RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Tuesday, April 2, 1991
INCIDENTS
91-81 - Carlsbad Cavern (New Mexico) - Followup on Rescue
The injury to E.M. (see yesterday's Morning Report)
occurred when a rock hand-hold gave way, causing the rock to fall
on the lower part of one of her legs. E.M. was in a side
passage south of the ABC's Room in the western Borehole area of
Lechugilla Cave. About 70 cavers are participating in the
rescue effort, including representatives from the Lechugilla
Cave Project, the State of New Mexico, the Department of Energy,
and the National Park Service. Food, water and medical supplies
have been transported to the cave by rescue teams, and difficult
rope drops and traverses are being pre-rigged by various teams to
expedite removal once E.M. is transported to those points.
E.M. is reported to be in good spirits and in no immediate
medical danger. She has a doctor with her. It is unknown when
the rescue will be completed, but estimates are that it will
take a total of three or more days. An incident management team
from Southwest Region has been mobilized; Phil Koepp is the
incident commander. [Telefax from RAD/SWRO, 4/1]
91-84 - New River Gorge (West Virginia) - ARPA Violations
On the afternoon of March 22nd, ranger Jennifer Anderson was
patrolling an area of the park which contains a known
archeological site. A local informant had told her that several
individuals might be digging in the site that day. Anderson
spotted a vehicle near the site and confirmed that it belonged
to an individual who was suspected of previous cultural resource
and firearms violations. Since county and state officers had
previously warned rangers that the vehicle's owner and his known
associates were generally armed and had often been in trouble
with authorities, Anderson immediately requested backup, then
found and observed three men C.F., 28, E.F., 52, and
C.M., 28 digging in different
areas of the site. The men eventually spotted her and
immediately ran from the area. After about ten minutes, however,
they returned and began approaching Anderson's position; one man
carried a shovel, a second carried a mattock. Since the three
men had a history of criminal behavior and were acting
suspiciously, Anderson had taken the precaution of arming
herself with a shotgun from her vehicle. When the trio
approached to within 25 yards, Anderson ordered them to halt.
Two complied, but the third continued to approach. He finally
stopped 15 feet from Anderson's position when Anderson gave him
a third command to stop and chambered a round in her shotgun.
The three men were very agitated and verbalized vague threats
towards Anderson until three responding rangers and two county
deputies arrived to assist. The men admitted to digging for
artifacts and were arrested for cultural resource violations.
Several digging implements possessed by the men were confiscated
along with a .22 caliber rifle found during a consent search of
their vehicle. Rangers subsequently counted a total of over 600
holes on the site, some as deep as two and a half feet. The
investigation is continuing in conjunction with the U.S.
Attorney's Office. Additional charges may be lodged on ARPA
violations and for interfering with agency functions. [Telefax
from Bill Blake, CR, NERI, 3/26]
91-85 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Mule Train Accident
A mule string accident occurred about a half mile down the
Bright Angel Trail on the morning of March 26th. Five mules
being led by an NPS packer were en route to Phantom Ranch when
they slipped off the trail and fell approximately 400 feet onto
a section of the trail below. One survived, but the remaining
four had to be destroyed due to the severity of their injuries.
The packer was not injured. The cause of the accident is not
known, but the packer thinks that the heavy snow on the trail
might have clumped underneath the mules hoofs despite the ice
shoes they were wearing, and that the packed snow could have
caused them to lose their footing. The recovery operation began
immediately, but was hampered by winter storms and was not
completed until the 28th. [Ken Miller, CR, GRCA, via CompuServe
message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 4/1]
91-86 - Lassen Volcanic (California) - Structural Fire
A propane heater exploded in a concession trailer parked next to
the chalet on March 27th and the trailer was totally destroyed
in the resulting fire. The park's fire brigade extinguished the
blaze. The chalet was undamaged. The explosion was caused by a
broken propane line. [Al Schneider, CR, LAVO, via CompuServe
message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 4/1]
91-87 - Lake Meredith (Texas)- MVA with Two Fatalities
On the afternoon of March 24th, a four-wheel-drive vehicle left
the Sanford-Yake access road, travelled over 200 feet along the
left shoulder, then skidded 100 feet across the pavement, spun
around, rolled three times, and plunged 225 feet down an
embankment. The mother and daughter in the vehicle were both
ejected; the mother died instantly, and the daughter died while
being transported to a trauma center in Amarillo. A large
quantity of beer and two bags containing suspected marijuana
residue were found in the vehicle and accident debris. It's
estimated that the vehicle was travelling at a speed of 57 mph
in a 35 mph zone. Although the vehicle was registered to the
daughter, it's unclear who was driving. Autopsies are pending.
Texas DPS officers are assisting in the investigation. [Pat
McCrary, Superintendent, LAMR, via telefax from RAD/SWRO, 3/25]
[Remaining pending incident reports will appear tomorrow
morning]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
1) The announcement is out for the new GS-02512/13 National
Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) coordinator position,
which will be located in this office. The announcement number
is WPO9129, and it closes on April 22, 1991. If you can't find
a copy of the announcement locally, you can obtain one from
Personnel in WASO (202-208-4163 or FTS 268-4163). NOTE: The
position title on the announcement is listed as "Park Ranger
(Instructor)." It should instead read just "Park Ranger."
2) The Department has announced a new position in the DOI
Division of Enforcement and Security Management for a GM30114
drug control policy and special projects coordinator. The
closing date is April 8, 1991, and the announcement number is
9140(B). The incumbent will "coordinate and control all aspects
of the drug law enforcement and supply-side activities of the
Department." If you're interested, contact the Department of
the Interior Personnel Office at 202-208-4821.
3) National Geographic is presenting a special four-part series
entitled "Poaching in America" on March 31st, April 7th, April
14th, and April 21st on TBS. Next Sunday's show will focus on
the poaching of bears and features several NPS operations. The
first was entitled "Poachers and Profiteers"; the final two
shows will be on, respectively, ducks and elk.
4) The Horace Albright Employee Development Fund program for
this year has been announced. The employee information packets
providing detailed information on the program have been mailed
to the regions. Each packet includes an employee application
and all filing guidelines. Applications are due in to the
Employee Development Division in WASO postmarked no later than
April 15, 1991.
5) The Office of Policy has a limited supply of additional
copies of "Managing National Park System Resources: A Handbook
on Legal Duties, Opportunities and Tools," which was published
by The Conservation Foundation. Any NPS employee whose work is
DIRECTLY related to natural resource management and would like a
copy of the book may call the office at 202-208-7456 or FTS
268-7456.
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Dabney at NPS women's conference, New Orleans,
LA (4/1-4/5).
Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Marriott at NAR chief
rangers' conference, Cape Cod (4/3-4/5); Sisto at regs training course in
Washington (4/2 and 4/4); Henry on AL (indefinite).
Branch of Fire: Gale and Wise at NPS women's conference, New
Orleans, LA (4/1-4/5).
Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities
Telephone: FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
Telefax: FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977
CompuServe: WASO-RANGER (Branch of R&VP); WASO-FIRE-WO (Branch of Fire)
SEAdog: 1/650