NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, January 13, 1999

INCIDENTS

99-6 - Yellowstone NP (WY) - Snowmobile Accident with Fatality

L.H., 22, a native of Prachatice in the Czech Republic, was killed
in a snowmobile accident about five miles east of the West Entrance on the
afternoon of January 11th.  L.H. and C.W., 22, of Aspen, Colorado,
were riding double on a snowmobile at the time, with L.H. driving. 
Witnesses say that the snowmobile kept drifting to the left; L.H. failed
to correct the drift, and the machine went up over the snowpacked road berm,
down a steep embankment, and into a group of trees.  She died of massive head
injuries.  C.W. sustained a fractured femur and jaw in the accident.  He was
stabilized and flown to a hospital in Idaho Falls.  Both L.H. and C.W.
were members of the University of Colorado's ski team, which has been
residing and training in West Yellowstone.  The two were visiting the park
with other team members.  Park roads were in good condition at the time of
the accident, and the stretch of road where the accident occurred was
straight and open.  The preliminary investigation indicates that neither
speed nor alcohol was a factor.  Both were wearing helmets at the time of the
accident.  [PIO, YELL, 1/12]

99-7 - Crater Lake NP (OR) - Death of Employee Spouse

K.M., wife of management assistant J.M., was killed in an
automobile accident between Roseberg and Glide, Oregon, on January 10th.  Kai
had served as the postmaster at the park's post office for many years;
several of her children worked seasonally for the park and its natural
history association.  The park's notice adds: "She was a much-loved member of
our community who loved flowers and was constantly sharing her garden with
us."  Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday at the Friends Church, 525
Debarr Avenue, Medford, Oregon; condolences may be sent to J.M. c/o
Crater Lake NP, PO Box 7, Crater Lake, OR 97694.  (Note: Chief rangers and
other reporting parties - Please see Operational Notes below).  [George
Buckingham, CR, CRLA, 1/11]

                       [Additional reports pending...]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

Gettysburg NMP/Eisenhower NHS (PA) - Follow-up: Deer Lawsuit Ruling 

Last Friday, the Morning Report carried a report stating that a federal
district judge had ruled in favor of the park's deer management program,
permitting it to be reinstated at both sites.  As it turns out, however,
there's more to the story.  The original judgement stated that the NPS could
resume its deer management program 14 days after the date of the order
(December 31st) unless the plaintiffs obtained a stay or injunction pending
appeal from the court of appeals prior to that date.  The plaintiffs have
since asked the judge to consider two procedural points in his decision, and
he has agreed to do so.  Those points, as stated in the plaintiffs appeal,
are as follows:  "The plaintiffs contend that the court erroneously stated
that the plaintiffs failed to request a Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement (SEIS) from the defendant before presenting that claim to court. 
The plaintiffs also contend that the court erroneously concluded that the
agency took into account plaintiff's arguments under the National Historic
Preservation Act (NHPA) because it and the other entities involved in the
process 'recharacterized' those arguments."  The Department of Justice has
until tomorrow to file an opposition to plaintiff's motion to amend and
reconsider the court's ruling.  [Katie Lawhon, PIO, GETT, 1/11]

PARK DISPATCHES

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Incident Report SOP Amendment - Current incident reporting criteria specify
that "all employee deaths from any cause, whether on duty or off duty," are
to be reported to Ranger Activities, WASO, and to the Morning Report.  That
definition is now being expanded to include members of an employee's
immediate family (spouse and children), subject, of course, to the wishes of
the family.  Such reports are NOT required.  We feel that it's wholly
appropriate to memorialize and extend our sympathies to the families of our
employees.  It is nonetheless still necessary to establish some limits, as
many reports are submitted regarding the passing of retirees, cooperators,
park friends and others.  While we appreciate the sensitivities and concerns
expressed by those who submit such obituaries, they are outside the purview
of this publication.  Most still appear in the E&AA Newsletter, however,
which is published through Eastern National.  The editor there is Jennifer
Allen.  You can reach her on cc:Mail by sending a message to Jennifer's
attention at Eastern National at NP--MAR.  [Chris Andress, CR, RAD/WASO; Bill
Halainen, Editor, Morning Report]

MEMORANDA

No entries.

INTERCHANGE

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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