NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Friday, February 20, 1998

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

98-44 - Rock Creek Park (DC) - Follow-up on Bridge Collapse

On January 29th, part of the Military Road bridge being rebuilt over Beach
Drive suddenly collapsed.  Five months previously, a steel support structure
over the same bridge had collapsed without warning, killing one worker and
severely injuring another.  OSHA and city engineers subsequently examined the
site to determine the cause of the accident.  They found that the contractor
had cut a load-bearing support, which caused the collapse of a portion of the
structure with him on it.  The road was reopened two days later after the
removal of concrete and debris.  [Bill Lynch, RLES, NCRO, 2/6]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No entries.

MEMORANDA

"Federal Lands Highway Program - FY 2000 Servicewide Prioritization Project
Call," signed by the director on February 18th and sent to all regional
directors.  The following is an information copy of the text of the memo,
minus attachments.  Questions should be directed to your regional FLHP
coordinator:

"By means of this memorandum, regions are asked to submit proposed projects
for Servicewide prioritization for funding in FY 2000, under the Federal
Lands Highway Program (FLHP) based on new procedures recently adopted by the
Service.
     
"The newly approved process for prioritization of projects to be funded under
FLHP is outlined in the attached report, 'Federal Lands Highway Program, Park
Roads and Parkways: Revised Funding Allocation and Project Prioritization
Criteria.'
     
"Under this new process, the more routine or '3-R' road repair and
rehabilitation projects (as defined in the attachment) will be managed at the
regional level beginning in FY 2000, and will not be prioritized Servicewide. 
Regions will be required, however, to submit lists of their proposed '3-R'
projects to WASO for review prior to allocation of funds.  The Service will
only nationally prioritize major road and bridge reconstruction projects
('4-R' projects, as defined in the attachment), new construction, and 
alternate transportation system projects.
     
"These new procedures for prioritizing FLHP are intended to make the
administration of this important program more efficient, will enable the
Service to be more responsive to the Government Performance and Results Act,
will be in concert with the new line-item prioritization procedures, and will
place more responsibility and decision authority for the program in the
field.
     
"The newly approved procedures pertain to projects proposed for scheduling
for FY 2000 and beyond.  Fiscal years 1998 and 1999 FLHP projects will be
'grandfathered' based on the programs already formulated (copies attached)
using previous procedures and the old Servicewide priorities.  Although
Congress has not yet passed legislation to reauthorize FLHP, this call is
based on the Administration's proposed annual funding level for the program
of $161 million, proposed for three distinct categories of projects as 
described in the attachment.
     
"To support parks and regions in preparing '4-R,' parkway construction and
alternate transit project proposals for Servicewide prioritization, the
Denver Service Center (DSC) and Federal Lands Highway Division Offices
(FLHDO) are available to provide assistance.
     
"There is no ceiling on the number of Servicewide '4-R' priority projects
each region may submit; however, every proposed project must be able to meet
planning, design and engineering schedules for award in FY 2000.  Preparation
of project cost estimates should be closely coordinated with DSC and FLHDO's
for accuracy, and the estimate submitted must be certified by the appropriate
FLHDO, or by DSC, if they will be the Contracting Officer.  Funding under
FLHP is available to cover these support costs.
     
"Projects should be submitted in electronic format using the Future Project
Management software program.  Distribution of this software and training in
its use is currently being provided by WASO to the regions.  Please contact
Mr. Tim Harvey, Mount Rushmore National Monument, by cc:mail or telephone,
605-574-2523, x112, for the training schedule and locations.  The software
supplier also has a service number for technical software questions only:
800-987-8848.
     
"Regions should prepare proposals for each project for submission by the
regional director to the Associate Director, Park Operations and Education,
no later than May 1, 1998.  The region's electronic submission should be sent
by cc:mail to Ms. Maria Scott, WASO Park Facility Management Division.
     
"Further detailed instructions and suggestions on preparation of project
proposals is provided in Appendix H of the attachment, which is also being
supplied electronically to regional FLHP coordinators.
     
"A second project call will be repeated next year for FY's 2001-2003. 
Questions regarding these new procedures or FLHP generally should be directed
to Mr. Mark Hartsoe, 202-565-1265 or Mr. Lou DeLorme, 202-565-1254."

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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