NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Wednesday, January 14, 1998

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

98-16 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Eruption

The on-going eruption of Mount Kilauea has again moved into an active cycle. 
Over the last few weeks, a number of flows have broken through the surface,
and one near the old visitor center built a pad measuring about 160 by 160
feet and seven feet thick in a matter of hours.  Over the Christmas weekend,
an eleven-acre bench collapsed, and a four-acre bench fell apart on January
3rd.  Shortly after the latter event, which was observed by a number of
visitors, a huge river-like flow appeared on the surface and flowed into the
ocean.  Sulphur dioxide levels have been relatively high, reaching two parts
per million on January 2nd and causing the park to close the visitor center
for a couple of hours.  Geologists indicate that there is no sign of activity
slowing in the foreseeable future.  This eruption of Kilauea began on January
3, 1983 and constitutes the longest-lived rift activity in the history of the
Hawaiian islands.  During that period, the park has lost the Waha'ula visitor
center, tens of thousands of archeological features (including the temple
complex at Waha'ula Heiau), the Kamoamoa campground, and stretches of Chain
of Craters road.  The impacts to local communities have also been extensive;
the economic loss has exceeded $100 million.  Rivers of lava have consumed
181 homes, a church, a community center, and a grid of power and phone lines. 
Lava has covered more than 16,000 acres of lowland and rain forest.  Every
minute, another 130,000 gallons of molten rock issue from cracks in Kilauea's
flank; every day, the volcano emits more than 2,500 tons of sulfur dioxide. 
USGS scientists have determined that the volcano's emissions are twice as bad
as those of EPA's worst stationary point source polluter.  Respirators with
canisters designed to filter out hydrogen chloride, sulfur dioxide and
airborne glass particles are standard ranger issue.  Since 1983, Kilauea has
added more than 550 acres of new land to the island.  [Yvette Ruan, CR, and
Mardie Lane, PR, HAVO, 1/12]

98-17 - Natchez Trace Parkway (MI/AL/TN) - Homicide

The body of T.L., 39, of Myrtle, Mississippi, was found by
visitors along the side of the road next to a wayside exhibit in the Tupelo
District on January 12th.  His body was covered by a blanket.  The autopsy
revealed that he'd been beaten and possibly strangled.  Rangers and FBI
agents are investigating.  [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 1/13]

98-18 - Redwood N&SP (CA) - Fatality

Some time after dark on January 10th, J.B., 21, an employee of the
California Conservation Corps (CCC), was found unconscious and not breathing
by a fellow employee in a remote area along the Coastal trail near Requa. 
J.B. and the co-worker had apparently consumed the contents a 1.75 liter
bottle of tequila during the evening hours.  J.B.'s companion went back to
Requa, found two friends, returned to J.B., and began CPR.  Members of a
local fire department responded, continued CPR, and carried J.B. out along
the narrow, muddy trail during a rainstorm.  He was pronounced dead while en
route to a hospital in Crescent City.  An autopsy and a joint investigation
of his death are being conducted.  The CCC has a large work camp located
within the park under a long-term agreement.  Camp officials have obtained
CISD assistance for CCC employees.  [Bob Martin, CR, REDW, 1/13]

98-19 - National Capital Parks Central (DC) - Fatality

Park Police officers discovered the body of a woman believed to be in her 50s
floating in the Tidal Basin near the Jefferson memorial on Monday, January
12th.  The victim's identity and cause of death have not yet been determined. 
The investigation continues.  [Bill Lynch, RLES, NCRO, 1/13]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Court Case - In 1993, a 20-year-old male dove head first into 18 inches of
water in North Bar Lake at Sleeping Bear Dunes NL and sustained cervical
injuries that made him a quadriplegic.  A lawsuit seeking $20 million
compensation was filed in district court after the solicitor denied the tort
claim.  The lawsuit claimed that the government was negligent for not posting
signs warning of diving hazards.  The judge granted a dismissal based upon
two points - that the signing of hazards is discretionary, not mandatory, and
that management's decision not to post warning signs was a policy decision
(Case 1:97-CV-114, Western District of Michigan, Southern Division). 
Previous to this accident, there had been only one similar injury in the
park's history.  The plaintiff had been swimming and diving into the lake at
this spot for about five years, and had made several successful dives on the
day of the injury.  The government maintained that there was not a specific
hazard, but that the plaintiff had chosen to engage in potentially hazardous
behavior.  [Roger Moder, SLBE]

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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