|
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Wednesday, April 4, 2012 INCIDENTS Joshua Tree NP Investigation Into HazMat Incident Continues Additional information has been received on the HYPERLINK "http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=6086" hazmat incident that occurred in the park last month. Park headquarters was closed on the afternoon of March 21st in response to an apparent hazardous materials incident. A number of National Park Service administrative workers reported symptoms of skin irritation, respiratory distress, nausea, and eye irritation after working in the park's mailroom. The building was evacuated and local hazmat teams were called to the scene. A hazmat team from San Bernardino County examined the park's mailroom the day after the original incident, declared the headquarters building free of any contaminants, and cleared the building, including the mailroom, for use by park staff. Employees were allowed to telecommute on Thursday while the building was being examined, and they returned to work in the headquarters building on Friday. Although one employee had a temporary physical reaction to the contaminant connected to their exposure, no one was “sickened” or “overcome,” as was reported in the media. A total of eleven park staff underwent decontamination procedures as a precaution. The contaminant has not been determined. The matter has been referred to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is looking into the incident in cooperation with the park. The investigation is ongoing. The park arranged to have a stress debriefing counselor work with park staff after the incident. [Joe Zarki, Public Information Officer] Kennesaw Mountain NBP Suspicious Package Found On Park Trail On April 3rd, a park visitor found a suspicious package containing finely granulated black powder on the park trail near the top of Kennesaw Mountain. He brought the object to visitor center staff, who then isolated it and called 911 for assistance. Emergency personnel responded and examined the object. They determined that it was not an incendiary device and that it didn't have any suspicious components. The device, possibly a weight for an exercise weight vest, was turned over to the Cobb bomb squad for testing and destruction. [Anthony Winegar, Chief Ranger] 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/): Office of Policy - The Arrowhead Store will soon carry a specially-designed NPS flag for purchase by parks, employees and alumni. The flag will be offered in a swallowtail design inspired by the “guidon” that was carried by the 6th Cavalry during its mission to protect Yellowstone in the late nineteenth century. Office of Policy - Several important Servicewide policy documents have been issued recently or are available for review and comment. Fire and Aviation Management - Retired career NPS ranger and wildland firefighter Doug Erskine passed away on March 21st. * * * * The Morning Report is a publication of the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, produced with the support of the Office of the Assistant Director for Information Resources and the Office of the Chief Information Officer. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov). --- ### --- |