- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Wednesday, October 29, 1997
- Date: Wed, 29 Oct 1997
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Wednesday, October 29, 1997
Broadcast: By 1000 ET
*** NOTICE ***
All flags are to lowered to half staff today, Wednesday, October 29, 1997, in
recognition of the passing of California Congressman Walter Capps. Flags are
to return to full staff tomorrow. This action is by order of the White
House.
INCIDENTS
97-291 - Castillo de San Marcos NM (FL) - Follow-up on Resource Violation
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. M.L. was recently found guilty in federal
court; he was fined $100 and banned from the park until January, 1998. [C.
Dale, CR, CASA, 6/24]
97-375 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Follow-up on Falling Fatality
The body of Z.L. was found approximately 600 feet downstream from the
base of Nevada Falls on October 12th. Z.L. had been swimming in a pool about
100 feet above Nevada Falls on the evening of July 5th when he was swept over
the falls while his friends watched and fell 600 feet to his death. Efforts
to find the body immediately after the incident were fruitless and were not
resumed until the river level dropped. An extended search by dogs, divers,
and ground searchers was required to locate his body. A scuba diver was
employed to recover the body where it had been trapped under a boulder in
about six feet of water. Signs are posted throughout the area above Nevada
Falls warning of the danger of being swept over the falls. [Brian Smith,
Shift Supervisor, YOSE, 10/28]
97-667 - Rocky Mountain NP (CO) - Rescue
A search was begun on Sunday, October 12th, for two climbers - D.S.
and C.S. - who failed to return from a day climb on the east face of
Long's Peak. A snow storm which struck the area on Saturday night stranded
the pair 100 feet below the mountain's summit (14,255 feet). Four rangers
searched all day Sunday, but high winds and blowing snow hampered their
ability to make contact with the climbers. Despite adverse weather
conditions that continued on Monday, two rangers began ascending the
climbers' intended route. They heard cries for help about two-thirds of the
way up the route, but winds in excess of 80 mph and zero visibility again
made contact impossible. The exhausted rangers returned to the Chasm shelter
with the help of other rescue personnel in mid-afternoon. A Larimer County
SAR team en route to the shelter to replenish food and equipment came upon
C.S. in the boulder field below Long's Peak at about that time. C.S. had
left D.S. on the mountain to go for help. It was determined that
D.S.'s location was only 200 feet above the point where the rangers had
been forced to turn back. Tuesday dawned clear and bright. A party of four
climbers left Chasm shelter and reached D.S. at 8:30 a.m. They provided
minor medical aid and helped him climb the remaining 100 feet to a waiting
helicopter. He was flown to a hospital with severe frostbite to his hands
and moderate frostbite to his feet. A total of 30 NPS, county, Rocky
Mountain Rescue and Colorado Mountain School personnel were involved in the
incident. [Sharon Brubaker, ROMO, 10/28]
97-668 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Drowning
Dispatch received a cellular phone report of a drowning at the top of Vernal
Falls on October 18th. A.B., 29, of Santa Clara, had entered the
water in an attempt to save his wife, who had slipped into the Emerald Pool.
Neither A.B. nor his wife were swimmers. Although A.B.'s wife made
it to safety, he went under and was submerged for about 15 minutes before
visitors pulled him from the cold water. CPR was begun by off-duty
firefighters and a physician. Rangers were flown to the scene in the park
helicopter and began advanced cardiac life support. A.B.'s pulse
returned during the rescue effort, but he then went back into full arrest.
He was carried by litter to the helicopter and flown to the park clinic.
During extended resuscitation efforts there, he again regained a pulse and
blood pressure, but subsequently succumbed. [Brian Smith, Shift Supervisor,
YOSE, 10/28]
97-669 - Great Smoky Mountains NP (TN/NC) - MVA with Fatality
T.D., a 19-year-old resident of Alcoa, Tennessee, was killed in a motor
vehicle accident on the Foothills Parkway - West around 3 a.m. on Sunday,
October 26th. The vehicle in which T.D. was a passenger spun out of control
and went off the road and down a steep embankment. T.D. was ejected from
the vehicle and died at the scene. Alcohol is thought to have been a factor
in the accident, which is under investigation. [Jason Houck, CR, GRSM,
10/27]
97-670 - Big Bend NP (TX) - Drug Seizures
A large amount of marijuana was seized in the park recently during "Operation
Rio Grande," a multi-agency operation involving the NPS, Customs, DEA, Border
Patrol and county sheriffs. On September 30th, Border Patrol agents
requested assistance in stopping and searching a Chevy Blazer S-10 operated
by S.A., 33, a Mexican national. A search of the vehicle's
undercarriage revealed wrapped packages that smelled of marijuana. The
vehicle was taken to the park's auto shop, where rangers Gary Carver and Gus
Martinez employed an air chisel to remove the vehicle's false floor. Inside
were 446 pounds of marijuana. S.A. was arraigned in magistrate's court on
October 2nd on one felony count of transporting/delivering a controlled
substance. This was the seventh (and largest) seizure in as many days in the
park's Presidio area. It is important to note that during this operation an
elderly couple from the northeast was arrested for transporting approximately
300 pounds of marijuana in their motorhome while crossing the border at the
Presidio. [DR, East District, BIBE, 10/26]
[Additional reports pending...]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No submissions.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Vehicle Safety Warming - Redwood N&SP recently lost a one-ton Dodge Ram
pickup truck to a fire caused by a broken transmission fluid line.
This vehicle had evidently been the subject of a recent recall notice which
neither GSA nor the park received. Parks that have any late 1994 through
1997 Dodge Ram vans, wagons or trucks with automatic transmissions should
heed the following information from the recall notice, which was just
obtained from our local dealer: "Chrysler Corporation has determined that a
defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in some late-1994
through 1997 Dodge Ram trucks and 1995 and 1996 Dodge Ram vans and wagons
equipped with an automatic transmission. Under certain operating conditions,
the transmission fluid temperature on your vehicle may cause the plastic
retainers in the transmission cooler pressure line quick connect fitting to
melt. If this occurs, the fittings may separate and transmission fluid could
spray onto the engine and exhaust system and cause a vehicle fire." [Bob
Shannon, REDW]
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.
10/x-11/x -- National Preservation Seminars, various locations:
10/22, Federal Cultural Resources Compliance, Atlanta, GA.
$210.
10/23-24, Identification and Management of Traditional
Cultural Places, Atlanta, GA. $325.
10/29, Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the
Treatment of Historic Properties, Albany, NY. $210.
10/30-31, Cultural Resource Management Plans, Albany, NY.
$325.
11/17-18, Integrating Cultural Resource and Environmental
Compliance, Phoenix, AZ. $325.
11/19-20, Contracting for Cultural Resources Tasks,
Phoenix, AZ. $325.
-- Contact: NPI, 703-765-0100, www.npi.org, info@npi.org. [Diane
Vogt O'Connor, DCA/WASO]
10/28-30* -- Accessibility Training, North Carolina Arboretum, Blue Ridge
Parkway. Conducted by National Center on Accessibility. The
course includes comprehensive information on understanding the
needs of individuals with various disabilities. Legislation and
design guidelines will be discussed along with current and
proposed standards. Contact: Terry McElrath at terry_mcelrath
@nps.gov. [Joyce Howe, STMA]
11/x-3/x -- Wilderness Management Planning, University of Montana. Offered
as correspondence course or via Internet. Presents and discusses
differences in planning among the four federal land management
agencies. Contact: Chris Ryan, Arthur Carhart Wilderness
Training Center, 406-626-5208 x 17. [Joyce Howe, STMA]
11/x-3/x -- Management of Recreation Resources, University of Montana.
Offered as correspondence course or via Internet. Explores and
discusses managing areas to ensure quality visitor experiences.
Contact: Chris Ryan, Arthur Carhart Wilderness Training Center,
406-626-5208 x 17. [Joyce Howe, STMA]
11/x-3/x -- Wilderness Philosophy and Ethic Development, University of
Montana. Offered as correspondence course or via Internet.
Discusses philosophical origin of wilderness concept, themes and
values provided by wilderness, and history of wilderness movement
in U.S. and internationally. Contact: Chris Ryan, Arthur Carhart
Wilderness Training Center, 406-626-5208 x 17. [Joyce Howe,
STMA]
11/1 -- Seasonal Law Enforcement Training, University of Massachusetts,
Amherst, MA. The university sponsors the 285-hour FLETC approved
NPS seasonal law enforcement training course. Classes begin on
November 1st and continue on weekends through March, 1998. The
registration deadline/ confirmation date is October 17th.
Contact: Alice Szlosek or Trudy Goodchild, 413-545-2484. [John
Lynch, NERO]
11/4-5 -- Tax Incentives for Developing Historic Properties, ANA Hotel,
Washington, DC. Use of historic preservation tax incentives to
develop historic properties. Experienced financiers, developers,
bankers, experts from the NPS and tax specialists from IRS will
explain effective strategies for historic property development,
including earning tax credits for up to 20% of rehabilitation
costs, piggybacking other federal and local tax incentives, and
maximizing investment opportunities. Contact: Brooks Prueher at
202-343-1185 or at NP-WASO-HPS. [Brooks Prueher, WASO]
11/4-6 -- Programming and Budget, Tucson, AZ. The course is targeted at
the program management level, and is designed to provide the
participants with a better understanding of the NPS budget
process. Contact: Jan Gauthier, Mather EDC, 304-535-6215.
[Joyce Howe, STMA]
11/4-6 -- "Strategic Directions: Refocusing the Mandate," Intermountain
Region Chief Rangers' Workshop, Lakewood, CO. Focus on
supervision, policy/law and the ranger's role beyond law
enforcement. Contact: Joe Evans at NP-ROMO. [Joe Evans, ROMO]
11/5 -- "Have You Got the Blues? Architectural Records: Their
Identification, Management, Storage and Treatment," Syracuse
University, Syracuse, NY. Contact: Susan Dubois, 215-545-0613,
or ccaha@shrsys.hslc.org, or 215-735-9313 (fax). [Diane Vogt
O'Connor, DCA/WASO]
11/5-7 -- REVISED: International Preservation Trades Workshop, Frederick,
MD. This workshop features craft demonstrations in masonry
conservation, timber framing techniques, epoxy repairs, and much
more. Contact: Dorothy Printup, 301-663-8206. [Dorothy Printup,
HPTC]
11/13-18 -- North American Technical Rescue Symposium/NPS Servicewide Search
and Rescue Meeting, Best Western Golden Sails Hotel, Long Beach,
CA. The NPS meeting will convene after the technical rescue
symposium. Registration for the symposium is $95 (NASAR and MRA
members), $130 (non-members). The NPS meeting will be for park
personnel representing active SAR programs and will address
several issues affecting NPS SAR policies. Agenda topics will
include SARPRO funding development, major SAR guidelines, use of
volunteers and emergency hires in SAR, and a national PSAR
campaign. If you plan on attending this important meeting,
please RSVP organizers JD Swed at DENA at 907-733-9105 or Ken
Phillips at GRCA at 520-638-7792. Contacts: Registration -
NASAR, 703-222-6277, reservations - Best Western Golden Sails,
800-762-5333 or 562-596-1631. [JD Swed, DENA]
11/17-21 -- REVISED - NEW LOCATION: Instructor's Workshop in Special Park
Uses, Herndon, VA (formerly Las Vegas, NV). Designed to develop
a cadre of instructors to train employees with responsibility for
special use permitting. Concentration on basic authorities and
procedures. Participants will learn basic instructional skills
and techniques. Contact: Charles Anibal, Mather EDC, 304-535-
6215. [Joyce Howe, STMA]
11/18-20 -- Wilderness Arid Lands Restoration Training, Palm Springs, CA.
Training will provide both classroom instruction and field
exposure to techniques and knowledge required for successful land
restoration in arid environments. Contact: Greg Kroll, Arthur
Carhart National Wilderness Training Center, 406-626-5208 x 14,
406-626-5395 (fax). [Joyce Howe, STMA]
11/19-21 -- Appalachian Trail Scenic Trail Critical Incident Management
Workshop, USFWS National Conservation Training Center,
Shepherdstown, WV.. The intent of the workshop is to bring
together various local, state, federal and private managers of
the Appalachian Trail to develop a critical incident management
plan for the trail. Contact: Robert W. Gray, CR, 304-535-6278 or
by name on cc:Mail at NP-WASO. [Robert Gray, ATTR]
12/1 -- A New Perspective on Risk Management, NPS learning event via
satellite. This training event will explore a variety of
successful approaches to managing work site safety and
occupational health programs to reduce work place accidents.
Contact: Shirley Rowley via cc:Mail or at 303-969-2197. [Joyce
Howe, STMA]
12/1-2 -- Small Craft Enforcement Training Program (SCETP-801), FLETC,
Glynco, GA. Designed to meet the needs of law enforcement
officers assigned to inland water law enforcement. Includes
instruction on operation and navigation of highly specialized
enforcement watercraft. See your training officer for copies of
the announcement and details. Nominations close on October 22nd.
[Wiley Golden, NPS/FLETC]
12/1-12 -- Physical Fitness Coordinator Training Program (PFCTP-801), FLETC,
Glynco, GA. Upon completion, participants will be able to
conduct FLETC's five-part physical efficiency battery (PEB), as
well as additional assessment modes. See your training officer
for copies of the announcement and details. Nominations close on
October 22nd. [Wiley Golden, NPS/FLETC]
12/7-12 -- Managerial Grid: Phase I and Instructor Preparation Seminars,
Jackonsville, FL. Phase I is a prerequisite for attending the IP
seminar. Sponsored by ANPR. Cost: $600 for members, $700 for
non-members. Deadline for applications (purchase order, SF-181,
personal check or money order, etc.) is November 7th; they should
be sent to ANPR, c/o Bill Wade, 5625 N. Wilmot Road, Tucson, AZ,
520-615-9417, 520-615-9474 (fax). [Bill Wade]
12/8-12 -- HazMat Clandestine Drug Lab Waste Operations, San Luis Obispo,
CA. Contact: Peg Ryan, California Specialized Training
Institute, 805-549-3344. [Einar Olsen, RCR, NCSO]
12/8-12 -- Universal Design Training Course for Parks, Recreation and
Interpretive Environments, New Orleans, LA. The National Center
on Accessibility will host this training course, which is ideal
for designers, architects, engineers, interpretive specialists,
curators and exhibit planners from park, recreation, museum,
outdoor education and historic environments. Contact: National
Center on Accessibility, 765-349-9240, or by e-mail at their home
page at www.indiana.edu /~nca. [Joyce Howe, STMA]
12/8-12 -- Archeological Resource Protection Training Program (XP-ARPTP-
802), Tucson, AZ. Closes on November 4th. [Wiley Golden,
NPS/FLETC]
12/9-12 -- Basic Environmental Crimes Investigations, Biloxi, MS. The
course is for environmental regulators and law enforcement
personnel. Tuition: $250. Sponsored by Southern Environmental
Enforcement Network. Contact: Lana Burwell, 334-242-7369, NLT
September 30th. [Einar Olsen, RCR, NCSO]
12/9-11 -- Introduction to Federal Projects and Historic Preservation Law,
Nashville, TN. Basic introductory course for park staff on the
fundamentals of Section 106 compliance. Contact: Laura Feller
via cc:Mail at NP-WASO-NRHE, or see The Learning Place bulletin
board. [Joyce Howe, STMA]
1/14-4/14 -- Basic Land Management Training Program (LMTP-803), FLETC, Glynco,
GA. contact your part training officer or regional employee
development officer for a copy of the announcement, which closes
on November 10th. [Wiley Golden, NPS/FLETC]
* * * * *
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
pertaining to receipt of 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.
--- ### ---