NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, February 10, 1999

INCIDENTS

98-797 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Marijuana Cultivation Convictions

In September, 1998, three marijuana cultivation sites were found in a
frequently used visitor area adjacent to the park's Kaau boundary.  A six-
week-long investigation was begun which involved remote monitoring of the
site with video cameras and sensors and the manning of observation posts by
rangers, investigators, and state and DEA agents.  Rangers and park
investigators subsequently arrested W.F., 20, J.D., 19,
and D.B., Jr., 22, while they were harvesting plants.  A pit bull
belonging to one of the men was sprayed with OC pepper spray after charging
the arresting rangers and was captured without injury to the animal.  Under a
plea agreement with the U.S. attorney, the three were allowed to plead guilty
to full misdemeanor charges for possession of marijuana in lieu of the felony
cultivation charges.  On January 20th, W.F., J.D. and D.B. were each
sentenced to three years of supervised probation, mandatory random drug
testing, and mandatory enrollment in a drug abuse program.  There were also
required to find jobs and to serve a total of 450 hours of community service. 
A seized vehicle was ordered returned to the mother of one of the men due to
her medical condition and need of transportation for medical treatment.  The
park is a member of the joint federal-state domestic cultivation and
eradication and suppression program (DCESP).  Park staff provide training,
technical expertise and manpower in joint operations affecting the park.  Due
to the volume of plants seized in the state - over 500,000 plants were seized
by DCESP in 1998 - prosecution in state courts is limited.  [Greg Jablonski,
HAVO, 2/3]

99-37 - Padre Island NS (TX) - Illegal Alien Smuggling Operation

During two three-day periods in late January and early February, rangers
assisted Border Patrol agents in a concentrated effort to break up a network
of smugglers and apprehend illegal aliens traveling through the park.  A
total of 17 illegal aliens were apprehended and five vehicles seized in
separate incidents on the evenings of January 29th and 30th; another 13 fled
into the sand dunes during the incident on the 29th and were able to
successfully evade pursuit.  At least two of those apprehended are known
smugglers and are awaiting trial.  On the evening of February 6th, another
vehicle was seized and 12 more illegal aliens were taken into custody.  A
total of 38 immigrants have been apprehended so far this year; a total of
seven vehicles have been seized.  [Dan Moses, Acting CR, PAIS, 2/8]

99-38 - Joshua Tree NP (CA) - Assist; Body Recovery

On January 31st, BLM rangers asked Joshua Tree NP rangers for assistance at
the scene of a climbing accident on BLM land just south of the park boundary
in the Chuckwalla wilderness area.  The location was the scene of a "rave"
party that went on throughout the weekend.  State highway patrol officers,
state and county firefighters, local sheriffs and ambulance personnel were on
scene, with a helicopter en route, but no technical, high-angle rescue team
was either close or available.  Rangers Pete Roehrs, David Smith and John
Evans responded from the Cottonwood District, located at the southern end of
the park.  Smith and Evans climbed the pitch to reach the victim, P.M.,
 8, who had fallen about 25 feet to a ledge about 150 feet off the
desert floor.  When Evans reached P.M., he found that CPR was being
administered, but it was discontinued when paramedics determined that P.M.
had died.  The three rangers then performed a technical body recovery.  The
county sheriff's office is investigating.  Land management agencies are
working cooperatively to gain control of the rave parties which occur
regularly on public lands in the California desert.  [Judy Bartzatt, CR,
JOTR, 1/30]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

No entries.

PARK DISPATCHES

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Chief Ranger Training Course - The pilot session of "The Chief Ranger," a new
training course, was held the week of January 25th at the Albright Training
Center.  Intermountain Region chief rangers, with the regional director's
support, initiated and developed this course in response to their concerns
about perceptions of rangers' identities and functions in the NPS today.  The
course is targeted at new and potential chief rangers.  The curriculum
focused on resource values, teamwork and leadership competencies associated
with the transition that rangers make from tactical to strategic thinking as
they become new members of park management teams.  The highlight of the
course was the spontaneous introductory comments made by each of the 26
participants, which made it clear that the commitment and passion for
resource stewardship is alive and well in the protection ranger function. 
Due to the success of the course and the initial demand for training by 69
applicants, planning is underway for a course next fall.  Comments and
questions should be directed to the course coordinators - Joe Evans, ROMO,
Steve Frye, GLAC, and Bob Howard, LYJO.

Facility Management Program Update - Director Stanton signed a memorandum on
to all regional directors on January 14th which outlined an implementation
strategy for development of a comprehensive Servicewide facility management
program.  The program will include a facility management software system,
facility management business plan, director's orders and guidelines, training
strategy, and an inventory and condition assessment program for all NPS-owned
assets.  WASO and field staff are now developing director's orders and
guidelines for the program. The next step in the larger program is to replace
software for the Maintenance Management System and the Inventory and
Condition Assessment Program, which are not Y2K compatible.  Building upon
the recommendations of the Servicewide Maintenance Advisory Council's Task
Group IV, a work group is now developing technical specifications for a
software system that is useful to all levels of NPS management and staff,
meets all legislative and regulatory requirements, and meets the information
needs of Congress, the Department, and OMB.  Maintenance management software
systems that are currently used in the NPS will be evaluated against the
specifications along with other commercially available software.  Parks
should continue to use any maintenance management systems that are currently
in place.  The work group is dedicated to finding the best software solution
available and to assuring that parks are not adversely affected.  Questions
should be cc:Mailed to the attention of Rick Shireman at NP--SWR. The subject
line should read: Facility Management Program. 

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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