierras, southern Great Basin, Southwest and extreme southern Colorado today as a storm system approaches.

Fire Summary (Five Day Trend)

Date	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri
Day	5/5	5/6	5/7	5/8	5/9
Initial Attack Fires	43	224	128	144	152
New Large Fires	1	1	3	3	5
Large Fires Contained	1	1	2	1	3
Uncontained Large Fires	7	7	8	10	11

National Resource Commitments (Five Day Trend)

Date	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri
Day	5/5	5/6	5/7	5/8	5/9
Area Command Teams	0	0	0	0	0
NIMO Teams	0	0	0	0	0
Type 1 Teams	2	2	2	2	1
Type 2 Teams	1	1	1	1	1
FUM Teams	0	0	0	0	0

NPS Fire News

No updates on National Park Service fires have been received since yesterday. br>

For additional information on all fires, check the following web sites:

Archived fire news — http://www.nps.gov/fire/public/pub_firenews.cfm?archive=true
Map of fire locations — http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/lg_fire2.php
Details on all current major fires — http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf
Fire news and fire year in perspective - http://www.nifc.gov/fire_info/nfn.htm
InsideNPS Fire and Aviation - http://inside.nps.gov/fire
InsideNPS Structural Fire - http://inside.nps.gov/waso/waso.cfm?prg=358&lv=3
NPS Fire and Aviation - http://www.nps.gov/fire

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Servicewide
Upcoming Training Calendar

Please submit information on upcoming training courses to Bill Halainen. New listings and revisions are in bold face.

Through May 16

2009 Albright-Wirth Grant Program. The Albright-Wirth Grant Program is a developmental program that awards grants to NPS employees (individuals and groups of three or more, including U.S. Park Police) to advance career goals. Supervisory approval is required. Applicants can use their imaginations to make career-enhancing dreams a reality. For Fiscal Year 2008, the program has awarded grants to NPS employees to do many things, including:

Learning a new trade
Writing a book
Mentoring someone
Creating diversity programs
Expanding partnerships
Changing career paths
Learning a language
Building websites
Going on a detail
Conducting research at another park
Developing leadership skills

The application deadline has been extended to May 16th. The Albright-Wirth grant application form is accessible at http://mylearning.nps.gov/awgrant . You are limited to 2000 characters per question, or one single-spaced 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper. Funding can be used through FY 2009. If you need technical help, send an email to nps_helplms@nps.gov . General questions should be directed to Albright-Wirth grant administrator Lonnie Lowe (lonnie_lowe@nps.gov, 202-354-1487).

Through June 6

The Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center is offering three e-learning courses on the Internet through Virginia Tech's Institute of Distance and Distributed Learning — the first is "The 1964 Wilderness Act," the second is "The 1964 Wilderness Act/Minimum Requirements Decisions," and the third is entitled "Wilderness Stewardship Planning Framework." These courses are free for NPS employees. Registration is open through June 6th. The Wilderness Act course is for students needing a working understanding of the act only. Upon completion of this module, students will be able to recognize how the act applies to wilderness stewardship issues on the ground. This module is self-paced and takes about 1.5 hours to complete. The 1964 Wilderness Act/Minimum Requirements Decisions course is specifically designed for natural resource management professionals. This 3.5-hour, self-paced course consists of two comprehensive modules — the 1964 Wilderness Act module and the Minimum Requirements Decisions module. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to successfully apply the Minimum Requirements Decision Process to wilderness stewardship issues. The Wilderness Stewardship Planning Framework course is for wilderness management professionals. This five-hour, self-paced course consists of eight modules taught by two highly-qualified instructors. Fully-narrated multimedia instruction uses sight and sound to present thought-provoking concepts, relevant and practical advice, and engaging examples. Each module helps students use what they've learned to generate customized work products for use on the job. To enroll visit http://www.iddl.vt.edu./vto/carhart. For more information, contact Tim Devine, National Wilderness Training Program Manager at 406-243-4612 or via email tim_devine@nps.gov.

May 12 — May 16

Annual Law Enforcement Refresher, Interior, SD. Sponsored by Badlands National Park. For details, contact Stan Buchanan (office: 605-433-5234, fax: 605-433-5239, email: Stan_Buchanan@nps.gov) or Mark Gorman (office: 605-433-5230, email: Mark_Gorman@nps.gov).

May 13 — May 15

Facility Manager Training, Atlantic City, NJ. This hands-on training has been designed to address the critical changes coming with asset management and project requests. It is specifically designed for facility managers and reporting staff. For superintendents wishing to attend, the first day would be the most valuable session. For full details, click on http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=1570

May 14

Concession Program Monthly Chat: LSI Tracking. 3 p.m. EST. An hour-long workshop is held each month on a concession topic. The call-in number is 888-282-9115, and the pass code is 9999. Questions or suggestions on these sessions should be directed to either Wendy Berhman (303-987-6913) or Jacque Lavelle (303-969-2782. For additional info, go to http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=1499

May 19

Active Threat Training Program, Upper Delaware S&RR, Beach Lake, PA. This regionwide course offering is designed to meet the mandatory annual training requirements of DO/RM-9. Commissioned rangers will be provided an in-service continuing education opportunity that will present basic tactics drills and NLTA practical exercises needed for the safe and successful performance of law enforcement duties in an active shooter situation. No tuition. For more information, contact ranger Larry Neal (570-729-7862, Larry_Neal@nps.gov) or ranger Joe Hinkes (570-426-2436) no later than May 16th.

June 2 — June 8

Equipment Operator Safety Course, Yellowstone NP, WY. This course examines the risks of operating heavy equipment and steps required to minimize them. To register, log on to DOI Learn (https://doilearn.doi.gov/). Click on the Course Catalog tab, then Search Catalog for "mnt7" (without the quotation marks). Click on the course title, then scroll down to the class you are interested in, enter zero for required fields, select agency pays and click Apply. For more information, contact Steve Hastings at 301-663-8206 x134 or Dorothy Printup at 301-663-8206 x101.

June 3 — June 5

Operational Leadership Facilitator Training, Salt Lake City, UT. The NPS Safety Leadership Council has identified operational leadership as a program that can transform the safety culture of the Service into a unifying leadership practice. It is not a new safety program, but rather a new approach to how we work that brings about safer operations. Employees using operational leadership learn to increase individual and team effectiveness to reduce the probability of human error in operations as well as learning to identify and manage risks in all aspects of park operations. These facilitator classes will build the capacity to spread these important principles throughout the NPS. In particular, organizers are seeking employees from all levels of all NPS disciplines who:

are experienced and credible within their disciplines
are comfortable facilitating/instructing small teams of employees
can apply operational leadership at their park this year
can be made available to instruct a 16 hour operational leadership course at another park if requested (benefitting park's expense).

Intermountain Region is sponsoring this training course. Nominations are due no later than May 15th; participants will be notified electronically by May 16th or beforehand as the class fills. Nominations may be faxed to IMR (303-969-2037) or sent electronically to Kayellen_Daily@nps.gov. For further information about the class, please contact branch chief Billy Shott at 303-969-2652 or Stephanie Dubois, acting superintendent of Glacier National Park, at 406-888-7905. For a nomination form, click on http://classicinside.nps.gov/documents/Nomination%20form1.doc

June 10 — June 19

Introduction to NPS Operations: Fundamentals II, Grand Canyon, AZ. NPS Fundamentals is a five-part course of study that provides new and experienced NPS employees foundational learning of NPS universal competencies and includes web-based distance learning, on-campus study, and field exercises. The course elaborates on the history, mission, and operations of the NPS and covers leadership, teamwork, communications, and interpersonal skills. In a recent memorandum, NPS Director Mary Bomar urged each supervisor "to make Fundamentals a priority for all of their new permanent employees." Don't wait as space is limited and classes fill fast. This training is fully funded by Servicewide Training and Development (no travel or tuition expenses to your benefiting account). To learn more and find registration information, visit http://www.nps.gov/training/fund/index.htm . For more info, contact Mark Harner at (928) 638-7983 or Mark_Harner@nps.gov .

June 11

Concession Program Monthly Chat: Periodic Inspections. 3 p.m. EST. An hour-long workshop is held each month on a concession topic. The call-in number is 888-282-9115, and the pass code is 9999. Questions or suggestions on these sessions should be directed to either Wendy Berhman (303-987-6913) or Jacque Lavelle (303-969-2782. For additional info, go to http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=1499

June 16 — June 20

NPS Housing Management Training, Atlanta, GA. This training will provide National Park Service employees who are responsible for employee housing with a better understanding and working knowledge of the program. Specific topics will include roles and responsibilities, QMIS inventory requirements, required and non-required occupancy, safety and health issues, needs assessments, total cost of ownership, condition assessments (FMSS/FCAS), housing management plans, PMIS projects, and tenant issues. The application deadline is June 9th. Nominations should be submitted via DOI Learn. The class identifier is NPS-2008-0616-Atlanta-Housing Mgmt. For more info, contact Jeri Mihalic at 406-531-3534.

June 25 — June 27

GPS to GIS — Pathfinder Systems, Anchorage, AK. The class will provide a comprehensive suite of theory, techniques, and hands-on learning for use with GPS equipment/software and building a solid GIS. The class will focus on the field and office workflow using Trimble GPS equipment to generate data for use in an ArcGIS 9.2 environment. For full details, go to http://www.nps.gov/gis/gps/training.html

July 7 — July 11

Integrated Pest Management Principles, Horace M. Albright Training Center, Grand Canyon, AZ. This 36-hour course addresses the principles and techniques of integrated pest management (IPM). Using the 11-step IPM process, participants learn the basics of IPM process through a combination of instructor presentations, demonstrations, hands-on exercises, and field sessions. Apply in DOI Learn at https://doilearn.doi.gov. Select Course Catalog > Catalog. In the Search box, type NRS5020 or Integrated Pest Management Principles. Click on the class title and follow the instructions you see at the bottom of the page. Supervisory approval is required. Last day to register is June 6th. For a copy of the announcement, see http://www.nps.gov/training/nrs/Integrated_Pest_Mgmnt_Principles.doc . Please contact Carol DiSalvo for additional information (202-513-7183).

July 9

Concession Program Monthly Chat: CFIP's. 3 p.m. EST. An hour-long workshop is held each month on a concession topic. The call-in number is 888-282-9115, and the pass code is 9999. Questions or suggestions on these sessions should be directed to either Wendy Berhman (303-987-6913) or Jacque Lavelle (303-969-2782. For additional info, go to http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=1499

July 15 — July 24

July 15 — July 24

Export Firearms Instructor Training Program (XP-FITP-804), Fresno, CA. Closes on May 23rd. For details, click on http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custommenu.cfm?v=37PRG=574&ID=4024.

July 22 — July 25

Park Planning Course, National Conservation Training Center, Shepherdstown, WV. The course, led by NPS planners with extensive planning, public involvement and environmental compliance experience, will explore in greater depth and intensity the key planning concepts introduced in the web-based training modules on DOI Learn and the importance of a logical and trackable decision process. For full details, go to the following site: http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6393

July 29 — August 7

August 4 — August 8

Fundamentals of Special Park Uses, DOI Learning Center, Albuquerque, NM. A 36-hour course that provides comprehensive guidance on all aspects of special park uses. Topics include authorities for special park uses; the permitting process, compliance issues, special events, filming, use of parks for First Amendment activities, rights-of-way for public utilities, telecommunications, and cost recovery. The course texts will be DO-53 and RM-53. This course is designed to provide personnel at all levels responsible for approval and implementation of special park uses with the understanding necessary to determine if a request is appropriate, to manage the activity of use and to recover the costs of the activity from the permittee. The course code on DOI Learn is NPS-VRP-3021. Closes on July 3rd.

August 4 — August 8

Equipment Operator Safety Course, Denali NP, AK. This course examines the risks of operating heavy equipment and steps required to minimize them. To register, log on to DOI Learn (https://doilearn.doi.gov/). Click on the Course Catalog tab, then Search Catalog for "mnt7" (without the quotation marks). Click on the course title, then scroll down to the class you are interested in, enter zero for required fields, select agency pays and click Apply. For more information, contact Steve Hastings at 301-663-8206 x134 or Dorothy Printup at 301-663-8206 x101.

August 4 — August 8

NPS Housing Management Training, Albuquerque, NM. This training will provide National Park Service employees who are responsible for employee housing with a better understanding and working knowledge of the program. Specific topics will include roles and responsibilities, QMIS inventory requirements, required and non-required occupancy, safety and health issues, needs assessments, total cost of ownership, condition assessments (FMSS/FCAS), housing management plans, PMIS projects, and tenant issues. The application deadline is July 28th. Nominations should be submitted via DOI Learn. The class identifier is NPS-2008-0808-Albuquerque-Housing Mgmt. For more info, contact Jeri Mihalic at 406-531-3534.

August 13

Concession Program Monthly Chat: Concession Case Studies. 3 p.m. EST. An hour-long workshop is held each month on a concession topic. The call-in number is 888-282-9115, and the pass code is 9999. Questions or suggestions on these sessions should be directed to either Wendy Berhman (303-987-6913) or Jacque Lavelle (303-969-2782. For additional info, go to http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=1499

August 25 — August 29

Equipment Operator Safety Course, Rocky Mountain NP, CO. This course examines the risks of operating heavy equipment and steps required to minimize them. To register, log on to DOI Learn (https://doilearn.doi.gov/). Click on the Course Catalog tab, then Search Catalog for "mnt7" (without the quotation marks). Click on the course title, then scroll down to the class you are interested in, enter zero for required fields, select agency pays and click Apply. For more information, contact Steve Hastings at 301-663-8206 x134 or Dorothy Printup at 301-663-8206 x101.

September 8 — September 12

Interdisciplinary Resource Protection and Law, Albright Training Center, Grand Canyon, AZ. This course provides employees with a solid understanding of the resource mission of the NPS and the primary laws, legal authorities, case law interpretation, and policies used to protect park resources. This course, formerly titled "Resource Stewardship for Protection Rangers," is the second course in the resource stewardship and protection curriculum developed with support from the Natural Resource Challenge. For a description of the curriculum and full course announcement go t http://www.nps.gov/training/nrs/nrshome.htm. Interested participants need to apply in DOI Learn (https://doilearn.doi.gov); to locate class, in search box type "Resource Protection". For further information, contact Jeri Hall, Horace Albright Training Center at 928-638-7927 or Sue Benson at 928-638-7982.

September 8 — September 11

Retrofitting for Accessibility, Gatlinburg, TN. The course will cover the application of accessibility standards, barrier removal, safety issues associated with accessibility, and ongoing facility maintenance to assure optimum access for visitors including those with disabilities. For details, click on http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=1535

September 9 — September 12

Park Planning Course, National Conservation Training Center, Hawaii Volcanoes NP, HI. The course, led by NPS planners with extensive planning, public involvement and environmental compliance experience, will explore in greater depth and intensity the key planning concepts introduced in the web-based training modules on DOI Learn and the importance of a logical and trackable decision process. For full details, go to the following site: http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6393

September 10

Concession Program Monthly Chat: CUA's. 3 p.m. EST. An hour-long workshop is held each month on a concession topic. The call-in number is 888-282-9115, and the pass code is 9999. Questions or suggestions on these sessions should be directed to either Wendy Berhman (303-987-6913) or Jacque Lavelle (303-969-2782. For additional info, go to http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=1499

September 16 — September 18

NPS Structural Firefighter Live Fire Recertification Course, Glen Canyon NRA, AZ. This 24-hour, live fire based course satisfies the refresher requirements for NPS structural firefighters as outlined in Section 14 of Reference Manual 58, NPS Structural Fire Management. The course is designed to refresh previously certified NPS structural firefighting personnel with varied live fire scenarios with special emphasis on engine company response. NPS live fire qualified instructors direct the training in compliance with NFPA 1403 and OSHA requirements. The closing date is August 15th. For further information, contact the Mark Gorman at 605-433-5230 or check the website at http://inside.nps.gov/waso/training.cfm?lv=3&prg=358.

September 16 — September 18

Interview and Interrogation, Mammoth Cave National Park, Mammoth Cave, KY. The objective of this course, taught by staff of the Multijurisdictional Counterdrug Task Force Program, is to familiarize both new and seasoned investigators with the various disciplines of "detecting deception." This unique course offers investigators insight as to what a person is actually saying, and, most importantly, what they are not saying. There is no tuition for the course. Travel, lodging, and per diem will be paid by benefiting account. The closing date for applications is September 9th. For more information, contact supervisory park ranger Brad McDougal at 270-758-2121 (brad_mcdougal@nps.gov) or ranger Brian Sacia at 270-758-2118 (brian_sacia@nps.gov).

November 3 — November 7

Equipment Operator Safety Course, Big Cypress NP, FL. This course examines the risks of operating heavy equipment and steps required to minimize them. To register, log on to DOI Learn (https://doilearn.doi.gov/). Click on the Course Catalog tab, then Search Catalog for "mnt7" (without the quotation marks). Click on the course title, then scroll down to the class you are interested in, enter zero for required fields, select agency pays and click Apply. For more information, contact Steve Hastings at 301-663-8206 x134 or Dorothy Printup at 301-663-8206 x101.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Blue Ridge Parkway
Ranger Jon Murphy To Retire At Month's End

District Ranger Jon Murphy has announced his retirement from the Service, effective May 31st.

Jon began a professional life of service in the United States Army as a platoon sergeant and squad leader. While completing tours in Vietnam and Germany, he was assigned to airborne, infantry and pathfinder units.

He began his career with the National Park Service in 1987 in the Great Smoky Mountains and has worked at Glacier Bay, Natchez Trace, Wrangell—St. Elias and Blue Ridge Parkway.

Jon served in many positions at the park, including fire control aid, fee collector, wildlife technician, forestry technician, park ranger, telecommunications center supervisor, pilot, supervisory park ranger and district ranger. He was a member of both the Alaska and Southeast Region special event teams and is the lead tracker on the Blue Ridge Parkway tactical tracking team. He was instrumental in tracking and recovering vital evidence in the murder investigation of ranger Joe Kolodski.

Jon is respected as an outstanding ranger and leader and is widely recognized by peers in other agencies and members of the communities in which he has lived. Jon was this year's Southeast Region Harry Yount nominee.

A retirement dinner is tentatively scheduled for June 21st at the Blue Ridge Music Center on the Parkway near Fancy Gap, Virginia.
[Submitted by John Garrison, Chief Ranger]

Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Rangers Participate In Special Olympics Torch Run

At 6 a.m. on Thursday, May 1st, a team of Grand Canyon rangers completed their leg of the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Arizona Special Olympics. Rangers and volunteers ran six-and-a-half miles from Mather Point to Tusayan, where a local McDonalds donated refreshments and breakfast to runners. A former Special Olympian and park resident, Bill Barber, also participated.

This annual event traverses Arizona and kicks off the state's Special Olympic games, which are held at various venues. The mission of the Arizona Law Enforcement Torch Run is to raise funds for and awareness of Special Olympics statewide. To further the Special Olympics philosophy, law enforcement officers carry a torch that represents the "Flame of Hope."

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics was started in 1981 and was quickly adopted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police as a means of raising awareness and funds for the Special Olympics. If you would like to learn more about the Arizona Special Olympics or Arizona Law Enforcement Torch Run, please go to www.specialolympicsarizona.org or www.arizonatorchrun.com.
[Submitted by Steve Mazur, Bike Patrol Coordinator]

Maggie L Walker National Historic Site (VA)
GS-0025-7/9 Lead Interpretive Ranger

Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site, located in Richmond, Virginia, is recruiting applicants interested in a full-time, permanent position as a GS-9 lead park ranger in the unit's Division of Interpretation. The person in this position will report to a GS-12 supervisory interpretive ranger and will work alongside other park permanent interpretive staff. Primary duties are to serve as liaison between the supervisor and field staff and to monitor daily operations at this visitor site and the recurring interpretive programs offered by seasonal staff and volunteers. The interpretive program includes staffing of the MAWA visitor center, the presentation of formal programs on the park's historic resources, Junior Ranger activities, and informal and roving visitor contact assignments. Hours are normally 9 to 5, but occasional evening work will be required. Weekend work is required on an as needed basis.

The job announcement is listed under merit promotion, COLO-08-116. It closes on May 23rd. For a copy, click on the link below.
[Submitted by Patty Tremblay] More Information...

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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.