- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Monday, October 28, 1996
- Date: Mon, 28 Oct 1996
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Monday, October 28, 1996
Broadcast: By 1000 ET
INCIDENTS
95-551 - Mojave NP (California) - Follow-up on Hazardous Materials Dumping
Between April and August, 1995, Ge.L., 72, L.L., 30, Ga.L.,
18, and a juvenile member of their family dumped hazardous wastes at
15 sites in California, Arizona and Utah, including 105 55-gallon drums and
many other containers at a dozen sites in Mojave NP and adjacent BLM and
private lands. Clean-up costs exceeded $200,000. A four-month-long joint
investigation involving NPS, BLM, EPA, FBI and state investigators culminated
in August, 1995, in the arrest of L.L. and Ga.L. and the juvenile
after the trio dumped six drums on BLM land near the park. Final sentences
in the case were recently handed down. Ge.L. was sentenced to 46
months in prison and ordered to pay almost $40,000 in restitution. His
sentence was affected by his recruitment and use of a juvenile and by the
fact that he organized and lead the operation. The court declined to reduce
his sentence due to age and medical conditions. L.L. was sentenced
to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay another $40,000 in restitution.
The Fluid Polymers Corporation was also ordered to pay $40,000 in restitution
and was fined $10,000. [Alan Foster, CI, WHIS]
96-518 - Shenandoah NP (Virginia) - Follow-up on Search
On October 27th, a park visitor discovered the remains of a body 40 yards off
White Oak Canyon trail and about three-and-a-half miles from Skyline Drive.
Based on identification and personal belongings found at the scene,
investigators have determined that they are probably the remains of J.S.,
the State Department employee whose car was discovered in the park
on September 8th. It was later determined that J.S., who was
experiencing personal problems, had come to the park on August 30th. The
search was suspended on September 15th. All indications are that the cause
of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound from the firearm found at the
scene. A handwritten suicide note was also found. [Clay Jordan, SPR, SHEN]
96-634 - Glen Canyon NRA (Utah/Arizona) - Boating Accident with Fatality
A boat with two men aboard struck the canyon wall at a high rate of speed in
an area known as the Escalante Arm at 3 p.m. on October 24th. C.P.,
28, was killed; David Altop, 32, was injured and flown to a hospital in Page
for treatment. The park dive team is attempting to recover C.P.'s body,
which is in 30 to 200 feet of water. There are no underwater obstructions in
the area. Alcohol may have been involved. [David Sandbakken, GLCA]
96-635 - National Capital Parks Central (D.C.) - Assault Arrest
During the early morning hours of October 25th, Park Police officers arrested
a 16-year-old male in connection with a series of assaults on female joggers
which have occurred recently along the Rock Creek Parkway bike path. He was
charged with attempted robbery in the most recent incident, which occurred on
October 21st. Additional charges are pending. The boy is from Philadelphia
but has been living with foster parents in Washington for the past three
months. At the time of his arrest, he was listed as a missing person. [Bill
Lynch, LES, NCSO]
96-636 - Delaware Water Gap NRA (New Jersey/Pennsylvania) - Probable Arson
Ranger Troy Mueller noted a red glow in the sky just west of Dingmans
cemetery in the park's Pennsylvania District on the evening of October 12th.
He hiked to the location and found an abandoned cabin burned to the ground.
A hand line was quickly established around the ensuing surface fire. The
fire was controlled by 11 p.m. Arson is suspected. The investigation
continues. [Karl Merchant, IC, DEWA]
96-637 - Kennesaw Mountains NBP (Georgia) - MVA with Fatality
W.R., 19, of Dallas, Georgia, was driving west on Stilesboro Road on
the evening of October 13th when his 1977 Camaro was hit head-on by a 1978
Chevrolet van operated by Daniel Hedden, 35, of Marietta, Georgia. W.R. died
at the scene; Hedden remains unconscious in a nearby hospital. Investigation
revealed that the Hedden was driving the van at a high rate of speed and that
he'd passed a vehicle on a double yellow line just before hitting W.R.'s
Camaro. Ranger Richard Black and Cobb County police are investigating.
[CRO, KEMO]
96-638 - Roosevelt-Vanderbilt NHS (New York) - Special Event
The 1996 Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill awards were presented to Queen Noor of
Jordan and former Israeli first lady Lea Rabin by Franklin Roosevelt III at
the Eleanor Roosevelt site on Columbus Day weekend. The medals are given to
individuals who have dedicated their lives to humanitarian issues and service
to society. Also in attendance were the Jordanian ambassadors to the United
States and United Nations and comedian Joan Rivers. The event was managed
under ICS, with an NPS special events team, Park Police mounted units, and
Secret Service security committed to the event. Support was also provided by
state and local police. [Chris Jefferson, CR, ROVA]
FIRE ACTIVITY
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II
LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY
Thurs Sun % Est
State Unit Fire/Incident IMT 10/24 10/27 Con Con
CA Los Padres NF Sur T2 3,260 4,430 40 10/31
Los Angeles County Calabasas -- 13,015 13,010 100 CND
San Diego RU Otay #322 -- 14,720 14,720 100 CND
Ventura County * Poli -- - 450 100 CND
* Texaco -- - 150 100 CND
San Bernadino NF * Waterman #3 -- - 600 0 NEC
Riverside RU * Sierra -- - 200 100 CND
Sonoma RU * Porter -- - 250 100 CND
Heading Notes
Unit -- Agency = BIA area; NF = national forest; RU = CA state resource
or ranger unit; RD = state ranger district; District = BLM
district; NWR = USFWS wildlife refuge
Fire -- * = newly reported fire (on this report); Cx = complex; LSS =
limited suppression strategy; CSS = containment suppression
strategy
IMT -- T1 = Type 1; T2 = Type II; ST = State Team
% Con -- Percent of fire contained
Est Con -- Estimated containment date; NEC = no estimated date of
containment; CND = fully contained; NR = no report; LPS = limited
protection status
NUMBER OF NEW FIRES (FIVE DAY TREND)
NPS BIA BLM FWS States USFS Total
Wednesday, 10/23 - - - - - - -
Thursday, 10/24 0 1 3 0 21 8 33
Friday, 10/25 40 0 0 0 28 5 73
Saturday, 10/26 0 0 0 0 17 3 20
Sunday, 10/27 0 0 0 0 25 3 28
TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FIVE DAY TREND)
Crews Engines Helicopters Airtankers Overhead
Wednesday, 10/23 -- --- -- -- -
Thursday, 10/24 149 335 32 17 851
Friday, 10/25 124 183 18 10 137
Saturday, 10/26 141 251 25 9 658
Sunday, 10/27 204 401 24 10 735
CURRENT SITUATION
There was only minimal initial attack activity in southern California
yesterday. Weather conditions remained favorable and winds continued to
diminish. Resource mobilization through NICC has been minimal.
Demobilization of out-of-are crews is scheduled to begin today.
NATIONAL OUTLOOK
NICC has posted a FIRE WEATHER WATCH for Santa Ana winds this morning in
southern California coastal mountains and valleys below mountain passes.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Position Management Software - Formal release of the new NPS, Windows-based,
automated Federal Wage System software for use by parks has been authorized
through an October 7th memorandum to field directors. The software was
developed under contract by APC in conjunction with the maintenance careers
work group, chaired by Rick Shireman, chief of facility management at Mesa
Verde. The program, which has been field tested in 25 parks, contains 21
of the series most commonly used in NPS. The software provides a step-
by-step process which allows managers to create positions from beginning to
end; among other things, it can generate PD's and provide classification
standards, staffing plans and training plans. The manager follows a
user-friendly "tree" format which takes just minutes to go through and
generate a document. Key players in development of this system
along with Shireman were Diane Sontag and Alex Young, both of APC. Further
information about the program can be obtained from APC. The software can
also be easily modified for use in GS series. [John Gingles, FMD/WASO]
MEMORANDA
No submissions.
EXCHANGE
No submissions.
TRAINING AND WORKSHOP CALENDAR
Two calendars alternate in the Morning Report on Mondays - this one, which
contains training courses and workshops, and a second, which contains
meetings, conferences and events. If you know of a conference, meeting,
workshop or training session with Servicewide interest and implications,
please send the information along. Entries are listed no earlier than FOUR
months before the event, EXCEPT in instances in which registration dates
close much earlier. Asterisks indicate new entries; brackets at end of entry
indicate source of information. Brevity is appreciated.
11/3-5 -- "Choosing By Advantages," Sheraton Hotel, Corpus Christi, TX.
Sponsored by the Association of National Park Rangers. Training
on this management program, recently used by the NPS to
prioritize line item construction. Official NPS training.
Tuition: $100 for ANPR and ANPME members, $150 for non-members.
Contact: Bill Wade, 540-635-8809. Cutoff for registration is
October 16th. [Bill Wade, SHEN]
11/3-4 -- Pollution Prevention Training, Sheraton Hotel, Corpus Christi,
TX. Sponsored by Association of National Park Maintenance
Employees. The course will provide participants with the latest
information and regulations on developing a pollution prevention
program for maintenance operations in national parks. Field trip
to Padre Island. Cost: $125 for ANPME members, $200 for non-
members. Applications must be sent to ANPME, PO Box 388,
Gansevoort, NY 12381. Contact: Rick Shireman, Mesa Verde NP,
970-529-4465 or 882-2376 (phone) or Rick Shireman at NP-MEVE
(cc:Mail). [Steve Hastings, NERI]
11/6-7 -- "Fulfilling the NPS Mission: The Process of Interpretation,"
Sheraton Hotel, Corpus Christi, TX. Held in conjunction with the
Association of National Park Rangers' Rendezvous. This is a
cornerstone module of the interpretive curriculum which
establishes the foundation for professional interpretive
development and is targeted at all NPS rangers. The module is
particularly valuable to supervisors who do not have a background
in interpretation to help them understand the purpose and
concepts of the profession. Contact: Dave Dahlen, STMA, 304-535-
6215. [Glora Baker, STMA]
11/13* -- "Global Choices: Environmental Action and the Design
Professional," Holiday Inn Pyramid, Albuquerque, NM. A one day
course for designers, specifiers, building owners and contractors
on creating environmentally sensitive interiors, evaluating
sustainable design or ecologically appropriate products, and
developing an understanding of global issues such as conservation
and energy efficiency. Cost: $110. Contact: Barry Sulam at NP-
SWRO. [Barry Sulam, IMFA]
11/13-15 -- NPS Geologic Resources Division Workshop, Denver, CO. Three
separate workshop sessions - geology, disturbed lands, and
minerals management - will run concurrently, with one or two
plenary sessions. The division is very interested in
participation by managers and professionals dealing with any of
these matters, and would like to hear from you as soon as
possible to determine your interest and needs. Contacts: Ed
Kassman, 303-969-2146; David Steensen, 303-969-2014; Judy Geniac,
303-969-2015. [Ed Kassman, GRD/WASO]
12/8-13 -- Managerial Grid: Phase I and Instructor Preparation Seminars,
Tucson, AZ. Phase I is a prerequisite for attending the IP
seminar. Sponsored by ANPR. Cost: $500 for members, $550 for
non-members. Deadline for applications is October 25th; they
should be sent to ANPR, PO Box 307, Gansevoort, NY 12831.
Contact: Ann Baugh, 520-638-2691, or Bill Wade, 540-999-3400.
[Bill Wade, SHEN]
1/5-10 -- Managerial Grid: Phase I and Instructor Preparation Seminars,
Cape Cod, MA. Phase I is a prerequisite for attending the IP
seminar. Sponsored by ANPR. Cost: $500 for members, $550 for
non-members. Deadline for applications is December 6th (not
January 10th, as appeared last time); they should be sent to
ANPR, PO Box 307, Gansevoort, NY 12831. Contact: Ann Baugh, 520-
638-2691, or Bill Wade, 540-999-3400. [Bill Wade, SHEN]
1/19-24* -- School of RV Park and Campground Management, Oglebay Park,
Wheeling, WV. Training on all aspects of campground facility
management and operation. Cost: $710, including room and board.
Contact: Sue George, 800-624-6988, ext. 4019, or 304-243-4019.
[Mark Maciha, CACA]
* * * * *
Distribution of the Morning Report is through a mailing list managed by park,
office and/or field area cc:Mail hub coordinators. Please address requests
for the Morning Report to your servicing hub coordinator.
Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.
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