Eastern Areas
Incident Teams Prepare For Recovery Operations
Hurricane Sandy has affected parks in all three regions along the East Coast. In order to provide assistance and support to these areas, the Eastern Incident Management Team staged in Hagerstown, Maryland, on Monday evening, and is now preparing to move to the New York Harbor area, possibly after the New York marathon this Sunday. The Midwest Incident Management Team has joined them and will also be heading to New York.
Over 100 NPS employees have so far been committed to this response. As of Wednesday morning, 30 team members were at the ICP in Hagerstown. Another 45 were en route, including the Southeast Region's special events team, a saw team from Sequoia-Kings Canyon, three CISM teams, 23 FMSS specialists, the Park Police helicopter "Eagle II" with flight crew, and one air operations manager. Another 20 people had been deployed in the affected area to begin gathering information and start work where possible. They were located at Fire Island, Gateway, and Morristown and included members of the Cumberland Gap and Northeast Region saw teams and the employee assistance team leader.
The USPP New York Field Office has delegated authority to the Eastern IMT and provided a liaison to the team's command staff. A Park Police branch director has also been assigned to the general staff under the operations section chief.
The team will begin work once delegations of authority are in hand from affected areas and assessments have been completed in order to determine needed resources. IC Zeph Cunningham closed the Wednesday evening organizational meeting by emphasizing that the team's top goal is employee assistance.
Parks included in the delegation and currently closed are the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island, Gateway, Governors Island, African Burial Ground, the six units of Manhattan Sites, Sagamore Hill, Fire Island, Morristown, and Thomas Edison.
[Submitted by Linda Friar, Incident Information Officer]
Cape Lookout National Seashore (NC)
Ranger Bitten By Unrestrained Dog
Ranger Jesse Kanuch approached a visitor concerning his unrestrained dog while patrolling the North Core Banks on October 16th. The visitor complied and Kanuch continued his patrol. Later, Kanuch approached this same visitor concerning another matter and again encountered the dog off leash. The dog snarled at and bit Kanuch on the arm, leaving a puncture wound, but Kanuch was able to fend the dog off and get the visitor to again put it on a leash. Rangers Joseph Lamm, Lance Herman, and Daniel Williams responded to assist Kanuch. He was transported to Carteret General Hospital, where he received treatment, and was later released. With help from maintenance worker Ricky Daniel, Carteret County Animal Control was transported to North Core Banks and assisted Williams and Herman. The dog was taken by animal control and quarantined for ten days. The visitor was issued citations for a mandatory court appearance.
[Submitted by Joseph Lamm, Park Ranger]
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (IN)
Hikers Come Upon Suicide Victim
Two hikers coming out of the restrooms at the Calumet Dune Interpretive Center on the afternoon of October 25th heard a "pop" from the parking lot. As they drove out of the lot, they passed a car with a man leaning back in the driver's seat, covered in blood. Responding ranger identified him as a 58-year-old resident of Chesterton, Indiana. Clutched in his hand was a .44 caliber handgun. It appeared that the man died from a single gunshot wound to the right temple. He left a diary in the passenger armrest of the car and had placed his driver's license in the seam of the glove compartment door for easy retrieval. Rangers Bill Tadych and Kyle Hudick, along with a chaplain from the sheriff's office, notified the surviving wife and two teenage daughters. Entries in the diary, which were confirmed by the family, revealed long-standing and very emotional work-related issues. The Porter County coroner has ruled the death a suicide.
[Submitted by Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Law Enforcement, Security, and Emergency Services
Hurricane Response And Recovery Website Launched
During the course of Hurricane Sandy, national parks from Florida to New England were affected. The NPS evacuated visitors and employees and closed or cordoned off 69 parks. Up and down the East Coast and farther inland, heavy winds, tidal surge, rain, and snow caused significant damage to national parks, particularly in the Northeast Region.
The Service has launched a website to assist with the response and recovery of this record storm. The site includes resource needs, human resource and operational guidance, and other pertinent information.
Visit the site at: http://go.nps.gov/hs
[Submitted by Dean Ross, Dean_Ross@nps.gov, 202-513-7093]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Yosemite National Park (CA)
Retired SAR/Drug Dog "Emma" Passes Away
The National Park Service lost a dear friend when retired NPS narcotics canine "Emma" passed away late on Saturday, October 27th, just a month after her 14th birthday.
For over 12 years, the team of Emma and ranger/handler Julie (Kovacs) Byerly worked narcotics operations along the Mexican border at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and later at Grand Teton National Park.
Prior to training as a drug dog at Organ Pipe, Emma was a search and rescue dog at Yosemite National Park. The team of Emma and Byerly was as comfortable being flown into a backcountry tracking operation as working highway interdiction or identifying concealed loads at ports of entry. They set the standards for a drug canine team at a time when no agency standards existed and the bond they shared, both personally and professionally, was remarkable.
Utilized as an effective interdiction asset by numerous agencies and having been directly responsible for the seizure of thousands of pounds of narcotics, Emma was arguably the most successful narcotics canine ever fielded by the NPS. In retirement, Emma continued her job as family clown, companion, and protector.
In passing, Emma leaves a legacy that represents the best of the agency — unwavering dedication, the willingness to take on any task regardless of the hardship, unique skill, and a sense of humor.
[Submitted by Kevin Killian, Deputy Chief Ranger]
Assateague Island National Seashore (VA)
GL-0025-9 Protection Rangers (Laterals)
Assateague Island National Seashore is seeking qualified candidates for two lateral reassignments to permanent, full-time GL-0 commissioned law enforcement ranger positions.
Assateague Island is a 37-mile long barrier island off the coast of Maryland and Virginia. It is one of the few remaining undeveloped barrier islands and a destination for those interested in wildlands, wildlife and outdoor recreation. The rangers in these positions perform the full range of law enforcement duties related to a diverse seashore setting, including on and off-road terrestrial and marine patrols, emergency medical services, enforcement of hunting regulations and wildland firefighting. Typical violations include personal drug use, alcohol violations, disorderly conduct, motor vehicle law violations, resource and hunting violations, and destruction of natural and cultural resources.
The ranger will also monitor special use permits, educate park visitors about park resources, and work closely with and maintain relations with a variety of state, county, and local agencies. The park receives heavy day use and campground visitation in the spring/summer/fall and in the winter months there is an active hunting program. The park also participates in the FLETC field training and evaluation program. Opportunities to participate in this program as a field training ranger are possible.
The park temperature averages from the 90's F in the summer to the single digits in winter. Typical summers are hot and humid and winters bring cool temperatures with occasional snow accumulation. Educational and professional development opportunities exist in the local communities. Recreational opportunities are plentiful throughout the region as are all modern facilities and services. The park has concurrent jurisdiction with the state of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Park housing is not required. PCS (permanent change of duty station) costs will be covered for both positions. One duty station will be in Berlin, MD; the other will be in Chincoteague, Virginia. The Virginia position is unique in that it is part of a partnering effort with the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the incumbent works as part of their protection team. The incumbent will be directly supervised by Fish and Wildlife. Work will be on Assateague Island but may also be assigned to other Fish and Wildlife units on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia.
Possession of a Level I law enforcement commission is required. All applicants tentatively selected will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Position is subject to all physical fitness testing and training requirements of law enforcement duty. The position is 6c covered and the person selected must have or be able to obtain a wild land fire red-card qualification and basic first aid/CPR or higher certification in EMS within six months. Candidate must also possess a valid state driver's license.
If interested, please submit the following items:
1) An OF-612, Optional Application for Federal Employment, or a resume/application that includes the information identified in OF-612.
2) A copy of your Type-I law enforcement commission, and the following certifications if you possess one or more: standard First Aid, CPR, and/or other EMS certification.
3) A copy of your most recent performance appraisal.
4) A current SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, documenting permanent competitive civil service status.
Resumes may be mailed, faxed, or emailed directly to Karen Burns' attention.
Mailing address: National Park Service, Assateague Island National Seashore, Attn: Administrative Officer Karen Burns, 7206 National Seashore Lane, Berlin, MD 21811, fax: (410) 641-1099; email: Karen_Burns@nps.gov.
For further information about these positions, please contact Assistant Chief Ranger Walt West, phone: (410) 629-6057, email: Walt_West@nps.gov.
Applications must be received by November 13th. Additional park information may be found on the park website at: www.nps.gov/asis .
GS-0462-7 Supervisory Forestry Technician
Big Bend has issued an announcement for a supervisory forestry technician.
Click on the link below for a copy of the announcement with full details on duties and procedures for applying.
It closes on November 8th.
More Information...
Pacific West Region
WG-5716-9 Engineering Equipment Operator
Dates: 10/31/2012 - 11/09/2012
Lassen Volcanic NP has a vacancy for an engineering equipment operator. This is a permanent, full-time, career-seasonal position. The position is being advertised under merit promotion and DEU.
For further information, please email LAVO_Personnel@nps.gov or call 530-595-6118
[Submitted by Christine Domingo, christine_domingo@nps.gov, 530-595-6118] More Information...
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.