NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, February 9, 1999

INCIDENTS

99-9 - Death Valley NP (CA) - Follow-up: ARPA Incident

On January 3rd, park staff were notified that a trunk had been located and
recovered from within the park, and that it might be associated with a group
of Forty-Niners who had traveled through the region in 1849-50 in an attempt
to reach the gold fields in California.  Upon recovery of the trunk from the
man who found it, park staff asked the Western Archeological and Conservation
Center to help determine the authenticity of the trunk and its contents. 
Conservator Gretchen Voeks, curators from the Smithsonian Institution and
other subject-matter specialists evaluated the artifacts and concluded that
numerous items in the trunk and materials found on these items date to
periods later than 1850, the year cited in a letter found in the trunk. 
Adhesive samples from three items were tested and found to contain polymers
that were first available around 1930.  Two photos in the trunk were
tintypes, a photographic process that was not developed and patented until
1856.  And a manufacturer's mark on one of the two ceramic bowls could not
have occurred before 1914.  Other inconsistencies in the condition and time
frames of the artifacts were also noted.  The investigation continues.  Since
the trunk was reportedly taken from the park, ARPA charges are possible. 
[Scot McElveen, Acting CR, DEVA, 2/4]

99-35 - Colorado NM (CO) - Rescue

On the afternoon of February 2nd, J.F., 18, and L.C., 17,
were hiking off trail near the Devils Kitchen Monolith.  They decided to
scramble up a very steep and exposed slope; when they reached a sandstone
outcrop near the canyon's upper rim, they realized that they could neither go
further nor return.  J.F. then jumped 25 feet to a rock below and fractured
both ankles.  L.C. declined to follow and began calling for help.  Another
hiker with a cell phone heard them and summoned assistance.  Ranger Bill Row
and the Grand Junction fire department's technical rescue team responded. 
The team was flown by helicopter to a position from which they were able to
rappel down to the victims.  They set up a raising system and retrieved J.F.,
who was flown to a hospital and underwent surgery on the same night.  They
then helped L.C. rappel down to safer terrain.  She was not hurt and was
able to hike out.  [Ron Young, CR, COLM, 2/3]

99-36 - Blue Ridge Parkway (VA/NC) - Drug Distribution Arrests

Ranger Don Reed stopped a vehicle for excessive speed near Boone-Blowing
Rock, North Carolina, on January 30th.  Both driver W.B. and
passenger J.K. appeared nervous and were evasive during questioning. 
Reed found marijuana on W.B.'s person and learned that he had a history of
prior drug convictions.  A consent search of the vehicle led to the discovery
of a half pound of marijuana, 58 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale,
and other paraphernalia commonly used in the drug trade.  Reed and ranger
Deann Shults transported the two men to a county jail in Asheville.  On
February 3rd, both were indicted by a grand jury for possession of drugs with
intent to distribute.  They remain in custody; no trial date has yet been
scheduled.  [CRO, BLRI, 2/3]  

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

No entries.

PARK DISPATCHES

And Only Thirty-Nine Days Until Spring - The temperature at Denali National
Park hit a new record low of 54 degrees below zero last week.  The previous
record was 52 below zero.  As of Friday, the temperature had risen to a balmy
40 below...

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No entries.

MEMORANDA

No entries.

INTERCHANGE

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 contact the
main office at 202-208-5883/5656 and ask to be forwarded to the appropriate
legislative specialist.

Hearings/Mark-Ups

Thursday, February 11

House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands (Hansen):
Oversight hearing on Gettysburg NMP's general management plan and proposed
visitors center.  10 a.m.

Thursday, February 25 

House Interior Appropriation Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies
(Regula): Hearing on the Department of Interior's FY00 budget request.  10
a.m.

Wednesday, March 3

House Interior Appropriation Subcommittee (Regula): Hearing on recreation fee
program oversight.  10 a.m.

Thursday, March 18

House Interior Appropriation Subcommittee (Regula): Hearing on the National
Park Service's FY00 budget request.  10 a.m.

Floor Action

No votes scheduled.  The following bills either directly or indirectly
pertaining to the NPS have been introduced since the last Morning Report
listing of new legislation (February 2nd):

o     H.R. 410 (Rahall, WV), a bill to modify the requirements applicable to
      locatable minerals on public domain lands consistent with the
      principles of self-initiation of mining claims, and for other purposes.

o     H.R. 488 (Shays, CT), the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act.

o     H.R. 438 (Borski, PA), the Wireless Communications and Public Safety
      Act of 1999.

o     H.R. 482 (Mink, HI), a bill to provide for the regulation of airspace
      over National Park System lands in the State of Hawaii by the FAA and
      the NPS, and for other purposes.

o     H.R. 581 (Cubin, WY), a bill to provide for the retention of the name
      of the geologic formation known as "Devils Tower" at Devils Tower
      National Monument in the State of Wyoming.

o     H.R. 592 (Fossella, NY), a bill to redesignate Great Kills Park in
      Gateway National Recreation Area as "World War II Veterans Park at
      Great Kills."

o     S. 338 (Campbell, CO), fee reform for commercial filming uses.

o     S. 362 (Torricelli, NJ), a bill to authorize appropriations for the
      Canal Heritage Trail Route in New Jersey, and for other purposes.

o     S. 340 (Allard, CO), a bill to amend the Cache La Poudre River Corridor
      Act to make technical corrections, and for other purposes.

o     S. 366 (Domenici, NM), a bill to amend the National Trails System Act
      to designate El Camino Real de Tierra Adentrao as a National Historic
      Trail.

o     S. 382 (Johnson, SD), a bill to establish the Minuteman Missile
      National Historic Site in the State of South Dakota and for other
      purposes.

                                *  *  *  *  *

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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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