NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Thursday, February 26, 1998

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

98-69 - Cape Lookout (NC) - Follow-up on Search

The search for debris and survivors from the trawler "Josephine," which went
down off Cape Lookout on February 17th, was formally called off by the Coast
Guard on February 20th.  One body was recovered at sea, but three men are
still missing.  Park staff continue to search areas of the park where the
bodies are likely to be found.  About two pickup truck loads of debris have
been recovered by rangers and turned over to the Coast Guard.  According to
the Coast Guard, the owners of the vessel were cited two weeks prior to the
accident for not having batteries in the boat's emergency locating devices. 
[Chuck Harris, Chief of Park Operations, CALO, 2/25]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Clarification - There has been some confusion about the scope of the actions
outlined in the memorandum entitled "Review of National Fire, Aviation and
Emergency Response Programs," which appeared in the February 13th Morning
Report.  The focus of this review is on the national fire management program
center and its roles, responsibilities, functions and interrelationships for
fire - both wildland and structural - and aviation and all-risk emergency
response operations.  At the conclusion of that national level review, a
decision on whether or not to expand this to other Ranger Activities Division
functions and activities will be made by the chief of the division and the
associate director for park operations and education.  We apologize for the
confusion.  [Rick Gale, Chris Andress, RAD/WASO]

Housing Program Update - The Housing Improvement Act section of the Omnibus
Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996, Public Law 104-333, directed
the Service to review and revise the existing criteria under which housing is
provided to NPS employees and to conduct a physical assessment of existing
housing at each park location in order to determine the suitability and need
for all such housing for carrying out the mission of the NPS.  In response to
the requirements of this law, the NPS has developed - with extensive field
review - a revised housing policy and criteria.  The revised policy became 
effective on November 24, 1997, via a signed memorandum from the director. 
The new housing policy and criteria enhance the Service's ability to manage
its housing program and provide a process for identifying the minimum number
of housing units needed.  By having each park determine a minimum number of
housing units necessary to carry out the park's mission, the Service will be
better able to manage its inventory, achieve a more financially self-
sustaining housing program, and prepare more accurate budgets.  One of the
goals of the revised policy is to help the parks eliminate housing that is
not necessary for the effective functioning of the park.  The new housing
policy and criteria address a need for park managers to consider other
alternatives for park housing; on-site housing is to be a final
consideration, not a first consideration.  The NPS housing management
handbook, which was recently distributed to all park areas, will assist park
managers in implementing the new policy.  A draft of DO-36 (housing
management) is being developed and should be out for field review shortly. 
Servicewide contracts were recently awarded to two firms to conduct
comprehensive inventory and condition assessments of existing housing units
and to conduct a needs assessment utilizing the revised criteria.  This
action was initiated in response to the above cited law and to help parks
determine the minimum number of housing unites necessary.  Director Stanton
has asked that this contract be fast-tracked and completed by October 31st.
The contractors visited the first prototype parks during January.  Draft
reports have since been received from both contractors as a result of visits
to Pecos, Bandelier, Gettysburg and Eisenhower.  Task orders are currently
being negotiated with both contractors for site visits for the rest of the
park areas and will begin shortly.  The first effort will generally include
only those park areas that have five or more housing units.  Remaining areas
will not be excluded, but will be assessed at a later date.  The initial task
orders for these contracts will deal only with the determination of mission
critical housing units for each park site and should require minimal site
time.  To accomplish this, the contractors will conduct a housing needs
assessment and a local area market analysis at each park site within the next
10 to 12 months.   Park areas have been provided with a list of requested
information that the contractors need prior to site visits.   It is
imperative that regional office/support office and park areas provide
requested information promptly.  [Pat Bantner, MWRO, for Housing Office,
WASO]

National ICS Team Activated - The Service's national incident management team
(Jim Northup, IC) has been activated for the period from February 24th to
March 6th in response to a Departmental mandate that bureaus develop
"continuation of operations" plans for headquarters facilities, regional
offices and other locations where significant numbers of employees work. 
These contingency plans will provide advance preparedness for continuation of
key NPS functions in the event of natural disasters or other unexpected
events.  The team will prepare a comprehensive plan for the WASO offices at
Main Interior and North Capitol and for AOD and Harpers Ferry Center, and
will also develop a prototype continuity of operations plan for regional
offices, support offices and DSC.  [Amy Vanderbilt, IO, IMT]

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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