RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

Attention: Directorate
           Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
           Ranger Activities Division Information Network

Day/Date:	 Monday, December 16, 1991

INCIDENTS

91-660 - Capitol Reef (Utah) - Chemical Spill

On November 19th, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) personnel were 
treating a stretch of the Fremont River about 20 miles west and upstream of 
the park with rotenone, a pesticide for killing fish, when a dispenser 
spigot on one of the rotenone barrels broke and the chemical began leaking 
into the river.  About 15 minutes passed before the spill was discovered, 
during which time 27 gallons of the chemical flowed into the Fremont.  In 
response to the spill, the UDWR crew released large quantities of potassium 
permangenate, a detoxifying chemical, into the river at a point about five 
miles upstream from the park's boundary.  The park was not notified of the 
spill until 12 hours later.  On the morning of the 20th, visitors and park 
personnel noticed that the Fremont River was turning purple and had a 
distinct chemical smell.  Dead fish were also seen.  It was later learned 
that the purple color stemmed from the high levels of potassium 
permangenate in the water.  Surveys of the river's aquatic life were 
conducted over the next several days, and it was determined that over 350 
fish and large numbers of macroinvertebrates had been killed.  Most of the 
kill appears to have been caused by the large quantities of potassium 
permangenate and not the rotenone itself.  Initial evaluations indicate 
that the river may have been virtually sterilized.  The park and UDWR are 
prepared to restock the river with native species should that prove 
necessary.  [CompuServe message from Glenn Sherrill, Acting CR, CARE, 12/15]

91-661 - Sequoia/Kings Canyon (California) - Drug Arrests

On December 11th, rangers received a report from a log truck driver who 
said someone had playing "chicken" with him on the Generals Highway between 
the two parks.  He also felt that one of the individuals in the vehicle 
that had tried to run him off the road may have pointed a weapon at him.  
The vehicle was described as a small white sedan with two male occupants; 
when last seen it was traveling towards Giant Forest.  The vehicle was 
spotted by two different park employees, who were able to provide the car's 
license plate and location.  Rangers Mark Gorman and Walter Kelly contacted 
the two men in the vehicle in the Deer Ridge area.  The pair admitted to 
playing "chicken" with the truck; they'd done so because loggers were 
"raping the land".  They said that they did not have a weapon and consented 
to a search of their car.  Rangers found drug paraphernalia and dried 
mushrooms during the search.  Computer checks revealed that neither the New 
Mexico license plates displayed on the vehicle nor the VIN number on the 
registration were on file; the operator's driver's license came back as 
suspended.  The two men were placed under arrest.  During the inventory 
search of the car, rangers found another New Mexico license plate (which 
also came back as not on file) and four pounds of what appear to be 
hallucinogenic mushrooms with an estimated street value of $2,500 to $3,000.  
The men were charged with possession of controlled substances with intent 
to sell.  The investigation into the incident is continuing.  [Doug Morris, 
CR, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 12/13]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1) We have received a number of requests for the new cloth badge patches 
from parks, as per the procedures outlined in last summer's memo, and 
apologize for the delays in getting them to you.  The patches were mailed 
to us some time ago but never arrived, and we're still trying to track down 
the shipment.  As soon as we locate it, we'll begin sending patches to you.  
If you haven't heard of these patches and are interested in them, please 
contact your regional law enforcement specialist for particulars.  [Bill 
Halainen, RAD/WASO]

CALENDAR

Calendar appears in the morning report every other Monday.  If you know of 
a conference, meeting or training session with Servicewide interest and 
implications, please provide the specifics to Bill Halainen in Ranger 
Activities.  Entries are listed no earlier than four months before the 
event.  An asterisk (*) indicates a new entry; a plus (+) indicates a 
revised entry - subsequent comments explain the revision.  Brackets at end 
of entry indicate source of information:

January 6 - 10 - Natural Resource Communications, California State 
University, Chico, CA.  For further information, call Dr. Jon K. Hooper at 
916-898-5811.  [Kathy Jope, RAD/PNRO]

January 9 - March 25 - Basic Law Enforcement for Land Management Agencies, 
FLETC, Glynco, GA.  Funded by LEEDC/FLETC.  For application procedures, 
contact your regional training office.  [Carole Pfeifer, LEEDC/FLETC]

January 13 - 17 - "Critical Issues: Museum Security and Fire Protection", 
Williamsburg, VA.  The objectives of the course are to incorporate museum 
practices into physical security and structural fire protection programs 
and to reinforce cooperative working relationships that ensure improved 
overall museum collections protection.  Funded by benefitting accounts.  
For further information, contact Connie Hudson Backlund, Mather EDC, FTS 
925-6402 or 304-535-6402.

January 13 - May 6 - Seasonal Law Enforcement Ranger Academy, Colorado 
Northwestern Community College, Rangely, CO.  For further information and 
application, contact Steven Whittmore at 303-675-3306.  [Steve Whittmore, 
CNCC]

January 22 - 23 - Introduction to Global Positioning Systems and Geographic 
Information Systems for Natural Resource Managers, College of Forestry and 
Natural Resources, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.  $100 
registration fee prior to January 10th; $125 thereafter.  Enrollment 
limited to 100 people.  For further information, contact the Office of 
Conference Services at 303-491-7501.  [Steve Cinnamon, MWRO]

January 27 - 31 - Archeological Resource Protection Training, Glen Canyon, 
Page, AZ.  Funding by LEEDC/FLETC subject to availability of FY 92 funds. 
[Carole Pfeifer, LEEDC/FLETC]

January 28 - March 27 - Land Management Investigator Training, FLETC, 
Glynco, GA.  Funded by LEEDC/FLETC.  For application procedures, contact 
your regional training office.  [Carole Pfeifer, LEEDC/FLETC]

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin at all-risk management 
meeting, Boise, ID (12/15-12/17); Halainen at uniform allowance work group 
meeting, WASO (12/18-12/19).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Spruill conducting aviation review, Hawaii 
(12/9-12/17).

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