NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, February 17, 1999

INCIDENTS

99-44 - Dry Tortugas NP (FL) - Rescue

On February 12th, M.B., 32, climbed on top of one of the walls at Fort
Jefferson to take a picture of her two sisters.  While framing the shot, M.B.
stepped too far backwards and fell 42 feet from the wall into the waters of
the moat below, landing feet first.  She was able to stand and walk after
getting out of the moat.  Several bystanders assisted her until ranger Roy
Appugliese arrived and began an assessment of her injuries.  M.B. complained
of pain in her neck and legs, but was alert and oriented throughout the
incident.  A Coast Guard rescue helicopter was summoned and arrived in a
little over an hour.  M.B. was flown to a hospital 68 miles away in Key
West - the closest hospital available.  She was found to have suffered a
bruised kidney and was released the next day.  M.B.'s sisters later told
rangers that she had stepped off the wall next to a sign advising visitors to
stay back from the edge.  M.B. fell into about four-and-a-half feet of water;
if she'd fallen to either side, she would have landed in very shallow water
or on a rubble pile.  [CRO, EVER/DRTO, 2/16]

99-45 - Coronado NM (AZ) - Drug Smuggling and Illegal Alien Arrests

During the week of February 7th, rangers participated in joint surveillance
and interdiction operations in the park with Customs and Border Patrol
agents.  They apprehended four smugglers and 29 illegal aliens and seized
over 300 pounds of marijuana.  These drug and illegal alien smuggling forays
have now reached levels that are significantly impacting park resources. 
Documented resource damage includes the creation of heavily-used foot trails,
erosion, ground compaction, litter and sanitation problems, wildlife
disturbance, and destruction of vegetation.  As law enforcement pressure on
traditional smuggling routes has increased, smuggling organizations have
shifted their activities to remoter areas.  These new routes are frequently
found on public lands.  Resource impacts and visitor safety issues therefore
show no signs of diminishing.  [Fred Moosman, CR, CORO, 2/12]

99-46 - Yellowstone NP (WY) - EMS Response: Life Saved

Old Faithful rangers were dispatched to a reported heart attack a mile from
the road on the Lone Star ski trail on the afternoon of February 3rd.  They
found a 46-year-old man with chest pain and shortness of breath.  EMS actions
included an EKG, pulse oximetry monitoring, and administration of medications
and oxygen.  Additional staff, including off-duty rangers, joined the rescue
effort; maintenance workers secured and prepared the helispot.  The patient
was taken to the trailhead by snowmobile, transported to the ranger station
by oversnow ambulance, and flown by helicopter to a hospital in Idaho Falls. 
Doctors confirmed that he'd suffered a heart attack.  [Alison Robb, Assistant
SDR, Old Faithful Subdistrict, YELL, 2/11]

99-47 - Natchez Trace Parkway (MS/AL/TN) - MVA with Fatality

On February 12th, T.B., 17, was driving north on the parkway when her
two front seat passengers attempted to change seat positions.  One of them
came into contact with the steering wheel, causing the vehicle to go off the
parkway and strike a tree.  One passenger, S.M., 15, of Ethel,
Mississippi, was pronounced dead at the scene; the other, S.H., 20,
of McCool, Mississippi, was taken to a hospital and is in critical condition. 
[Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 2/15]

99-48 - Clara Barton Parkway (MD) - MVA with Fatality

On February 11th, T.A., 48, of Bethesda, Maryland, suffered fatal
injuries in an accident on the parkway.  T.A. was driving eastbound on the
parkway when his Chevrolet Lumina went off the road and struck a tree.  He
was flown to a hospital by a Park Police helicopter, where he subsequently
died of his injuries.  Preliminary investigation indicates that the accident
may have resulted because of aggressive driving.  Park Police are currently
searching for a blue Mazda Miata that may have been involved in this
incident.  [Henry Berberich, RLES, NCSO, 2/12]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

No entries.

PARK DISPATCHES

No entries.

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

Wednesday, February 24

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Historic
Preservation and Recreation (Thomas): Oversight hearing on the National Park
Service's FY00 budget request.  2 p.m., 366 Dirksen.

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., B-308 Rayburn.

Wednesday, March 3

House Interior Appropriation Subcommittee (Regula): Hearing on recreation fee
program oversight.  10 a.m., B-308 Rayburn.

Thursday, March 18

House Interior Appropriation Subcommittee (Regula): Hearing on the National
Park Service's FY00 budget request.  10 a.m., B-308 Rayburn.

Floor Action

No votes scheduled.  

Legislation Introduced

The following bills either directly or indirectly pertaining to the NPS have
been introduced since the last Morning Report listing of new legislation
(February 9th):

o     H.R. 641 (McNulty, NY), a bill to establish the Kate Mullany National
      Historic Site in the State of New York, and for other purposes (see
      also S. 66).

o     H.R. 658 (Sweeney, NY), a bill to establish the Thomas Cole National
      Historic Site in the State of New York as an affiliated area of the
      National Park System (see also S. 140).

o     H.R. 659 (Weldon, PA), a bill to authorize appropriations for the
      protection of Paoli and Brandywine Battlefields in Pennsylvania, to
      direct the National Park Service to conduct a special resource study of
      Paoli and Brandywine Battlefields, to authorize the Valley Forge Museum
      of the American Revolution at Valley Forge National Historical Park,
      and for other purposes.

o     H.R. 701 (Young, AK), a bill to provide outer continental shelf impact
      assistance to state and local government, to amend the Land and Water
      Conservation Fund Act of 1965, the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery
      Act of 1978, and the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (commonly
      referred to as the Pittman-Robertson Act) to establish a fund to meet
      the outdoor conservation and recreation needs of the American people,
      and for other purposes.

o     H.R. 748 (Stupak, MI), a bill to amend the act that established the
      Keweenaw National Historical Park to require the Secretary of the
      Interior to consider nominees of various local interests in appointing
      members of the Keweenaw National Historical Parks Advisory Commission.

o     H.R. 757 (Young, AK), a bill to prohibit the construction of new
      facilities and structures within the boundaries of the George
      Washington Memorial Parkway along the Potomac River in Virginia between
      the Francis Scott Key Bridge and the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial
      Bridge.

                                *  *  *  *  *

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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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