RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/Date:	 Tuesday, December 17, 1991

INCIDENTS

91-662 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Burglary Arrest

On December 11th, rangers at Halls Crossing investigated a burglary of the 
Halls Crossing marina store which had occurred sometime during the previous 
night.  Fingerprints, footprints and other physical evidence were found at 
the store, and the subsequent investigation led rangers to C.C., 21, 
an ARA Leisure Service employee at Halls Crossing.  C.C. had been at an 
employee party the previous night and had become very angry when the 
concession-owned bar had refused to serve him any more alcohol.  A consent 
search of his residence and vehicle led to the discovery of several pieces 
of evidence linking him with the burglary.  C.C. then confessed to the 
break-in.  About $450 worth of merchandise was recovered from a hiding 
place under Coghan's trailer home.  C.C. was turned over to the San Juan 
county sheriff's office for state prosecution.  [CompuServe message from 
Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 12/17]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1) The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has affirmed 
the summary judgement of the United States Court for the District of 
Wyoming in favor of the United States in the case of Hugh B. Johnson, Jr. v. 
Department of Interior.  This case concerns a search and rescue incident at 
Grand Tetons in which the decedent, Ben Johnson, sustained fatal injuries 
while climbing.  The plaintiff, a survivor of the decedent, brought action 
against the United States under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. 
1346(B), for the wrongful death of Hugh Johnson, alleging that the National 
Park Service was negligent in its undertaking of search and rescue 
operations.  While not ruling on a determination of negligence, the 
Appellate Court concluded that "the discretionary function exception to the 
Federal Tort Claims Act...applies to the undisputed facts of this case."  
Ruling on this discretionary function, the court said, in summary:

"After careful examination of the record, we find nothing to 
contradict the government's evidence that Park Service search and 
rescue decisions are discretionary decisions requiring rangers to 
balance competing policy considerations."

This is a significant decision, and a full summary will appear in the 
January/February issue of the Ranger Activities Information Exchange.  
[Tony Sisto, RAD/WASO]

2) The Department of Transportation has advised us that anti-locking 
braking systems will be standard equipment in all vehicles in two years.  
The basic difference between anti-locking and standard braking systems is 
in the method and amount of pressure applied to each wheel of the vehicle.  
Vehicle operators should be aware that:

- anti-locking braking systems are designed so that "wheel speed sensors"
 pump the brakes when stopping from high speeds;
- manually pumping the brakes on vehicles equipped with anti-locking brakes
 may cause a loss of braking;
- tire chains should not be installed on vehicles equipped with anti-
 locking braking systems because they adversely affect the wheel speed sensors when
 stopping at any speed;
- snow tires may also affect wheel speed sensors.

Please share this information with other divisions in your park.  [Maj. 
Jack Schamp, RAD/WASO]

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); Bristol at InciNet meeting, WASO (12/16-12/19); Broyles on AL 
(12/16-12/27); Cook on AL (12/9-1/2).

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