NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Wednesday, June 25, 1997

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

97-289 - Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/VA) - Body Discovered

On June 23rd, the Floyd County, Virginia, sheriff's office advised the park
that a burned automobile with a body inside had been discovered on a state
secondary road on NPS land just off the parkway in the Smart View area.  The
vehicle, which apparently was a white Chevrolet Camaro, bore no visible
registration or vehicle identification number; the name, gender and cause of
death of the occupant remain unknown.  Identification has been complicated by
extensive melting and incineration caused by the intense heat of the fire. 
Scorched grass nearby suggest that the fire may have been ignited by the
car's catalytic converter.  Ranger Pete Schula is investigating along with
county officers and agents from the FBI office in Roanoke.  [CRO, BLRI, 6/25]

97-290 - Glacier NP (MT) - Search in Progress

A search was begun late Monday evening for D. "E." E., 25, of Trion,
Georgia, whose car has been parked at the Lincoln Lake trailhead on Going-To-
The Sun road since Wednesday, June 18th.  D.E., who reportedly has limited
outdoor experience, did not obtain a backcountry camping permit.  Fifteen
park employees are currently involved in the search.  The Lincoln Lake trail
and Snyder Ridge have been swept by foot, and the Lake McDonald shoreline has
been checked by boat and by foot.  The search team will expand as needed, and
will include ground, aerial and aquatic operations.  Two dogs were employed
yesterday afternoon.  They picked up a scent and followed it to the opposite
side of Going-To-The-Sun road, but then lost it.  The dog teams are still
being utilized.  Investigation revealed that D.E. left nearly all of his
belongings in his car, including his camping equipment.  The possibility that
he has left the area has not been ruled out.  [Amy Vanderbilt, IO, GLAC,
6/24]

97-291 - Castillo de San Marcos NM (FL) - ARPA Investigation

Around 8:15 p.m. on June 23rd, M.L., a local resident, dug a hole in
the north green of the Castillo with the intention of planting a "magic tree"
for his group to meet around for meditation, dance and music.  M.L. had been
told earlier in the day that a permit would not be issued to him to plant a
tree in the park.  M.L. and his group none the less proceeded and were
accordingly cited for digging in a cultural area.  The park is discussing the
possibility of prosecuting for an ARPA violation with the U.S. attorney's
office.  [C. Dale, CR, CASA, 6/24]

97-292 - Mammoth Cave NP (KY) - Severe Storm Impacts

A violent thunderstorm struck the headquarters area early on the afternoon of
June 21st, bringing heavy rainfall, pea-sized hail and strong winds. 
Numerous large trees were blown down, knocking out power to the headquarters
campground, residential area, maintenance compound and ranger station. 
Several roads in the area were blocked, several campsites were closed and all
scheduled cave tours were held back as visitors sought shelter in the visitor
center.  ICS was implemented to manage the incident.  Park maintenance
employees worked with utility crews to restore power; efforts were
complicated by downed trees and by the severance of electrical service from
one park residence.  Employees from all park divisions formed saw crews to
open roads.  Power was restored around 6:30 p.m.  No injuries occurred, and
only minor property damage was reported by campers.  ICS remains in effect. 
A multi-divisional crew will continue working through the week on elimination
of hazardous conditions and restoration of basic services.  About a dozen
campsites at the headquarters campground remain closed became of hazardous
trees and branches.  [CRO, MACA, 6/24]

97-293 - Padre Island NS (TX) - Drug Seizure

While conducting a nesting sea turtle patrol on ATV on June 19th, a resource
management employee found a package wrapped in tape near the surf about 36
miles south of the park visitor center.  The package was turned over to a
ranger.  It was found to contain about a kilo of cocaine, with a street value
of about $15,000.  The cocaine was delivered to Customs agents for
destruction.  [Mark Foust, ACR, PAIS, 6/24]

97-294 - Jefferson National Expansion NM (MO) - Special Event 

On June 24th, Mrs. Lyndon "Lady Bird" Johnson visited the park along with two
family members and a friend.  They were escorted through the Arch by division
chief Mark Engler and visitor services director Frank Mares.  The visit
included a trip to the top of the Arch.  Park law enforcement rangers
assisted the local Secret Service office in providing protection for the
group.  [Beth Stout, Deputy CR, JEFF, 6/24]

FIRE ACTIVITY

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II

LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY 

                                                    Mon      Tue    %   Est
State      Unit              Fire/Incident   IMT    6/23     6/24  Con  Con

                 *** No significant fires reported ***

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

Friday, 6/20         1      1         7       4       27     12        54
Saturday, 6/21       6      0         8       0       14      2        30
Sunday, 6/22         6      0         9       0       31      5        51
Monday, 6/23         3     18         6       0       80     18       125
Tuesday, 6/24        2      0         6       4       73     21       106

TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FIVE DAY TREND) 

                  Crews     Engines    Helicopters    Airtankers   Overhead

Friday, 6/20         4         42          11             0             3
Saturday, 6/21       7          0           3             0             0
Sunday, 6/22         9          9           8             0             1
Monday, 6/23         7         24          15             0             3
Tuesday, 6/24       16         54          11            11            28


CURRENT SITUATION

No large fire activity was reported anywhere yesterday, although Alaska had
increased initial attack due to dry lightning.  Fire dangers remain high to
extreme in southern California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and
Colorado.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 6/25]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Everglades NP (FL) - Removal of Florida Panther Kitten

On Monday, June 23rd, personnel from the South Florida Natural Resource
Center and Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission captured 12-month-old
female panther kitten #61 to replace a malfunctioning radio collar.  The
kitten is the first offspring from the mating of Florida and Texas panthers
through the park's Florida panther genetic restoration project.  The kitten
was in very poor condition; she was thin and appeared to be dehydrated.  The
animal was taken to the Miami zoo for further evaluation, then transferred to
the University of Florida Gainesville's School of Veterinary Medicine for
diagnosis and care.  The kitten is expected to recover, but the cause of its
illness remains unknown.  The park will be kept informed of the kitten's
progress and diagnoses made of its condition.  [Reed Detring, EVER]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No submissions.

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

EXCHANGE

No submissions.

UPCOMING IN CONGRESS

The following activities will be taking place in Congress during coming weeks
on matters pertaining to the National Park Service.  For inquiries regarding
legislation pertaining to the NPS, please visit the Office of Legislative and
Congressional Affairs Website at http://www.nps.gov/legal, or contact the
main office at 202-208-5883/5656 and ask to be forwarded to the appropriate
legislative specialist.

Tuesday, June 24

House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands: Hearing on
H.R. 1500, Utah Wilderness Act (includes NPS wilderness areas) and H.R. 1952,
Utah Wilderness Act (deals only with BLM wilderness).

Wednesday June 25

House Committee on Resources: Mark-up of H.R. 901, American Land Sovereignty
Protection Act; H.R. 765, wild horses at Cape Lookout; S.J. Res 29, addition
to FDR Memorial.

Thursday, June 26

House Appropriations Committee: Mark-up of FY98 Interior appropriations bill.

Thursday, July 10

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Historic
Preservation and Recreation: Hearing on a GAO study on the health and
viability of range and wildlife population in Yellowstone NP.  Rescheduled
from June 12th.


Tuesday, July 15

House Committee on Resources: Oversight hearing on the administration's
American heritage rivers initiative.  Rescheduled from June 26th.

                                *  *  *  *  *

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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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