NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT
   
   
   To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices
   
   From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
   
   Day/Date:   Wednesday, December 22, 1999
   
   
                              *** NOTICE ***
   
   Black mourning bands are normally worn on badges until the day after 
   interment.  Ranger Steve Makuakane-Jarrell was interred last Saturday, so 
   bands may now be removed.
   
   INCIDENTS
   
   99-657 - Systemwide - Follow-up: Special Event - Millennium 2000
   
   Preparations for the coming millennial weekend continue. Today's update 
   focuses on developments in Washington; other parks making similar 
   preparations are encouraged to forward submissions for inclusion in the 
   Morning Report:
   
   o     Washington Office - The Service's Type 1 national incident 
         management team (Skip Brooks, IC) will be operating an NPS "command 
         center" in Washington from December 28th through January 4th. The 
         team will obtain current and updated information on any Y2K-related 
         problems or events (or situations potentially related to Y2K) and 
         significant incidents that occur in parks and provide reports to DOI 
         officials. The government has determined that the NPS has ten 
         "mission essential facilities" (seven regional offices, WASO, USPP 
         headquarters and AOC) and two "mission critical systems" (the 
         campground reservation system and the National Register of Historic 
         Places) from which reports will be obtained. Points of contact for 
         each facility and system have been established; they will provide 
         updates to the IMT during the incident. The Service will use the 
         existing significant incident reporting system wherever possible, 
         but some alterations have been made:
   
         1) During the period from December 31st to January 3rd, both level 1 
            and level 2 incident criteria reports should be made within one 
            hour, as long as that can be done without jeopardizing life or 
            property.
         2) Parks and offices should report occurrences specific to the Y2K 
            rollover in addition to the above reports.
         3) Further alterations to the reporting system may be developed by 
            the points of contact. Parks should look to their regional 
            contacts for guidance specific to their circumstances. Regional 
            offices should provide point of contact information to the parks.
   
         The normal incident coordination ("dispatch") system should be used 
         as needed to order resources in response to incidents that occur     
         during the Y2K rollover period. If links in the dispatch system are 
         unavailable because of Y2K-related problems, the incident management 
         team can assist with facilitating solutions and moving orders 
         through the system. The IMT participated in training exercises in 
         Washington in November and again this month. The team will return to 
         Washington on December 27th to make final preparations. The NPS 
         command center will be staffed 24 hours a day, from 8 a.m. on 
         December 31st to 6 p.m. on January 4th.
   
   o     National Capital Region - The president, other dignitaries and 4,000 
         invited guests will be attending the celebration that will be taking 
         place on the National Mall and will observe it from the Lincoln 
         Memorial. A security zone will accordingly be established around the 
         memorial. There will be a fireworks display at the Washington 
         Monument at midnight, and three barges will launch fireworks from 
         the Potomac River between the 14th Street and Roosevelt Bridges at 
         10 minutes before 1 a.m. The District of Columbia will host a series 
         of events on Constitution Avenue throughout New Years weekend. No 
         demonstrations have been planned or are anticipated, but appropriate 
         security measures will be in place. The entire Park Police force 
         will be committed for the event. 
   
   The Service has developed a Y2K web site to provide information to 
   employees. It can be found at http://y2k.itc.nps.gov. It will be updated 
   on a regular basis over the next two weeks with late-breaking information 
   on NPS Y2K readiness, relevant policy documents, and the latest reports on 
   related computer viruses.  [Dennis McGinnis, Type 1 IMT, 12/9; Jack 
   Schamp, USPP, 12/1 and 12/17; Helen Price, Y2K Team, 12/20]
   
   99-695 - San Juan NHS (PR) - Follow-up: Ship Grounding
   
   On November 21st, the 564-foot Russian-flagged freighter Sergo Zakariadze 
   grounded at the entrance to San Juan Harbor on the protective breakwater 
   off Fort El Morro, a part of the park. Efforts to move the ship continue. 
   Two contracted mini-bulk carriers were scheduled to arrive this week and 
   begin offloading cement from the ship. Air monitoring and sampling and 
   water monitoring plans are in place for the offloading operation. [Mark 
   Hardgrove, SAJU, 12/16]
   
   99-734 - Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania NMP (VA) - Significant Vandalism
   
   The park acquired title to a house and property located near the 
   Fredericksburg Battlefield visitor center last March 4th. The house was 
   leased to three college students. When the park took full possession on 
   July 1st, a ranger inspected the house and found extensive damage, 
   including holes in the plaster walls, broken windows, doors torn from 
   their hinges, demolished staircase railings, and massive amounts of 
   graffiti on the walls (one of which said "Take It Out On The Government"). 
   Large amounts of household trash had also been left in the building and 
   outside on the grounds. A local contracting firm provided a repair 
   estimate of $25,340. Ranger Craig Johnson headed an investigation which 
   led to the discovery that a house trashing party had been held on June 
   30th. Negotiations began with the students and their attorneys. On 
   December 14th, the students signed consent decrees admitting 
   responsibility and paid the park $21,000 toward the removal of the 
   structure and restoration of the site to its historic battlefield 
   appearance. The repair estimate was reduced to adjust for damage that had 
   been identified in the government appraisal. The trio also agreed to 
   forfeit relocation allowances totaling $2,470 to which they had been 
   entitled - but had been held upon discovery of the damage. The three 
   students pled guilty to charges of disorderly conduct and were each fined 
   $100 by the federal magistrate. Charges are pending against another 12 to 
   16 individuals.  [Mike Greenfield, SPR, FRSP, 12/15]
   
   99-735 - Gettysburg NMP (PA) - Theft Indictment
   
   Eastern National employee E.B., 40, of Biglerville, 
   Pennsylvania, was indicted on December 8th on a one-count felony 
   indictment for theft of public money. The indictment was under seal until 
   E.B. was arrested on December 10th. E.B. is charged with theft 
   of money that was collected as part of the park's reservation operation, 
   which collects fees for attractions such as the electric map, Cyclorama, 
   and tours of the Eisenhower farm. She was responsible for accounting for 
   money received in the reservations operation and preparing a daily bank 
   deposit. According to the prosecuting U.S. attorney, there were six 
   occasions during a two-week period in September, 1998, when no deposits 
   were made for the reservations operation. An audit revealed that more than 
   $21,000 should have been deposited during that period. If convicted, 
   E.B. faces a penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The 
   investigation was handled by Northeast Region law enforcement team with 
   assistance from the FBI. [Clark Guy, NERO, 12/20; press release, U.S. 
   Attorney's Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania, 12/10]
   
   99-736 - Natchez Trace Parkway (MS/AL/TN) - MVA with Fatality
   
   On December 20th, T.W., 92, of Ashland, Kentucky, was killed in 
   an accident while traveling south on the parkway. Her son-in-law, R.N., 
   was driving the vehicle when he fell asleep at the wheel, woke 
   suddenly, and over-corrected. The car went out of control and rolled over. 
   R.N.'s wife, N.N., was also injured and flown to Vanderbilt Hospital in 
   Nashville. The three were on their way to Tupelo to visit relatives for 
   the holidays.  Walters was not wearing a seatbelt. [Tim Francis, ACR, 
   NATR, 12/20]
   
                     [Additional reports pending. . .]
   
   RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, PROTECTION AND EDUCATION
   
   Point Reyes NS (CA) - Annual Bird Count
   
   On December 18th, over 100 bird watchers - including staff from the park 
   and Pacific West Regional Office - conducted the annual Christmas season 
   bird count in the park and on adjacent lands. The count is sponsored by 
   the Point Reyes Bird Observatory, a non-profit park partner. The weather 
   was exceptional - clear, unseasonably warm, light winds during the 
   afternoon. Over 200 species of birds were counted during the day. Because 
   of it's temperate climate, optimum latitude, coastal estuaries and diverse 
   plant communities, Point Reyes is often among the top five locations in 
   the country for the number of species seen during the Christmas counts. 
   Overall, the park has recorded 468 species of birds, about 45% of the 
   species found in North America. [Don Neubacher, PORE]
   
   OPERATIONAL NOTES
   
   Facility Management Software System Update - The facility management 
   software team worked this month on releasing the first tailored version of 
   the Maximo software, setting up and testing the final server architecture, 
   conducting additional training for and consulting with users in pilot 
   parks, and reviewing and adjusting the pilot project timeline and 
   benchmarks through March 31st. The program has been off-line for several 
   weeks in order to complete the server architecture, but should be back 
   on-line today. For more information, visit the web site at 
   http://165.83.218.50/FacMgmt. [Betsy Dodson]
   
   MEMORANDA
   
   "Holiday Message," sent by the director to all employees. The full text 
   follows:
   
   "With this holiday season upon us, I would like to take this opportunity 
   to thank all of you for your untiring work and dedication to our national 
   parks and programs of the National Park Service.  I am proud of the 
   tremendous strides we have made over the last year.  Your legendary 
   commitment has helped millions of people experience our parks and programs 
   and discover our shared heritage. 
   
   "With the coming of a new millennium, we must reflect on the future. We 
   hold in our care the special places that weave the very fabric of our 
   nation's great heritage.  As stewards of this rich, ever changing 
   tapestry, we must think not only in terms of what we will preserve for 
   this generation, but what also we will pass on for the benefit of 
   countless generations to come.  We cannot be held captive to a static 
   past.  Indeed, we will have dishonored our legacy if we are not prepared 
   to embrace the challenges of the future.  
   
   "When President and Mrs. Clinton called upon the nation to recognize the 
   millennium by 'honoring the past and imagining the future,' the National 
   Park Service stepped forward as a leader.  Each day, all of us are 
   committed to this challenge as we carry out our duties.  From the 
   interpreter telling the story of the life and contributions of Dr. Martin 
   Luther King, Jr., to the men and women that keep our trails open and safe 
   for visitors, we all play vital roles in ensuring the parks are protected 
   for the next millennium. 
   
   "I hope that your holiday celebrations are filled with joy and the promise 
   of the new millennium.  This is truly a special time in all of our lives.  
   Happy and safe holidays!"
   
   INTERCHANGE
   
   No submissions.
   
   PARKS AND PEOPLE
   
   Olympic NP - Criminal investigator Bill Frazier is retiring on January 1st 
   following 42 years of government service. Bill's career began when he 
   joined the Air Force at the age of 17. After eight years in the military, 
   he returned to his home state of Virginia and began working in the 
   District of Columbia's Department of Corrections. Bill joined the Park 
   Police in 1966, where he served for 22 years. During his career with the 
   Park Police, he served in all branches, including patrol, detectives, 
   internal investigations, and CIB, and eventually became a captain in the 
   regional office in Seattle. After retiring from the Park Police in 1988, 
   Bill went to work t Olympic as the park's protection specialist. He will 
   be sorely missed. A retirement party is being held at Downriggers 
   Restaurant in Port Angeles on January 8th. Notes or photos for his 
   scrapbook can be forwarded to Kym Hall at Olympic NP, 600 E. Park Avenue, 
   Port Angeles, WA 98362 or sent via cc:Mail. Kym can be reached at 
   360-452-4501 x223. [Kym Hall, OLYM]
   
                                *  *  *  *  *
   
   Distribution of the Morning Report is through a mailing list managed by 
   park, office and/or regional cc:Mail hub coordinators.  Please address 
   requests pertaining to receipt of the Morning Report to your servicing hub 
   coordinator.  The Morning Report is also available on the web at 
   http://www.nps.gov/morningreport
   
   Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation 
   and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.
   
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