NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Thursday, February 22, 1996

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

95-554 - New River Gorge (West Virginia) - Follow-up on Assault Arrests

Grandview Subdistrict rangers arrested O.S. and C.W.B. on weapons
possession charges last July after a fight in the Terry Beach area of the park
during which shots were fired.  Subsequent investigation revealed that both men
were convicted felons, and both pled guilty to charges of being felons in
possession of weapons.  On February 13th, O.S. was sentenced to two years in
federal prison, fined $1,000 and placed on 20 months' probation; C.W.B. was
sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison, fined $1,000 and placed on 30
months' probation.  [Dennis Weiland, SDR, Grandview Subdistrict, NERI]

96-65 - Big Bend (Texas) - Rescue

On the afternoon of February 10th, A.L., 19, a trail volunteer who had
just arrived in the park, headed out for a hike to the summit of Emory Peak,
the highest peak in the park.  A.L. missed a critical trail junction,
however, and ended up climbing the very steep, north facing scree slopes on
Toll Mountain.  A.L. climbed a 90-foot vertical face to reach what she
thought was the summit, only to find herself stranded on an isolated pinnacle
with no safe descent route.  Visitors heard her cries for help and notified
rangers late in the afternoon.  Ranger Gary Carver reached an area near A.L.
within two hours, but was unable to climb safely to her by himself.  Rescuers
could not be flown to a safe location above A.L. before dark, so rescue
efforts were suspended for the night.  Carver spent the night on a ledge near
A.L. and maintained voice contact with her throughout the night.  A.L. was
dressed in only thin pants and a t-shirt; the temperature dropped to 34 degrees
and was accompanied by strong, gusty winds.  Chief ranger Jim Northup led a
technical climb to the victim at first light.  She was safely lowered and
treated for hypothermia.  [CRO, BIBE]

96-66 - Big Bend (Texas) - Human Remains Found

On February 6th, backpackers reported finding human remains along a trail in
Ernst Basin, a remote and seldom visited portion of the park's backcountry. 
Investigation ruled out foul play at the scene; an autopsy ruled out gunshot or
blunt trauma as the cause of death.  The remains are believed to be those of a
Mexican national who was reported missing by his family last August - two
months after a companion, who insisted he was traveling alone, was apprehended
by the Border Patrol while walking cross-country through the park.  There are
no dental records or skeletal features which would make a positive
identification possible.  The Army's forensic pathology lab has offered to
conduct DNA analysis in an effort to make a positive identification. 
Arrangements are being pursued through the U.S. consulate and Mexican law
enforcement authorities to obtain a donation of blood from a member of the
missing man's family.  [Jim Northup, CR, BIBE]

96-67 - Chickasaw (Oklahoma) - Indecent Exposure Conviction

D.L.W. of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, was convicted in country district
court on indecent exposure charges on February 13th.  Ranger Donald Reed
arrested Wilson at Veterans Lake last August after two women who witnessed the
exposure reported the incident.  D.L.W. has two prior felony convictions, one
for burglary and one for possession with intent to distribute a controlled
substance.  The jury deliberate for 15 minutes and returned a 20-year prison
sentence.  [CRO, CHIC]

96-68 - Cape Cod (Massachusetts) - Oil Spill

On February 6th, several employees at the Little Creek ranger station detected
the odor of fuel emanating from the building.  It was determined that the
coupling on the fuel pipe between the furnace and fuel tank had failed and was
leaking oil.  Investigation revealed contamination to a depth of six feet below
the surface.  The office is in a residential section of the park where private
drinking water wells are prevalent.  An environmental response organization
took core samples in the area where the release occurred and installed six
groundwater monitoring wells.  Results of soil samples from test wells revealed
no additional contamination of the area.  Remedial activity will likely be
limited to removal of contaminated soils located near the oil burner.  [Hank
Brightman, NESSO]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1) PEB Program (Second Notice) - Due to funding constraints, shutdowns and
temporary staff shortages, the January 31st deadline for implementation of the
mandatory PEB (physical efficiency battery) program in NPS-57 has been extended
indefinitely.  Meetings which were scheduled with OPM and DOI officials on
January 10th will be rescheduled and probably will occur some time in March. 
There will be Servicewide field representation and input before final
implementation of the program.  It should be noted that other federal agencies
are involved, including bureau law enforcement chiefs from the NPS, FWS, BIA,
BLM, USFS and FLETC.  Also participating are representatives from ANPR and FOP
and staff from Labor Relations, Equal Opportunity, Policy and Personnel.  We
apologize for the inconveniences and delays.  Please bear with us while we work
to resolve these matters during difficult times.  RAD/WASO will keep managers
and employees informed of developments through the Morning Report and CLEAR
TEXT.  Jim Lee, who oversees health and fitness, has not yet full recovered
from a serious medical operation, but is doing as much as possible behind the
scenes to keep priority programs moving forward. [Chris Andress, RAD/WASO]

2) Information Request - Rocky Mountain is interested in hearing from any parks
that have recently dealt with any RS 2477 issues, particularly if they involved
commercial livery operators who are contending that they do not need to comply
with concessions requirements because they have historic access through the
park under RS 2477.  If the issue has been adjudicated in federal court, a copy
of the ruling would be much appreciated.  Contact Joe Evans, chief ranger, via
cc:Mail.  [Joe Evans, ROMO] 

MEMORANDA

No memoranda.

OBSERVATIONS

Today's entry, another in the continuing series of park specific quotes, was
submitted by Deb Liggett at Devils Tower:

"A dark mist lay over the Black Hills, and the land was like iron.  At the top
of the ridge I caught sight of Devils Tower upthrust against the gray sky as if
in the birth of time the core of the earth had broken through its crust and the
motion of the world was begun.  There are things in nature that engender an
awful quiet in the heart of man; Devils Tower is one of them."

                                        Novelist N. Scott Momaday

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Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

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