NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Tuesday, March 17, 1998

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

                          *** NOTICE ***

Morning Report transmissions are being delayed due to intermittent but
persisting problems with the hub here at the park.  We hope to have the
problem resolved in the near future.

INCIDENTS

98-101 - Mount Rainier NP (WA) - Concession Employee Homicide

The park and the FBI announced yesterday that laboratory analysis of evidence
associated with the 1996 death of S.K., a park concession employee,
indicates that she was the victim of a homicide.  S.K., who worked for
Mount Rainier Guest Services Incorporated (GSI), disappeared from her
quarters at Longmire in early October of that year.  An extensive search was
conducted but failed to locate either S.K. or any clues as to her
whereabouts.  Last May, S.K.'s remains were found about a half mile from her
quarters.  Follow-up searches by rangers, a team of FBI agents, search dogs
and Explorer search and rescue scouts led to the recovery of a number of
items of evidence.  Analysis of those items indicates that S.K. was killed. 
A joint homicide investigation by rangers and FBI agents is underway.  A
$20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and
conviction of any person involved in S.K.'s death.  Contact numbers for
those with such information are 360-569-2211 extension 2348 or 2330 (park) or
206-622-0460 (FBI).  [CRO, MORA, 3/16]

98-102 - Everglades NP (FL) - Chlorine Gas Leak

Just after 8 p.m. on the evening of March 14th, rangers received a report of
a chlorine gas leak at the water treatment facility in Flamingo.  The
location of this facility blocked two groups of employees and visitors from
leaving the area.  Concession and NPS residents were evacuated to a building
about a half mile from the facility; visitors were evacuated from the hotel
and campground and moved to the far end of Flamingo campground about a mile
and a half from the facility.  Metro Dade fire, rescue, hazmat and police
units responded along with county deputies.  The hazmat team employed
breathing equipment to enter the area.  They determined that a single
chlorine gas cylinder was leaking at the bottom of the tank due to rust and
corrosion around the weld.  Allied Chemicals employees utilized a chlorine
gas coffin to contain and remove the cylinder.  The area was declared safe
around 3 a.m.  About 900 people were evacuated during the incident.  Resource
damage and damage to the water treatment facility are still being assessed. 
[Kris Bardsley, EVER, 3/16]

98-103 - Big South Fork NRRA (TN/KY) - Structural Fire

Two backpackers approached park maintenance workers on the afternoon of March
11th and reported that the Parch Corn cabin had burned that morning while
they were camping there.  The backpackers then went to the site with ranger
Randy Justice and park archeologist Tom Des Jean to investigate.  The
backpackers said that they'd camped in the cabin overnight and had built a
fire in the fireplace on the previous evening.  When they rekindled the fire
and stoked it the following morning, they saw smoke and flames issue from the
chimney at the point where it entered the cabin's ceiling.  They threw their
coffee on the fire, then went outside to get water.  By the time they
returned, the entire structure was engulfed in flames.  It was damp and light
snow was falling at the time, so no ground fire started.  According to Des
Jean, the cabin had been built in 1881 and was one of only a few historic
structures still in the park.  No charges were filed.  [Frank Graham, CR,
BISO, 3/13]

                    [Additional reports pending...]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No entries.

MEMORANDA

No entries.

EXCHANGE

No entries.

UPCOMING IN CONGRESS

The following activities will be taking place in Congress during coming weeks
on matters pertaining to the National Park Service or kindred agencies.  For
inquiries regarding legislation pertaining to the NPS, please visit the
Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs Website at http://www.
nps.gov/legal, or contact the main office at 202-208-5883/5656 and ask to be
forwarded to the appropriate legislative specialist.

HEARINGS/MARK-UPS

Wednesday, March 25

House Subcommittee on Interior Appropriations and Related Agencies: Hearing
on the FY99 budget request for the National Park Service.

Thursday, March 26

House Committee on Resources, House Budget Committee, and House
Appropriations Committee: Joint oversight hearing on the management of the
U.S. Forest Service.

FLOOR ACTION

No action scheduled on NPS legislation.

                          *  *  *  *  *

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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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