NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Thursday, April 2, 1998

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

98-127 - Golden Gate NRA (CA) - Burglary; Stolen Auto; Pursuit

Sergeant Bob Jansing was on patrol just after 6 a.m. on March 25th when he
spotted a vehicle in the park which had been stolen from a Presidio resident. 
Jansing attempted to stop the truck, but the driver sped away.  The pursuit
continued out of the park to a washed out area near Land's End, where Jansing
boxed him in.  The driver then attempted to ram the marked vehicle, but
Jansing pulled back to avoid the collision.  The chase continued until the
driver lost control of the truck at Golden Gate Park and crashed into bushes
and small trees.  Jansing's vehicle was struck by a passing motorist as he
arrived at the scene, causing damage to both vehicles.  The driver of the
stolen truck evaded capture by fleeing into the woods.  It's believed that
the suspect also broke into three other vehicles, burglarized an occupied
park residence, and dumped another stolen truck in a felony hit and run. 
Park Police identification technician officers have processed both stolen
vehicles; latent prints will be submitted to a fingerprint identification
computer to determine the suspect's identity.  Recovered property included
stolen lap top computers, luggage, burglary tools and methamphetamine.  The
investigation continues.  [Lt. Kevin Hay, USPP, GOGA, 3/27]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Cultural Resource Training Initiative - The announcement for this initiative
for FY 1999 was made late in March.  Topics for 20 training sessions selected
for funding in FY 1998 included "Protecting Our Past: Hawaiian Burials,"
"Mapping History Using GIS," "Preservation Reformatting in A Digital World,"
and "Preserving the Historic Road in America."  Training activities which can
be funded include new workshops or conferences, videotapes, handbooks and
other publications.  For a copy of the program announcement, application and
selection criteria, contact Michael Auer at NP-WASO-HPS or at 202-343-9594. 
Please specify whether you would like the material to be sent in MS Word or
WordPerfect.  Although the application is available electronically,
submissions must be in paper format.  The application deadline is June 15th. 
Awards will be announced around September 15th.  [Michael Auer, WASO]

Preference Eligibles on LE Ranger Seasonal Certs - It appears that there is
some confusion in the field regarding the passover of preference eligibles
who are on law enforcement ranger seasonal certificates.  If for some reason,
e.g. age, a park wishes to "passover" a five point veteran or a ten point
compensable veteran (less than 30%) who is on one of our seasonal
certificates (LE or ranger, guide or visitor use assistant at any grade), the
park must send an objection to WASO Personnel for approval before the person
may be taken off the certificate.  A passover for a 30% or more disabled
veteran must come here for forwarding to OPM for approval.  Only OPM can
passover compensable 30% or more veterans.  Since the OPM audit of the
Washington Office, the seasonal employment program has become part of the
WASO delegated examining unit (DEU).  This was required by OPM.  This means
that we must follow all of the requirements for delegated examining outlined
by OPM.  If the park itself or the region the park is in has a DEU, then a
certified examiner within the DEU can approve the passover.  A copy of the
objection and approval must be sent here for inclusion in our files.  The
reason for this is that we are going to be audited by OPM as the "master" DEU
for seasonal employment.  All documentation pertaining to the passover of
veterans must be maintained here for OPM's review.  There will be other
changes to the use and working of the certificates that will be addressed by
memorandum at a later date.  [Terry Fajardo, Personnel, WASO]

Visitor Service Project Nominations - Reminder: All nominations for visitor
service project studies during FY99, prioritized by regional offices, are due
in Gary Machlis' Washington office on April 6th.  If you have questions or
need a nomination form, please contact Margaret Littlejohn via cc:Mail or
call her at 208-885-7863.  [Margaret Littlejohn]

Permit Request - The New York Botanical Garden has sent a request for
collection permits to many, if not all, national parks.  The Washington
office is preparing guidance on responding to this massive request (it also
went to all national forests) in consultation with the solicitor's office. 
Please do not act on these requests pending further guidance.  [Abby Miller,
Natural Resource Stewardship and Science, WASO]

MEMORANDA

"Training Needs Assessments," signed by the training and development team
leaders and sent to all employees on March 17th.  The text follows:

"The Government Employees Training Act (GETA) requires agencies to conduct
training needs assessments in order to provide a realistic basis upon which
to plan, program and direct training and development activities toward the
achievement of organizational and program goals.  One of the six goals stated
in the NPS 'Employee Training and Development Strategy' (1995) is to conduct
training needs assessments for all of the sixteen career fields.

"To successfully achieve this goal, we are moving toward a more systematic
method of conducting these assessments.  The first effort at a formal needs
assessment was conducted by George Mason University, Virginia, for the
Interpretation, Education and Cooperating Associations career field.  This
effort yielded important results for the career field, resulting in
significant changes in the training curriculum as it relates to
interpretation essential competencies.

"In FY98, The National Park Service, in cooperation with the Eppley Institute
for Parks and Public Lands at Indiana University, and the Center for
Recreation Resources Policy at George Mason University, will conduct training
needs assessments in several more career fields.  The Eppley Institute of
Indiana University will focus on Administration and Office Management
Support; Historic Preservation Skills and Crafts; Maintenance; Universal
Essential Competencies which will incorporate elements of Visitor Use
Management and Supervision, Management and Leadership.  The Center for
Recreation Resources Policy at George Mason University will focus on the
Resources Stewardship: Natural  and Resources Stewardship: Cultural career
fields.

"The needs assessments will be in the form of questionnaires that will relate
to the essential competencies in a specific career field.  Employees and
their first-line supervisors will be asked to complete the questionnaires
within a short time frame.  The data, which will be aggregated to insure
confidentiality, will provide each training manager with:

a picture of perceived gaps for training and development of employees,
and

data to make curriculum development decisions to meet the needs of
employees.

"It is possible that some employees will receive more than one questionnaire
to complete; one for the career field and one for the universal essential
competencies.  Because random sampling will be used, this should be kept to a
minimum.

"Within a five-year period, training needs assessments will be completed for
all career fields, as stated in the GPRA NPS Strategic Plan (1997),
Servicewide Goal IVA2 - 'Employee Competencies.' 

"Should you receive one  of the questionnaires,  please complete it carefully
and thoughtfully.  The information gathered will ultimately result in
improved training and development for your career field.  Thank you for your
participation in the needs assessment process."

EXCHANGE

No entries.

                                *  *  *  *  *

Distribution of the Morning Report is through a mailing list managed by park,
office and/or field area cc:Mail hub coordinators.  Please address requests
pertaining to receipt of the Morning Report to your servicing hub
coordinator.

Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

                                --- ### ---