NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Friday, February 13, 1998

Broadcast:  By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

98-66 - Sequoia-Kings Canyon NP (CA) - Search in Progress

On February 7th, M.M., 28, a resident of Three Rivers, was dropped off
by an acquaintance on a county road about a mile from the park boundary and
the Colony Mill trailhead.  M.M. planned on hiking 20 miles to the
Lodgepole area via a circuitous route that included trails and an unplowed,
snow-covered road.  Two days later, concerned friends reported that M.M.
had not yet returned from his hike.  Weather during the two days included
heavy rains in the foothills and over two feet of snow at Lodgepole. 
Indications are that M.M. was marginally equipped for the weather
conditions that he encountered.  The first three days of search operations
focused on lands primarily within the park, but shifted yesterday toward
areas outside the park.  The overall search area includes about 36,000 acres
of rugged, mountainous terrain.  The Lodgepole area currently has 83 inches
of snow on the ground, and the weather forecast yesterday called for more
rain, with snow at higher elevations.  Tulare County and park personnel are
managing the search under a joint command, with resources being shared
cooperatively across boundary lines.  [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 2/12]

98-67 - Everglades NP (FL) - Rescue

While returning to Key West from Dry Tortugas NP on January 15th, the crew of
the park's 65-foot motor vessel "Activa" received a radio call from the
commercial tour boat "Yankee Freedom" just after the two boats passed each
other.  The crew of the "Yankee Freedom" reported that they'd spotted an
individual on an inner tube who was waving to attract their attention, and
said that they felt the "Activa" was better positioned to assist.  It
appeared that this was the man the Coast Guard had begun a search for by boat
and helicopter on the previous afternoon.  When they failed to find him,
they broadcast a notice to mariners to be on the lookout for a man on an
inner tube.  The "Activa," which was about ten miles west-northwest of the
Marquesas Islands (35 miles west of Key West) at the time, turned and picked
up the man, identified as R.V., 45, of Orlando.  =, who spoke only
Spanish, was carrying snorkel gear, a fishing pole, and food and water on his
tube.  He was in good health.  The "Activa" notified the Coast Guard that
they'd picked him up, then turned him over to the crew of a Coast Guard
41-foot boat in Key West Harbor.  R.V. explained to a Spanish-speaking
passenger on the "Activa" that he was swimming to Cuba for the Pope's visit. 
What R.V. did not know was that the eastern flow of the Gulf Stream would
have prevented him from crossing the Straits of Florida and reaching Cuba. 
He was turned over to Key West police, who took him to a local hospital for
psychiatric evaluation.  [Report from M/V "Activa", via Phil Selleck, EVER,
2/11]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Eagle Population Increase

The park's resource management division conducts aerial eagle surveys every
winter on Lake Powell.  During the survey conducted on February 10th,
personnel counted 42 eagles - 23 bald eagles and 19 golden eagles.  This is
the highest count for both species since surveys began in 1990.  Golden eagle
numbers were particularly impressive, as only three birds were counted last
year.  They seem to be recovering nicely from the severe drought of 1995
1996.  The surveyors were dispatcher Brenda Russell, archeologist Chris
Goetze, and the park's "eagle-eyed" pilot, Tug Kangus.  [John Spence,
Botanist/Wildlife Biologist, GLCA, 2/12]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

FLERT Team - The fax number listed for the new Firefighter and Law
Enforcement Retirement Team (FLERT) in the February 10th edition of the
Morning Report was incorrect.  The actual number is 208-387-5043.  [Marilee
Pospahala, FLERT]

MEMORANDA

"Review of National Fire, Aviation and Emergency Response Programs," signed
on February 9th by the associate director for park operations and education
and sent electronically (no hard copy to follow) to all regional directors. 
An informational copy of the text follows:

"Following the Service's recent restructuring and central office downsizing,
many have expressed the belief that the Fire Management Program Center at
NIFC in Boise has served as an effective model for how program centers were
envisioned by the restructuring plan.  It has been operating under its
current structure for over 2 years.

"Retirements and staff reassignments, both at Boise and in the Ranger
Activities Division in WASO, continue to influence how and where we get work
done.  Several impending staffing adjustments provide us with an opportunity
to review the national fire and aviation program and the closely related
emergency response program, and to make adjustments in the organizational
structures and roles and functions where they might be warranted.

"I have commissioned such a review.  The review team will be chaired by
recently retired SHEN Superintendent, Bill Wade.  Members of the team are:

     Scott Erickson, Assistant Superintendent, SAMO
     Deb Liggett, Management Assistant, AKSO
     Brad Cella, Fire Management Officer, AKSO
     Roger Trimble, Bureau of Land Management, Washington,  D.C.

"The team will be provided oversight by me and by Ranger Activities staff. 
At a meeting on January 20th, a draft strategic vision for the national fire,
aviation and emergency response organization in the NPS, and objectives, were
developed:

The national fire management, aviation and emergency response functions
will be organized and managed to sustain leadership and direction for
achieving national mandates associated with natural and cultural
resources and employee and public safety.  To ensure the effectiveness
of management and operations, national fire, aviation and emergency
response programs will be developed and maintained to meet the highest
standards of professionalism, and the work force will remain current in
state-of-the-art concepts, technology and practices.  Quality services
will be provided while protection of park resources remains the primary
concern.  The programs will provide the greatest possible benefits to
the public and resources through partnerships with other Federal
agencies, as well as State, local and tribal authorities.  Measurable
outcomes for performance expectations will be in place to conform to
the Government Performance and Results Act, and will be monitored by
program leaders.

The objectives of the review will be as follows:

Identify and solicit opinions from NPS and interagency
constituents and revisit program objectives as needed.

Identify strengths and shortfalls in the existing programs and
identify alternative solutions.

Formulate role and function statements for WASO and program
center, in concert with Regional Offices, and System Offices.

Investigate feasibility of inter-Bureau positions to meet agency
needs in fire, aviation, and emergency response.

Determine alternative organizational approaches and their
associated strengths and weaknesses of each to meet program
needs.

Identify interdisciplinary opportunities to improve incorporation
of fire, aviation and emergency response with other NPS programs.

Make recommendations for providing short- and long-term fire
technical expertise in WASO.

Make recommendations on developing, training, and maintaining
expertise to address the successional needs of these programs and
how individuals from these programs can contribute to NPS
management needs. 

Identify program responsibility and appropriate workload at the
different levels of the organization.

"Over the next several months, members of this team will be in contact with
many NPS managers (both line and program), as well as with those we cooperate
with in other agencies.  The purposes of these contacts will be to develop
information about how well the national fire, aviation and emergency response
programs are serving their intended roles and constituents, and what changes
might be appropriate.  The review is not intended to develop justifications
for increases in staff and funding, but rather to make the most effective
uses of the resources available to us.  In that regard, and because of the
inevitable inter-relationships among all the programs and functions under the
Division of Ranger Activities, we might decide later to expand this review to
look more broadly into additional programs and functions.

"I have asked the review team to have preliminary findings available for
review and discussion at the next scheduled meeting of the Ranger Advisory
Council in early May. 

"If you or any of your staff wish to provide input to the review team, please
notify Rick Gale, so that he can assure that the review team is aware of your
interests."

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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