Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Labor Day Weekend Operation Nets Numerous Drunk Drivers
Over the Labor Day weekend, the Foothills Law Enforcement Coalition Against Impaired Driving conducted a campaign to combat drivers operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Sixty-five people were arrested and charged with DUI by the 13 participating agencies; six of those arrests were made by rangers within the park. Rangers also issued 162 traffic citations, including 16 for possession of controlled substances. During the 18-day special operation, area law enforcement agencies conducted a series of saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints throughout the Smoky Mountain region. This coordinated effort was part of the statewide Labor Day “Booze It and Lose It” campaign coordinated by the Governor's Highway Safety Office, with funding support from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In addition to the DUI arrests, more than 88 felony arrests were made, 25 fugitives captured, and nearly 2100 tickets issued by coalition officers for offenses that included reckless driving, seatbelt violations, and possession of a controlled substance.
[Submitted by ana Soehn, Management Assistant]
Valley Forge National Historical Park (PA)
Park Staff Assist In Retrieving Sunken Jeep
A man who came to the park's Betzwood boat ramp on September 19th to put his canoe into the river neglected to shift his 2010 Jeep Wrangler Sport into park before getting out of it. Shortly thereafter, the Jeep rolled down the ramp and into the Schuylkill River with his canoe attached to the roof. Recent rains had created a strong current, which immediately swept the vehicle downstream about 250 feet. When it came to a stop, the tip of the canoe was the only part visible above the water. A local tow company was notified; due to the depth of the water and length of the tow, they brought in a company specializing in vehicle water recovery. The removal operation lasted approximately five hours, but the vehicle was eventually recovered without further incident. Law enforcement rangers provided assistance on land and in the water. The operator of the Jeep, a CBS traffic anchor, explained his misfortune the following day on the air.
[Submitted by Gregg Tinkham, Chief Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
NIFC/NPS Fire and Aviation Management
National Fire/Incident Situation Highlights
National Fire Activity — Preparedness Level 3
NIFC is at PL 3. Nineteen uncontained large fires are burning nationwide, nine fewer than on Friday. Seven incident management teams are committed, down from 14 on Friday.
Fire Weather Forecast
Warm and dry conditions will continue across the West. A cold front will push into the northern Plains, bringing cooler but dry conditions. Mild temperatures will continue over the remainder of the eastern U.S., with scattered showers and thunderstorms spreading through the Southeast and rain moving through the far Northeast.
To see a NOAA map of today's critical fire weather areas, click on this link: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/fire_wx/fwdy1.html
Fire Summary (Five Day Trend)
|
Day |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
Fri |
Mon |
|
Date |
9/25 |
9/26 |
9/27 |
9/28 |
10/1 |
|
Initial Attack Fires |
85 |
84 |
74 |
48 |
74 |
|
New Large Fires |
0 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
|
Large Fires Contained |
3 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
|
Uncontained Large Fires |
33 |
30 |
30 |
28 |
19 |
National Resource Commitments (Five Day Trend)
|
Day |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
Fri |
Mon |
|
Date |
9/25 |
9/26 |
9/27 |
9/28 |
10/1 |
|
Area Command Teams |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
NIMO Teams |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Type 1 Teams |
8 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
3 |
|
Type 2 Teams |
10 |
8 |
7 |
8 |
4 |
NPS Fire Summaries
No updates on National Park Service fires have been received since yesterday.
For additional information on all fires, check the following National Park Service and NIFC web sites:
NIFC
- Summary of current fires — http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.pdf
- Detailed reports on major fires — http://www.inciweb.org/
- Fire news and fire year in perspective — http://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/nfn.htm
- Map of fire locations — http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/lg_fire2.php
NPS
- Details on current NPS fires — http://www.nps.gov/fire/wildland-fire/fires.cfm
- InsideNPS Fire and Aviation — http://inside.nps.gov/fire
- InsideNPS Structural Fire — http://inside.nps.gov/fire/structuralfire
- NPS Fire and Aviation - http://www.nps.gov/fire
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs
Weekly Legislative Activities Report
The Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs puts out weekly reports on hearings, new legislation and other activities on the Hill. This report covers the week ending September 28th.
Note: The House and Senate are in recess until November 13th.
In order to obtain the full text of any of the bills that appear below, click on the following link: http://thomas.loc.gov/ . That will take you to Thomas, the Library of Congress legislative tracking system. Enter the bill number in the “Search Bill Text” block, being sure to also click on the “Bill Number” option below the block.
*****************
New Public Laws
Nothing to report.
Floor Action
On September 22nd, the Senate passed by unanimous consent H.R. 2240 (Tsongas, D-MA-5), to authorize the exchange of land or interest in land between Lowell National Historical Park and the city of Lowell in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and for other purposes. The Department supports the land exchange authority but has concerns about the provision for the disposition of funds in the case of an unequal land exchange. Senate passage clears the bill for the President.
On September 22nd, the Senate passed with an amendment, by unanimous consent, H.R. 2606 (Grimm, R-NY-13), to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to allow the construction and operation of natural gas pipeline facilities in the Gateway National Recreation Area, and for other purposes. The bill would allow for a pipeline right-of-way and adaptive reuse of two historic aircraft hangar buildings on Floyd Bennett Field to house facilities needed for operation of the pipeline. The Department supports the bill.
On September 22nd, the Senate passed by a vote of 62-30 H.J. Res. 117 (Rogers, R-KY-5), making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2013, and for other purposes. The resolution provides funding for federal agencies through March 27, 2013. Senate passage clears the bill for the President.
Committee Activity
Nothing to report.
New Bills Introduced
The following bills of interest to the NPS were introduced:
- H.R. 6503 (Bilbray, R-CA-50), to promote the development of renewable energy on certain Federal land, and for other purposes.
- S. 3623 (Reed, D-RI), a bill to extend the authorizations of appropriations for certain national heritage areas, and for other purposes.
Upcoming Committee Activity
Nothing to report.
*****************
For additional information, please visit the Legislative and Congressional Affairs Office website at http://www.nps.gov/legal/
[Submitted by Susan Martin]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Flagstaff Area National Monuments
GS-0303-6/7 Supervisory Visitor Use Assistant
The Flagstaff Area National Monuments are seeking applicants for a GS-6/7 supervisory visitor use assistant position.
Click on the link below for a copy of the announcement with full details on duties and procedures for applying.
It closes on October 10th.
More Information...
Law Enforcement, Security, and Emergency Services
Operation Guardian Member Meritoriously Promoted
Lance Corporal Jeffrey Cole was meritoriously promoted to corporal in a ceremony at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, on Monday, September 17th. He is currently assigned to the Emergency Services Branch of the Law Enforcement, Security, and Emergency Services Division and is a detailee with the National Park Service's partnership in the Operation Guardian program.
Operation Guardian is a program, linked to the Department of Defense Operation Warfighter initiative, to positively impact the lives of wounded, ill, injured, or separated service members, laying the groundwork for a smooth transition to employment and creating a career pathway within the National Park Service.
Operation Guardian also plays a key role in the service member's physical and psychological rehabilitation and recovery by providing the tools, opportunities, and support necessary to prove that the member is still capable and worthy of meaningful work.
Jeffrey, who received an award for heroism due to actions in Afghanistan in 2010, has been working with LES&ES since August 2012. His role has been the operations chief for Operation Guardian, where he assists both the Operation Guardian program manager and national coordinator in the discovery and placement of veterans across the National Park Service.
For further questions, contact Ranger Andrew Goodrich at 202-513-7128 or Ranger Joe Matthews at 202-513-7052.
[Submitted by Joe Matthews, Operation Guardian National Coordinator]
NPS serious incident submission standards can be found at the following web site:
http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custompages.cfm?prg=45&id;=8728&lv;=2&pgid;=3504
All reports should now be submitted via this automated system.