RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Friday, April 26, 1991
INCIDENTS
91-127 - Rocky Mountain (Colorado) - Followup on Search
Intensive efforts by avalanche dogs, technical teams and
helicopters have turned up no new evidence in the search for
45yearold climber Joe Massari of Boulder, Colorado. A decision
was made late yesterday afternoon to scale down the search
effort due to the lack of specific evidence. Extreme avalanche
conditions on Longs Peak also pose a threat to searchers.
Organized ground searches have accordingly been suspended, but
aerial efforts will continue as weather conditions permit.
[CompuServe message from Dave Essex, CR, ROMO, 4/25]
91-132 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Search; Presumed Drowning
On April 5th, T.F. and F.F., both 24 and
residents of Germany, began a twelve-week-long canoeing and
backpacking trip within the park. On the morning of the 13th,
their canoe went adrift, so F.F. constructed a raft out of
their equipment and driftwood and paddled out on a calm sea to
retrieve it. Ten minutes later, T.F. reported seeing the raft
adrift without F.F. aboard. Early on the afternoon of the
20th, a park employee contacted T.F. at the mouth of Wachusett
Inlet, at which time T.F. reported that F.F. was missing.
A cooperative, NPS-led search effort was then begun which
concentrated on Muir Inlet and adjacent areas. A helicopter, a
fixed-wing aircraft, and dog and ground teams searched the area
for the next two days. Part of F.F.'s raft was discovered
on the shore of Sebree Island near the mouth of the inlet; the
canoe and another portion of the raft were located near Muir
Point and Adams Inlet on the opposite side of the bay. One dog
alerted seaward near Forrest Creek, but searchers found no sign
of F.F.. [Telefax from Randy King, CR, GLBA, 4/25]
91-133 - Bighorn Canyon (Wyoming/Montana) - Oil Spill
The park was notified by EPA of an oil spill into a tributary of
the Bighorn River on April 20th. An oil pipeline some 60 miles
from the park had ruptured and spilled about 400 barrels (22,000
gallons) of crude oil into the tributary. The Coast Guard, EPA,
BLM and Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality are involved
in the cleanup; the Coast Guard is the lead agency since the
Bighorn River is classified as navigable. Four containment
areas were set up downstream from the spill site, but traces
of oil were observed in Bighorn Lake on the morning of the 21st.
The Coast Guard inspected the area where the oil was observed
and feels that the amount in the lake is negligible and poses no
threat to the environment. The amount is so small that it would
be impossible to contain. Rangers will continue to monitor the
lake for evidence of further contamination. [Telefax from Dean
Garrett, BICA, 4/22]
91-134 - Everglades (Florida) - Successful Commercial Fishing Prosecution
M.B., 20, D.D., 20, and M.N., 19, all
of Florida, were caught with commercial fishing gear in the park
late on Christmas night last year. The trio subsequently
appeared in magistrate's court, but requested an appearance
before the judge in district court. On April 16th, District
Court Judge Gagliaridi accepted a negotiated plea agreement in
which M.B., the vessel's captain, was placed on one year's
probation and fined $3,000 for possession of commercial fishing
gear and $1,000 each on two counts of operating a vessel at
night without running lights. Half of his fines were suspended.
D.D. and M.N. were each found guilty of possession of
commercial fishing gear and fined $200 each. The same three
individuals had also been caught with commercial fishing gear by
rangers three nights prior to their Christmas day arrest, and
had appeared in district court. D.D. had been found not
guilty, but M.B. had been fined $1,000 and ordered to forfeit
an $800 net and M.N. had been fined $250. So far this year,
there have been 18 convictions and over $25,000 in fines and
forfeitures assessed by the courts for violations of commercial
fishing laws in the park. [Telefax from Mark Lewis, LES, EVER,
4/25]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No reports today.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
1) IMPORTANT: A notice was sent out via CompuServe on April 11th
regarding an opportunity to comment on the establishment of a
special position classification system for law enforcement or
"protective" occupations. The comment period, as published in
the Federal Register by OPM, has since been extended to May 10,
1991. If you have any comments to make, please forward them to
Tony Sisto in Ranger Activities by May 6th. For further
information or a copy of the April 11th notice, please contact
your park personnel office or your regional chief ranger. You
can also call Tony at FTS 268-7675 or 202-208-7675.
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Dabney to Rocky Mountain Region superintendents'
conference (4/22-4/26) and Canyonlands (4/29-5/3).
Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Halainen on detail to
House Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands (3/8-4/26);
Henry on SL (indefinite).
Branch of Fire: Gale on NPS18 review in WASO (4/23-4/25).
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