NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Thursday, March 20, 1997

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

96-126 - Gateway (New York/New Jersey) - Follow-up on Vehicular Homicide

On March 30, 1996, F.C., 32, of Atlantic Highland, New Jersey, was
riding his bike in the park's Sandy Hook Unit when he was struck and killed
by a stolen vehicle driven by T.S.  Also in the car were two
children, ages four and seven, that T.S. had abducted from a family for
whom she was working.  She was captured and arrested within a half hour of
the accident.  The children were not hurt and were later reunited with their
family.  On March 12th, a county superior court judge ruled that T.S. was
not guilty on a state charge of vehicular homicide by reason of insanity. 
Several charges, including child endangerment, were dismissed, as the state
could not prove that T.S. intended to harm the children or use them to
commit a crime.  Because of the insanity finding, guilty verdicts could not
be found for burglary, carjacking and joy-riding, although the judge stated
that the prosecution had proved the elements of each charge.  The court
ordered that T.S. be committed indefinitely to a state psychiatric
hospital.  [Thomas Lobkowicz, LES, Sandy Hook Unit, GATE, 3/18]

97-105 - Arches NP (Utah) - Rescue

On March 17th, eight-year-old C.H. of Kaysville, Utah, jumped into an
eight-foot-deep pothole on top of a tall, narrow sandstone fin located in a
picnic area adjacent to the Devils Garden campground.  He quickly realized
that he was unable to climb out of the pothole; when his shouts failed to
bring help, he removed his shoes and socks, filled them with sand and rocks
found on the pothole floor, and repeatedly threw them up into the air, trying
to draw attention to his location.  The combination of visual and audio
signals eventually attracted attention and led to a night-time technical
rescue which concluded with a rappel of over 50 feet off the fin to the
ground.  C.H. was unhurt.  The incident aroused substantial media interest
in the Salt Lake City area and provided several opportunities for the NPS to
provide preventive SAR information to the large number of people who will be
arriving in the area on school breaks over the next several weeks.  This was
one of three search or rescue operations in the park within a four-day
period.  [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 3/19]

97-106 - Olympic NP (Washington) - Storm Impacts

The park and surrounding area received more than 20 inches of rain at several
reporting locations between Monday, March 17th, and Wednesday, March 19th. 
The rains had been preceded by large amounts of wet snow in the high country,
and the combination of runoff and rain led to severe flooding throughout the
area.  Six major roads into the park were closed due to flooding and mud
slides, and three sections of Highway 101 surrounding the peninsula were
impassible to through traffic.  Due to the on-going nature of the incident,
the park has not yet been able to fully assess the damage, but it appears
that at least two roads will require significant repair prior to re-opening
and that all affected roads will require clean up.  Quinault rangers are
assisting a local community in the evacuation of residences caught by the
flood. [Corkey McKeown, OLYM, 3/19]

97-107 - George Washington Memorial Parkway (Virginia) - MVA; Citizen Rescue

A vehicle driven by S.L. of Alexandria went out of control on the
parkway and plunged into the Potomac River near Columbia Island on the
evening of March 19th.  S.L.'s vehicle crossed the median and both
northbound lanes before heading downhill into the river.  Paul Hiskey, a
passing motorist, pulled S.L. from his partially submerged vehicle.  S.L.
was admitted to a local hospital for treatment for hypothermia and exposure. 
[Bill Lynch, LES, NCR, 3/20]

97-108 - Cumberland Gap NHP (Kentucky/Tennessee/Virginia) - Assault Arrest

On March 17th, the Cumberland Gap Tunnel Authority notified rangers of a
disturbance on the Kentucky side of the tunnel.  A local man was insisting on
riding his bike through the tunnel, which is not permitted.  The responding
ranger talked with the man and decided to escort him through the tunnel on
foot.  When they reached the Tennessee side, the ranger asked him for
identification, but he refused and rode off.  The ranger pursued and caught
the man, who then struck the ranger on the head.  The cyclist was arrested
and will be tried on April 16th.  The ranger was not injured.  The cyclist
caused problems during tunnel construction and has done so repeatedly since
its opening.  [Elizabeth Dinger-Glisan, CUGA, 3/19]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Environmental Crimes Update - The Service began an environmental crimes
initiative in 1994 with the objective of protecting park resources from
illegal environmental pollution.  The initiative has focused on general
education, training, field guidance, partnerships, and case activity.  Seven
general education articles directed to NPS employees and cooperators have
been published, and 440 persons have completed either environmental crimes
investigation or awareness courses.  Additional environmental crimes
awareness workshops are planned for Delaware Water Gap NRA and Lake Meredith
NRA this spring.  In February, 1997, a 400-page environmental crimes handbook
was distributed to the field.  This reference book provides guidance on
recognizing and investigating environmental crimes in a park setting.  This
handbook also incorporates a previously released issue paper on law
enforcement authorities for protecting parks from minerals development. 
Through the initiative, the NPS has developed partnerships with the National
Park Foundation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Environmental Protection
Agency, Coast Guard Investigative Service, Department of Justice, and
INTERPOL.  Through these partnerships we have received funding, training,
technical and legal advice, and investigative assistance.  A review of
Morning Report entries for the past four years indicates that approximately
50 parks have been affected by significant environmental crimes.  In the most
significant case in recent years, individuals responsible for dumping
hazardous waste in Mojave National Preserve were sentenced to 46 months in
prison and ordered to make restitution to the NPS.  The future direction for
the initiative is currently being discussed in the Washington Office.  Your
comments are welcomed.  [Einar Olsen, NPS Environmental Crimes Coordinator,
NCSO]

National Interpretive Advisory Council Update - The following items were
extracted from a recent NIAC status report prepared by chairperson Randy
Turner (DEWA):
  
o Southeast Region's interpretation workshop is being held in
Spartenburg, South Carolina from March 18th to the 20th.  Northeast
Region's interpretation workshop will be in Allentown, Pennsylvania
from April 1st to the 3rd, with pre- and post-workshop sessions on
March 31st and April 4th.

o A Northeast Region task force made up of interpreters and
superintendents met in Harpers Ferry from February 26th to the 28th to
develop an interpretation and education strategic plan for the
Northeast Region.  Interpreters in the Appalachian Cluster met just
before the Southeast Region workshop on March 16th and 17th to work on
strategic planning for the Southeast Region.
    
o A work group received background information from Harpers Ferry Center
staff on the major rehabilitation program.  Acting manger Andy Kardos
said that he is very open to reviewing the process and entertaining
changes in the way projects are submitted and selected for major rehab
funding.  Work group members considered addressing other program areas
at HFC, but eventually decided to tackle the major rehab program first,
then deal with other HFC program areas later. A conference call meeting
was conducted on March 3rd.  Dick Rasp (HAVO) is the chairperson of the
work group and can be contacted for more information.

MEMORANDA

"Ranger Advisory Group," signed on March 18th by the Associate Director, Park
Operations and Education, and sent by electronic mail to all regional
directors.  The following is an information copy of the text of that
memorandum.  Any related instructions or guidance will come through official
channels:

"Thank you for your prompt response with individuals nominated to serve on
the Ranger Advisory Group (RAG).  The RAG will be composed of the following
individuals.

     Chris Andress         WASO          Jerry Banta          APIS
     Tony Bonanno          SWSO          Judy Forte           SESO
     Rick Gale             WASO          John Howard          ANTI
     Jay Liggett           THRO          John Lynch           NESO
     Jim Martin            HAVO          Paula Nasiatka       SAGU
     Doyle Nelson          DEWA          Bill Pierce          KATM/LACL
     Curt Sauer            OLYM          Louis Wesselhoft     PRWI
     Gordon Wissinger      NATR          Clara Wooden         AKSO

"In addition, there will be a U.S. Park Police command official as a member
of RAG, and the three Ranger Activities related training managers will serve
as ex-officio members of RAG.  These three are Chuck Anibal (visitor use
management), Paul Broyles (fire, aviation and all-risk) and Tom Cherry (law
enforcement).

"The initial meeting of the RAG will be held in Boston the week of 06-16/20-
97.  Logistical details will be sent directly to the RAG members later.  To
assist in making this initial meeting successful, it will be facilitated by
Linda Wright and one or two of the leadership of the Servicewide Maintenance
Advisory Committee will also be present to help the RAG get organized."

EXCHANGE

No submissions.

                               *  *  *  *  *

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.

                                 --- ### ---