RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Monday, December 9, 1991
INCIDENTS
91-630 - New River Gorge (West Virginia) - Follow-up on Arson Arrests
On November 20th, rangers arrested J.W.V., 37, and R.L.M.,
27, both of Beaver, West Virginia, on charges of setting four arson fires
within the park. The subsequent investigation involved a number of
agencies and several state and federal jurisdictions, but was coordinated
by rangers. On December 4th, the men were each indicted by a federal grand
jury on four counts of arson. A trial date has not yet been set. [Telefax
from Bill Blake, CR, 12/5]
91-638 - USS Arizona (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Pearl Harbor Anniversary
The commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor
reached its peak on December 7th with a full day of programs. Visitors
began arriving at 5:00 a.m.; although crowds were large, the parking and
seating plans laid out ahead of time made it possible for the staff to
manage events without problems. Many visitors listened to the President's
speech via monitors in the park's visitors center. In addition to the
program at the memorial itself, events of the day included:
- the premier of a symphony which was written for the occasion and was
performed by the Honolulu symphony;
- a children's choir concert;
- a special tour of the memorial for 300 members of the Arizona Reunion
Association; and
- a sunset service for 3,500 Pearl Harbor survivors.
Over the next three days, up to 20 employees a day will be acting as
interpreters and media escorts during a Pearl Harbor symposium. Many NPS
employees will be returning home today, but the incident management team
and several key personnel will continue to work on site until Thursday.
The anniversary was a very large and complex incident and would have been a
true test of any organizational system. The flexible, modular concept of
the incident command system, while not specifically designed to manage
special events, again proved to be an excellent management tool. [Bill
Gabbert, ICS Team, USAR, 12/8]
91-650 - Joshua Tree (California) - Poaching Convictions
On September 7th, rangers discovered that J.E., 49, and S.H.,
46, both of San Pedro, California, had caught five species of
reptiles in the park and were transporting them elsewhere. On December 3rd,
the two men pled guilty in federal court to one count each of violations of
the Lacey Act. They were each fined $7,500 and their collecting equipment
was forfeited to the government. [Paul Henry, CR, JOTR, via CompuServe
message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 12/5]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
1) Second Notice: The notice on the proposed revision to OMB Circular A-45,
"Policy Governing Charges for Rental Quarters and Related Facilities", was
published in the Federal Register on Friday, November 22, 1991. The notice
states that there will be a 30-day comment period, but this has been
extended to 60 days and now ends on January 21, 1992. All employees
occupying park housing may send comments to their regional housing office
or comment directly to OMB, Office of Federal Procurement Policy, Room 9025,
New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503.
If you need a copy of the proposed revised circular, please call the WASO
Housing Office at FTS 343-1335 or 202-343-1335. [Donna Compton, Housing,
WASO]
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Brady at R&R Uniforms, Nashville, TN (12/10-12/11).
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin and Halainen at R&R
Uniforms, Nashville, TN (12/10-12/11); Marriott at ARPA training course,
Marana, AZ (12/9-12/13); Lee at law enforcement for managers course, FLETC,
Glynco, GA (12/9-12/13).
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Spruill conducting aviation review, Hawaii
(12/9-12/17); Gale serving as incident commander for 50th anniversary of
Pearl Harbor, U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, HI (12/9-12/12).
Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities
Telephone: Branch of R&VP - FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
Branch of F&A (WASO) - FTS 268-5572/5573 or 202-208-5572/5573
Telefax: Branch of R&VP - FTS 268-6756 or 202-208-6756
Branch of F&A (WASO) - FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977
CompuServe: Branch of R&VP - WASO-RANGER
Branch of F&A (WASO) - WASO-FIRE-WO
SEAdog: Branch of R&VP - 1/650
Branch of F&A (WASO) - 1/655