NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, December 2, 1998

INCIDENTS

98-731 - Biscayne NP (FL) - Boating Safety Operation; Multiple Arrests

Over the Columbus Day weekend, the park conducted "Operation Baywatch," a
special operation aimed at curbing boating safety and boating under the
influence violations in a small area of the park.  Numerous agencies provided
assistance, including the Coast Guard, Customs, FBI, and city and state
marine enforcement organizations.  Rangers from other parks also provided
support.  Over 1,260 contacts were made during the operation; these resulted
in a dozen arrests for operating boats while under the influence, a felony
arrest for throwing a deadly missile at an occupied vessel, four serious
boating accidents, one sinking, numerous groundings, and eleven medical
responses.  The Columbus Day weekend is traditionally a very busy weekend for
the park due to the number of spectators at the Columbus Day Regatta.  The
operation was managed under the incident command system; ranger David Pharo
was the incident commander.  [Wayne Elliott, CR, BISC, 11/8]

98-732 - Death Valley NP (CA) - Drug Lab Dump Site

Rangers discovered a significant methamphetamine drug lab dump site inside
the park in Amargosa Valley on October 22nd.  Numerous items had been buried
at the site, including three 55-gallon drums containing liquid and sludge
waste, several five-gallon pails containing some type of solvent, stained
clothing, and miscellaneous trash.  Cleanup costs are estimated at between
$5,000 and $10,000.  Evidence gathered at the site indicates that the lab
"cook" occurred from six to nine months ago.  A joint investigation is
underway with the Inyo County Sheriff's Department.  [Eric Inman, CI, DEVA,
11/27]

98-733 - Colorado NM (CO) - Special Event

On November 14th, 300 runners competed in the sixth annual Rim Rock Run, a
37-kilometer race that takes place in the park.  Due to the controversy and
friction caused by the 1997 event, the park last winter conducted an
environmental assessment (with significant public involvement) to determine
the future of the race.  The process resulted in the utilization of federal
and state traffic engineers to develop a plan for the race.  Runners used one
lane of the road and a one-way traffic restriction permitted visitors to use
the other lane.  The race was managed under a unified incident command with
the Mesa County Sheriff's Department.  Ron Young was overall incident
commander.  Rangers from Canyonlands NP and Curecanti NRA assisted with
management of the event.  [Ron Young, CR, COLM, 11/24]

98-734 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - MVA with Fatality
     
Rangers responded to a report of a single-vehicle accident about two miles
north of the South Entrance Station around 6:30 a.m. on November 8th.  They
found that 68-year-old E.F. of Flagstaff had lost control of her
vehicle, which went off the road and struck a large tree.  E.F. was killed
instantly; her passenger, 33-year-old C.F., received severe internal
injuries.  Rangers provided advanced life support and flew her via park
helicopter to Flagstaff Medical Center.  Park CISD staff provided assistance
to family members of the victims, who had driven to the park looking for
their relatives.  The accident is still under investigation.  [David Brennan,
DR, South Rim, GRCA, 11/18]

                       [Additional reports pending...]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

No entries.

PARK DISPATCHES

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

GAO Report on Fee Program - GAO has just released its report on the fee
program.  The report, entitled "Recreation Fees: Demonstration Fee Program
Successful in Raising Revenues But Could Be Improved," can be downloaded from
GAO's web site: www.gao.gov/new.items/newtitle.htm.  Hard copies will be
mailed by GAO to those parks and central offices that participated in the
review.  The report is 87 pages long and contains another 25 pages of
appendices.  [Meg Leffel, RAD/WASO]

MEMORANDA

"Housing Re-certification of Need," signed by the director and sent to all
regional directors.  The text of the memorandum follows, but NOT the
attachments.  The memorandum is being provided here as an informational
update on the status of the housing review and coming actions:

"This [memorandum] will serve as a follow-up and reminder to my memorandum to
you dated March 3, 1998, whereby I asked each regional director to re-certify
park housing needs and report to me by January 1, 1999.  In that memorandum,
I described a series of eight implementation items to be addressed and
completed in this process.

"By November 30, each park should receive the contractor's final assessment
report of housing need.  These assessments represent an independent review of
each park area's housing program, and are a valuable beginning based on a
snapshot in time.  We now need to build on that beginning, along with
additional considerations that have been brought to light by the process so
far, to develop recommendations for a comprehensive housing plan for each
park.  I expect you to be personally involved and fully accountable for the
products required to complete this first phase of the Servicewide housing
evaluation.

"The housing evaluation process, which is currently being reviewed by the
General Accounting Office (GAO) for the Congress, is composed of three
phases. The Needs Assessment is the first phase of the process to fully
analyze the housing program at each park area.  Phase II, the Condition
Assessment, will be conducted on all housing units excluding trailers to
determine the best units to maintain in the inventory.  Phase III will
incorporate the Needs Assessment and the Condition Assessment information and
will allow park managers to holistically identify and explore possible
alternatives that were identified based on data collected in Phase I and II. 
During the last phase alternatives will be fully analyzed and explored for
feasibility. 

"As a result of this evaluation process, several issues have been brought to
my attention: use of historic structures; housing for volunteers and other
non-paid staff; housing needs for other cooperating entities; housing to
increase diversity; and consistencies in application of criteria for required
occupants and determination of response times to name a few.  Two separate
groups have developed decision path documents and criteria for Category I and
II housing.  Attached are portions of their reports that were consistent with
current Housing Policy.  Those portions that were not consistent with current
policy, such as deterrence, community policing, maintenance of a qualified
workforce and use of historic structures as Category I requirements, were not
included.  However, use of historic structures was retained under Category
II, which is important internally as we re-certify our housing needs, but the
distinction between Category I and II housing is not necessarily a concern of
others outside of the Agency. 

"The distinction between Category I and II housing is a subject that merits
further discussion within the Service.  It is my intention to continue this
dialogue in the months ahead. When I testify at the Congressional oversight
hearings in a few months, I fully intend to strongly support the Service's
need for housing, in both Category I and II, based on the re-certification
findings.  

"The issues raised by both work groups, that go beyond existing policy, will
be fully discussed by the Service's leadership over the next few months. 
Since the Management Policies and Director's Orders are currently under
review, the timing is right to entertain any policy or directive changes that
we may wish to make.

"Also attached is a form prepared by regional staff and used by several parks
to recertify their housing need.  Earlier versions of this form were shared
with you; however, it has been revised recently based on feedback from parks

"While we, as an organization, are working to reach a manageable and feasible
approach to these issues, I fully expect your park areas to comply with the
re-certification process described in the March 3 memorandum, and that each
of you will report to me by January 1, 1999.  I expect each of you to take a
hard and objective look at each park's housing program and to utilize the
information made available to you in your Needs Assessment report.  I further
expect that you will review, analyze and provide assurance to me that the
recommendations are in the best interest of the National Park Service and can
be fully justified to Department and Congressional interests.

"Furthermore, it is my intent to engage in further dialogue with you and
others regarding several of these issues and to establish a re-certification
process of housing need.  We must all recognize that as we continue this
assessment process, some numbers are likely to change as a result of
conditions assessments, changes in park staffing, changes in the surrounding
communities, etc. 

"Once we are informed as to the details that the congressional hearings will
cover concerning National Park Service housing, please be prepared to
actually participate with me in presenting your region's analysis of the
housing program to date."

INTERCHANGE

Physical Security Guidelines - Sequoia-Kings Canyon NP is in the process of
developing physical security guidelines and would like to look at SOPs
developed by other parks.  If you have such guidelines and are willing to
share them, please send them to Al DeLaCruz at NP-SEKI.

                                *  *  *  *  *

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.

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