NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Tuesday, February 27, 1996

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

95-13 - Joshua Tree (California) - Follow-up on ARPA/Wildlife Violations

In January, 1995, park investigators, with the assistance of local deputies,
state highway patrol officers, and BLM rangers, served three search warrants
for archeological thefts and wildlife violations and seized two carloads of
artifacts.  Included in the collection were two large, intact ollas; three
baskets containing an estimated 2,000 pottery sherds; over 60 prehistoric knife
blades and scrapers; two dozen manos and metates; and boxes of other artifacts. 
Investigation revealed that E.P. and R.A., both of Yucca Valley,
California, had collected the artifacts from a variety of locations, including
national parks and forests and BLM lands.  A total of eight misdemeanor charges
were filed against the pair in state court late last year.  R.A. and E.P.
agreed to a plea bargain agreement shortly thereafter, then failed to show up
for sentencing.  Warrants were issued and served last month.  The two were
found guilty of two misdemeanors each, placed on probation for three years,
ordered to pay restitution, and jailed for a day.  Many of the recovered
artifacts will be placed on display at a new BLM visitor center in the Santa
Rosa Mountains near Palm Springs.  [Todd Swain, CI, JOTR]

96-51 - Chickamauga/Chattanooga (Georgia) - Follow-up on Oil Spill

Response to the oil spill continues under ICS.  Action plans are being
formulated, a command center has been established in Chattanooga, and air and
water quality specialists from Mammoth Cave are on scene.  The pipeline company
is conducting dye testing to determine the path the oil took from the spill
site.  [Sam Weddle, CR, CHCH]

96-63 - Jefferson National Expansion (Missouri) - Follow-up on Homicide

On the afternoon of February 26th, a joint park-city police task force arrested
R.C., 27, a street person from St. Louis, for the February 14th
assault on and robbery of D.N., who subsequently died of his injuries. 
A criminal complaint will be prepared for a federal warrant, and the U.S.
attorney's office will assume full jurisdiction.  The investigation was led by
supervisory park ranger Jim Jackson and a St. Louis homicide detective.  [Deryl
Stone, CR, JEFF]

96-74 - Golden Gate (California) - Demonstration

A group of 50 to 60 homeless advocates held an illegal demonstration in the
Presidio on February 23rd.  Park managers were aware of planning for the event;
they attempted to negotiate with the group about permit requirements, but
without luck.  They were offered a First Amendment area near the site of their
demonstration, but indicated that they would instead engage in civil
disobedience by entering residences slated for demolition.  The group marched
through the housing area, placing 142 "tombstone" signs with the names of
homeless people who died in San Francisco in 1995.  The group's organizers
announced that they were going to occupy a dwelling and that only people who
wanted to be arrested should enter.  One demonstrator kicked in a back door and
let in the others - a total of 20 people.  A squad of U.S. Marshals formed in a
line and moved the remaining demonstrators down the street.  Park Police
officers and rangers then moved in and arrested the demonstrators in the
building, who offered no resistance.  Members of "Homes not Jails" who were
recently convicted for violations in a similar demonstration in the Presidio
were in the crowd, but none chose to be arrested.  The remaining demonstrators
left the area after the 20 were arrested.  Each of those arrested was charged
with 36 CFR violations for trespassing and demonstrating without a permit. 
Banners and signs were confiscated as evidence and the incident was videotaped
by Park Police officers.  [Lt. Kevin Hay, USPP, GOGA]

96-75 - Blue Ridge (North Carolina/Virginia) - Body Found

Virginia state game and fisheries employees discovered human skeletal remains
underneath the Roanoke River bridge near Vinton on February 21st.  The remains
have been positively identified as those of J.H., who was reported
missing about 18 months ago.  Examination of the scene indicated that J.H.
fell 150 feet from the bridge and landed in heavy underbrush, which prevented
ready discovery of his body.  Foul play is not suspected.  [BRO, BLRI]

96-76 - Rock Creek (D.C.) - Body Found

On the afternoon of February 20th, a citizen advised Park Police officers of a
body in a wooded area of the park near Fort DeRussey.  Officers found the body
of a middle-aged man who had apparently shot himself.  The victim has not yet
been identified.  Suicide is suspected.  [Bill Lynch, LES, NCFO]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Rocky Mountain (Colorado) - Interagency Weed Control MOU

The introduction and spread of non-native plants in Colorado is perhaps the
most serious - and largely unrecognized - ecological problem in the state. 
Tens of thousands of acres of wildlife habitat and rangelands are infested with
noxious weeds which destroy critical habitat and diminish the value of both
public and private lands.  Last September, Governor Roy Romer held a summit on
the problem and urged agencies to make a strong, coordinated and aggressive
attack on weeds.  A working group comprised of private citizens and federal,
state and county agencies was subsequently established.  An MOU has been
developed which will be signed by the state, eleven federal agencies and the
Colorado Weed Management Association.  Several local groups have since been
established, including one in Estes Park which includes the park.  Rocky
Mountain has been working for over 30 years on controlling exotic plants,
including leafy spurge, musk thistle, Canada thistle, bull thistle, wooly
mullien, spotted knapweed, dalmation toadflax, yellow toadflax, and, most
recently, diffuse knapweed.  In the fall of 1994, the park expanded its weed
control efforts by entering into cooperative arrangements with local property
owners and other land management agencies in Estes Valley to control noxious
weeds.  Weeds, like wildfires, do not recognize political boundaries, so a
multi-agency approach is critical in control efforts.  Last year, the group
focused on public education, organization, field identification and weed
removal; this year, the program will emphasize coordinated application of a
variety of weed control methods, including hand pulling, mowing, herbicides and
biological control with insects.  Also to be used will be revegetation to
inhibit dominance of weed growth in ground plots.  

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1) Correction - A recent incident report (96-67) which appeared in the Morning
Report on an arrest for indecent exposure at Chickasaw stated that the trial
was held in "country" court.  It should have said "county" court.  The chief
ranger advises that, "needless to say, we're taking a lot of kidding from our
cluster brothers and would respectfully request a correction."  Done.  [Bill
Halainen, DEWA]

MEMORANDA

No memoranda.

UPCOMING IN CONGRESS

The following activities will be taking place in Congress during coming weeks
on matters pertaining to the National Park Service.  If you would like further
information on any of these hearings or bills, please contact Stacey Rickard in
WASO Legislation at 202-208-3636. 

March 7

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (Murkowski): Hearing on S. 745,
brucellosis in bison at Yellowstone; S. 796 and H.R. 238, horses at Ozark; S.
1451, use of state employees in national parks during government shutdowns.

March 20

House Appropriations' Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies (Regula):
National Park Service's FY 97 budget request.

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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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