NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Thursday, December 4, 1997

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

97-698 - Cumberland Gap NHP (KY/TN/VA) - Follow-up on Tunnel Fire

The fire which broke out on November 11th in the railroad tunnel which passes
through the park has finally been extinguished.  All railroad operations are
back to normal.   [Charlie Chadwell, SPR, CUGA, 12/2]

97-731 - Great Smoky Mountains NP (NC/TN) - Car Clouting Arrest

During October and early November, more than 30 vehicles were broken into at
major trailheads near park headquarters.  On November 21st, surveillance of
the popular Alum Cave trailhead parking area resulted in the arrest of J.H.
Shortly after midnight, rangers Lori Harris, Joel Ellis and Helen
McNutt saw J.H. cruise the parking lot and walk from car to car, shining a
light into each vehicle before forcibly entering one and removing valuables. 
J.H. was arrested and subsequently charged with violations of 18 USC 661. 
So far, more than a dozen other cases have been linked to J.H., and more
will likely be added in the future.  [Jason Houck, CR, GRSM, 12/3]

97-732 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Structural Fire

The park received a report of a fire in a residential trailer in the South
Rim trailer village at 3:30 a.m. on December 2nd.  No one was inside the
trailer at the time.  All surrounding trailers were evacuated.  Firefighters
had the blaze under control within 20 minutes.  No details are available on
the cause of the fire.  [Maureen Oltrogge, GRCA, 12/3]

97-733 - Capulin Volcano NM (NM) - Winter Storm Impacts

A series of winter storms which tracked across northeastern New Mexico during
the last three weeks of November caused higher than average snowfalls at the
park.  Roads in and/or around the park have been closed on 17 of the last 25
days.  Although snow accumulations (after compacting) total only about 20
inches, most of the snow falls have been accompanied by winds, causing heavy
drifting.  Records show these to be the worst snow conditions since 1982-
1983.  Long-term forecasts call for more of the same.  [Ken Mabery, Acting
Superintendent, CAVO, 12/3]

97-734 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - ARPA/NAGPRA Conviction

On November 21st, R.L. pled guilty in federal court in Salt Lake City
to one felony ARPA count and one misdemeanor NAGPRA count, both stemming from
his sale of the skull of a prehistoric Native American male adult (probably
from the Basketmaker culture) to an undercover park criminal investigator. 
At the time of the sale, R.L. was under investigation by a local drug task
force which includes representatives from the park among its members.  The
ARPA offense came under the interstate commerce provision of the statute
because R.L. transported the skull from its storage location in Arizona to
the place of sale in Utah just before the sale - a violation of statutes in
both Arizona and Utah.  R.L. is currently in state prison in Utah for sale of
methamphetamines following a conviction on charges stemming from the drug
task force operation.  [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 12/3]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Regs/Jurisdiction Update - The following actions have recently taken place: 

o 36 CFR 3.6 - Personal Watercraft (PWC): A proposed rule is being
developed which will prohibit PWCs except where designated by
superintendents.  This rule is not a general, Servicewide prohibition
of PWCs; rather, it establishes a procedure for superintendents to
employ to determine the propriety of PWC use.  The procedure will
require an administrative determination - in accordance with 36 CFR 1.5
and 1.7 - that the activity is appropriate and meets certain criteria
before PWC use will be allowed in designated areas.

o 36 CFR Part 4.15 - Safety Belts: The final rule on seatbelt use in
units of the system was published in the Federal Register on November
19th.  It becomes final and goes into effect on December 19th.  The
rule reads as follows:

 a) Each operator and passenger occupying any seating position of a
motor vehicle in a park area will have the safety belt or child
restraint system properly fastened at all times when the vehicle
is in motion.  The safety belt and child restraint system will
conform to applicable United States Department of Transportation
standards.

 b) This section does not apply to an occupant in a seat that was not
originally equipped by the manufacturer with a safety belt, nor
does it apply to a person who can demonstrate that a medical
condition prevents restraint by a safety belt or other occupant
restraining device.

 The rule does not require another traffic violation to occur before a
motor vehicle can be stopped for a seatbelt violation, as in the
current regulation.  This reg will apply in all NPS areas.

o 36 CFR Part 7: Two park rules are in the works:

* Cape Cod NS - The final rule on off-road vehicle use was signed
by the assistant secretary on November 13th and is currently
being reviewed by the department.

* Kaloko-Honokohau NHP - The NPS is proposing the prohibition of
public nudity within the park's boundaries.  The existing
practice of public nudity is in conflict with the enabling
legislation of the park (16 USC 396d), the traditional values of
native Hawaiian culture which the park was created to perpetuate,
and other visitor uses.  The proposed rule is being reviewed by
the assistant secretary.

o 36 CFR Part 14 - Rights-of-Way: The proposed rule was signed by the
assistant secretary on November 13, 1996, and was finally published in
the Federal Register this week (December 1st).  The comment period
closed on January 30th.

[Dennis Burnett, RAD/WASO]

MEMORANDA

No entries.

EXCHANGE

No entries.

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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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