NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date: Tuesday, December 3, 1996 

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

96-671 - Denver Service Center (Colorado) - Serious Injury to Employee

John Christiano, chief of the Air Resources Division, was seriously injured
in a car accident on Tuesday, November 26th.  John, his wife, Marilyn, and
her parents were on their way home from Denver airport in the Christiano's
Nissan Accura when a car traveling in the opposite direction lost control on
icy roads, crossed the median, and struck the Nissan.  John suffered massive
internal injuries and is in very serious condition in intensive care at
Columbia-Swedish Hospital in Littleton.  His wife and mother-in-law were
treated for, respectively, a broken leg and broken ribs.  An update will
appear in tomorrow's Morning Report.  [John Bunyak, Debby Peck, AQD/WASO]

96-672 - Kennesaw Mountains NBP (Georgia) - ARPA Case

On December 1st, a visitor reported seeing holes dug just off the running
trail near the Texas Monument in the Cheatham Hill area.  Ranger Richard
Black responded and found over 70 holes dug in an area with a 100 yard
radius.  Ranger Richard Biurgen was called to assist in the investigation. 
Holes were identified and plotted on a map.  Investigators in the Southeast
Archeology Center were then contacted, and an investigation was scheduled for
yesterday.  There are no suspects at this time.  [Rick Black, Acting CR,
KEMO]

                   [Additional reports pending...]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Lake Mead NRA (Nevada/Arizona) - Water Quality Issues

The results of two studies conducted by the Nevada Basin and Range study unit
of the National Water Quality Assessment Program, U.S.Geological Survey, in
cooperation with the National Park Service, National Biological Service and
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have indicated the presence of pesticides and
industrial compounds in the water, bottom sediment, and carp found in Las
Vegas Wash and Las Vegas Bay at Lake Mead.  Many of the detected compounds
have been linked in other studies to the disruption of endocrine systems,
which control reproductive functions in fish.  The USGS results, released
November 19th, noted the presence of female egg protein in blood-plasma
samples of male carp from Las Vegas Wash and Bay, and elevated concentrations
in female carp from the bay.  Las Vegas Wash is the surface-water outlet for
the Las Vegas area.  It transports stormwater run-off, shallow ground-water
discharge, and tertiary-treated sewage effluent from the city to the bay. 
Samples were taken from five locations, including one in Las Vegas Wash,
three in Las Vegas Bay, and one in Callville Bay, ten miles uplake, which was
used as a reference site for comparison.  The results caused concern
throughout the region, as Lake Mead is a popular recreation area, with more
than nine million visitors a year, and is also the major source of drinking
water for the Las Vegas valley.  The levels of the chemicals found in carp
samples do not exceed FDA standards for consumption, but in some cases do
exceed EPA guidelines for one in one million cancer risk.  There is nothing
in the study that indicates that swimming or wading in Lake Mead is
unhealthful.   The water intake structure for the Las Vegas valley drinking
water is six miles downstream from the Las Vegas Wash-Bay interface, but,
according to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the compounds found in Las
Vegas Bay do not reach the intake and don't compromise the quality of
drinking water.  The NPS is forming an advisory group comprised of 
representatives from local, state, and federal agencies to review the results
and determine further studies or actions, including studies to attempt to
identify the sources of the organic compounds and assess the condition of
sport fish, including striped bass and catfish, in the area. For further
information or copies of the report contact William Burke via cc:Mail or at
702-293-8935.  [Nancy Hendricks, LAME]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No notes.

MEMORANDA

No memoranda.

EXCHANGE

No submissions.

                                *  *  *  *  *

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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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