RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

Attention: Directorate
           Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
           CC: RAD Information Net

Day/date:  Friday, August 23, 1991

INCIDENTS

91-308 - Olympic (Washington) - Followup on Oil Spill

Pumping operations from the wreck are continuing.  As of 
Wednesday, 50,400 gallons of oil had been pumped from the ship, 
and just over 35,000 gallons of oil/water mixture had been 
skimmed.  Crews are now working at Cape Alava and south of the 
Ozette River.  The beach will be assessed after cleanup is 
completed, but will remain closed until that time.  The area may 
open before the Labor Day weekend.  A final assessment of other 
areas of park and tribal beaches is also underway.  [Telefax 
from Cat Hoffman, Information Officer, Tenyo Maru ICS Team, 8/22]

91-422 - Lake Meredith (Texas) - Followup on Boating Fatality

The body of D.J., 31, was spotted east of Arrowhead 
Island on August 21st and was subsequently recovered.  Rangers 
had been searching for Josserand since he was knocked overboard 
by his sailboat's boom during a period of high winds.  D.J. 
and a female companion were the only occupants of the sailboat, 
which had been stationary near the island when wind gusts swept 
the boom around.  [CompuServe message from Bonnie Winslow, 
RAD/SWRO, 8/21; United Press report, 8/22]

91-429 - Yosemite (California) - Search and Rescue

Early on the afternoon of August 19th, rangers received a report 
that M.L., 24, of Pleasanton, California, was missing and 
had not been seen since 6:30 p.m. the previous evening.  M.L. 
and several friends were hiking from the Kibbie Lake wilderness 
parking lot to their camp at Lake Eleanor when M.L., who had 
been drinking heavily, stepped off the trail to relieve himself.  
His friends continued to the campsite.  When M.L. failed to 
show up, his friends searched the area, then contacted park 
rangers.  A search was begun which employed the park helicopter 
and 150 people and dogs from numerous federal, state, local and 
volunteer agencies.  An observer in the helicopter spotted 
M.L. in the middle of Cherry Creek at 10:00 a.m. on the 21st.  
He was six miles from the point last seen.  Investigators 
subsequently determined that M.L. and his four friends had 
camped at Lake Eleanor on Saturday, August 17th, and that the 
group had consumed three cases of beer that evening.  On Sunday 
morning, the five of them had drunk 10 liters of wine.  [Kris 
Bardsley, YOSE, via CompuServe message from Carl Christensen, 
RAD/WRO, 8/22]

91-430 - Sequoia/Kings Canyon (California) - Search in Progress

L.S., a 31-year-old Marine stationed in Tustin, 
California, left the Cottonwood Pass trailhead in the Inyo 
National Forest on August 4th and failed to return as scheduled 
on August 18th.  L.S. is described as a highly competent 
outdoorsman who has made four or five such trips in the past.  
His route to Onion Valley is unknown, and no clues have been 
discovered so far.  Two helicopters and approximately twelve 
persons are currently committed to the search.  [Pete Allen, 
Acting CR, SEKI, via Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO, 8/22]

91-431 - North Cascades (Washington) - Search and Rescue

Rangers received a report of an overdue climbing party on the 
northwest arete of Mt. Shuksan on August 21st.  A search was 
begun, and a climber was soon spotted on a ledge above White 
Salmon Glacier by rangers in a contract helicopter.  A radio was 
lowered to the climber, who identified himself as K.V., 
29, of Bellingham.  K.V. reported that he and 
his climbing partner, whose name is being withheld pending 
determination of his fate and notification of his family, were 
swept off their climbing route by an ice slide and small 
avalanche on the afternoon of August 19th.  K.V. was 
buried to his waist, but was able to dig free.  His partner was 
completely buried by the sliding ice.  Despite a dislocated 
shoulder, broken ribs, lacerations and other injuries, 
K.V. was able to climb up to the ledge, where he spent 
Monday and Tuesday nights.  He was evacuated from the ledge by 
helicopter and transported to United General Hospital, where he 
was treated and released.  His partner is presumed dead and 
efforts to locate his remains continue.  [Dave Spirtes, NOCA, 
via CompuServe message from Diane Wisley, RAD/PNRO, 8/22]

91-432 - Lake Mead (Nevada) - Drowning

The park received a report of a possible drowning in Lower 
Gypsum Wash from a local police department around 11:00 p.m. on 
August 21st.  Responding rangers and officers reported that the 
victim, M.K., 21, of Las Vegas, had been found floating 
in about two feet of water.  CPR was attempted but discontinued 
before rangers arrived on the scene.  Alcohol is believed to 
have been a factor in the accident.  [Anne Yoss, LAME, via 
CompuServe message from Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO, 8/22]

91-433 - Mammoth Cave (Kentucky) - Oil Spill

The park received a report of a diesel fuel spill at a nearby 
truck stop on August 17th.  Resource managers and rangers 
responded to determine if park resources were threatened.  The 
spill occurred when a charter bus was filling tanks and the 
nozzle failed to shut off.  About 25 to 30 gallons of fuel 
spilled.  A sand dike and absorbent materials were employed to 
collect some of the spill, but an undetermined amount flowed 
into a storm sewer that emptied into a sinkhole which may drain 
into the Hawkins River, an underground river within the park.  
Resource managers are monitoring both the spill site and Hawkins 
River.  [Telefax from RAD/SERO, 8/19]

91-434 - Indiana Dunes (Indiana)-  Marijuana Eradication

Four areas containing cultivated marijuana were recently 
discovered within the park's boundary, but on private land which 
had not yet been acquired.  Local law enforcement agencies were 
notified, but declined to take any action unless suspects were 
identified.  Rangers eradicated 408 plants with an estimated 
street value of $236,000 and found evidence of prior harvesting 
at the sites.  The gardens were found along the edges of corn 
fields.  One of the gardens contained sensimilla and was well 
away from the others.  The park would like to hear from any 
other areas which have had similar reactions from local 
enforcement authorities.  Contact chief ranger Tom Goldbin at 
219-926-7361.  [Telefax from Tom Goldbin, CR, INDU, 8/22]

FIRE ACTIVITY

*** The NICC fire situation report is unavailable this morning ***

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Catoctin (Maryland) - White-Tailed Deer

On August 19th, resource managers from Catoctin, Gettysburg, 
WASO, and NCR's Center for Urban Ecology met with researchers 
from Messiah College and Penn State to coordinate monitoring 
efforts employed in the assessment of white-tailed deer impacts 
at the two parks.  The meeting focused on the standardization of 
vegetation monitoring protocols so that data reporting in 
different NPS areas is consistent.  A discussion was also held 
on the need to establish an information base on levels of injury 
and deer impacts to threatened and endangered plant species.  An 
upcoming article in Natural Areas Journal should begin to 
address this issue.  For more information on these issues, 
contact Mel Poole at 202-619-7065.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1) SAFETY ALERT: The NPS recently received notification from the 
Office of Aircraft Services to remove certain Chouinard reverse 
gate locking carabiners from helicopter rappel operations.  This 
is necessary because such Chouinard carabiners (1800 kg.) are 
the only type which lock by securing the hinge end of the gate 
in alignment with the frame.  The typical threaded locking 
sleeve carabiner locks by securing the opening end of the gate 
to the slotted end of the frame.  Failures are possible and have 
occurred.  For further information, contact your regional safety 
manager.  

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief (Acting): Martin to ranger museum dedication, 
Yellowstone (8/23-8/26).

Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Marriott on drug 
program review at Great Smokies (8/18-8/22).
Branch of Fire & Aviation: Erskine in ARO, Anchorage, AK 
(8/19-8/28); Spruill on aviation program orientation in Alaska 
(8/18-8/29]; Gale in WASO on allrisk management team selection 
(8/20-8/22); Norum on trip to approve research sites, Fairbanks, 
AK (8/16-8/26); Cook on annual leave (8/19-8/23).

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