NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Thursday, September 16, 2010
INCIDENTS
Grand Canyon NP
Multi-Agency Commercial Vehicle Inspection Conducted
On August 31st and September 1st, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and rangers from the Grand Canyon Fee and Commercial Law Enforcement Unit conducted an unannounced commercial vehicle inspection within the park. This two-day-long, multi-agency operation focused on improving public safety by reducing the potential for accidents and injuries due to unsafe commercial vehicles and drivers on park roadways. A total of 228 commercial vehicles (buses, trucks, vans, and taxis) were inspected during the operation. Arizona DPS officers wrote 336 safety warnings and twelve citations, resulting in 33 vehicles being placed out of service for repair and an additional 25 drivers being placed out of service. Common vehicle violations included brake system malfunctions, steering issues, cracked frames, unsafe loads, tire problems, and electrical system fire hazards. Common driver's violations included suspended drivers licenses, no medical card, log book violations, and exceeding hours of service. A total of 160 commercial use audits were conducted by NPS rangers, resulting in nine citations and eight warnings for violating park fee and commercial use regulations. This yearly operation continues to be a great success due to the dedication of the many different Grand Canyon divisions that lend their staffs to assist in the operation, as well as the excellent working relationship that rangers maintain with the park's neighboring law enforcement agencies. Additional unannounced inspections will continue throughout the year. [Frank DeLuca, Supervisory Park Ranger]
North Cascades NP
Body Of Fallen Climber Recovered
The body of missing climber J.A. was recovered yesterday via helicopter by Snohomish County Sheriff's Office at the request of the National Park Service. The 49-year old mountaineer from the Seattle area began a solo attempt of the 8,500-foot Storm King Mountain on Saturday, August 28th, and was reported overdue two days later. J.A.'s body was located from the air by National Park Service personnel on September 3rd on the steep face of Storm King Mountain at an elevation of 7,700. Due to technical challenges and poor weather, recovery operations were delayed. Search and recovery participants included members of the Stehekin community, Chelan County Mountain Rescue, King County Sheriff's Office, Snohomish County Sheriff's Office, and National Park Service. Photographs of Storm King Mountain, including the approximate location of J.A.'s fall are available at the park's HYPERLINK "http://www.flickr.com/photos/northcascadesnationalpark/sets/ 72157624748751327" Flickr site. [Charles Beall]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS. To see the full text, including images, NPS employees should go to the InsideNPS home page ( HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index). Non-NPS employees can see most of them on the NPS Digest page ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/):
Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania NMP - Last month, twenty-three NPS interpreters, historians, volunteers and partners closed out this year's highly successful series of Civil War interpreters' field trips at Wilderness Battlefield. Initiated, planned, and led by front-line staff, with no special funding, this series provides an opportunity for interpreters to broaden their outlook beyond their home parks.
Lincoln Home NHS - On August 21st, the National Hockey League's championship trophy, the Stanley Cup, was brought to the park by a Chicago Blackhawks' vice president, the curator from the Hockey Hall of Fame, and several team photographers. The Blackhawks are this year's NHL champion. Photo.
US Park Police - Kevin Hay has retired following 26 years of service with the United States Park Police and eight years of additional National Park Service time as a park ranger. Photo.
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Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).
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