Zion National Park (UT)
Park Staff Join Search for Space Shuttle Parts
On February 22 and 23, a dozen members of the park staff assisted the
Washington County Sheriff's Office with a search for parts from the
space shuttle Columbia. NASA believes that there is a high probability
that a piece of the shuttle came down within the search area, which is
located on the park's western boundary and includes a small area within
the park itself. A total of about 50 people searched the area, which is
comprised of rough terrain filled with thick brush. No parts have yet
been discovered. For additional details on the search, click on http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58305-2003Feb24.
html
[Submitted by Aniceto Olais, Chief Ranger]
Mount Rainier National Park (WA)
Search and Rescue
The park received a report of two overdue climbers late on Sunday,
February 16. C.M. and Q.T. had planned on
traveling to Camp Muir on Saturday, climbing to the summit of the
mountain early on Sunday, then returning to the trailhead by dark the
same day. Rangers and volunteers from two mountain rescue groups began
searching for them on Tuesday. Two teams of climbers searched the Muir
Snowfield, while others searched the route by helicopter during a brief
period of clear weather. On Tuesday afternoon, two more hikers were
reported overdue. K.A. and B.L. had departed for Camp Muir
on Saturday. Both pairs of climbers had been caught by poor weather late
on Saturday. They joined forces, camping in shallow snow trenches at an
elevation of 9,600 feet, then began their descent on Sunday in whiteout
conditions. They strayed east of the Muir Snowfield onto Paradise
Glacier, where they spent the next two nights in a snow cave at 7,200
feet waiting for weather and avalanche conditions to improve. They were
drying their gear on Tuesday in preparation for a descent the next day
when a backcountry skier came upon them. The skier contacted the park
via cell phone, advising of the climbers' location and condition. The
climbers then followed the skier's tracks back to Paradise, meeting
rescuers while en route. K.A., who was suffering from frostbite, was
taken to a hospital, but the other three climbers were in good
condition.
[Submitted by Dave Ashe, Incident Commander]
Olympic National Park (WA)
Drug Arrests
On Tuesday, February 18, rangers joined agents and officers from DEA,
the Postal Inspection Service, the Forest Service, Grays Harbor SO, and
the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team in serving three search
warrants simultaneously at residences in the Lake Quinault area. Two of
the three residences are on North Shore Road within the park. R.M.
and S.C. were arrested on charges of conspiracy to
manufacture and distribute psilocybin and psilocyn, both controlled
substances, and manufacturing and aiding and abetting in the manufacture
of psilocyn. Psilocybin and psilocyn are the active chemicals found in
hallucinogenic mushrooms. Prosecutors allege that the men were involved
in a conspiracy to sell and distribute spores and instructions for
growing the mushrooms via an internet mail order business based in their
homes. Rangers and DEA and Postal Inspection Service agents have been
investigating this illegal operation for several years.
[Submitted
by Barb Maynes, PIO]
Lake Mead National Recreation Area (AZ,NV)
Colorado Man Takes Own Life
The body of a 68-year-old Colorado man was found in the park on
February 18. The man's vehicle had been found a day earlier; it
contained a note saying that he was suicidal. Rangers and Las Vegas
Metro PD officers participated in the search for the victim and the
subsequent investigation.
[Submitted by Scott Hinson]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Office of the Comptroller
FY 2004 "Greenbook" Now Available on NPS Budget Website
The FY 2004 Greenbook, which contains justifications of the President's budget request to Congress for the National Park Service, is now available through ParkNet on the Budget Website. The Website features a searchable online version of the Greenbook, and will soon have available the executive summary of the FY 2004 budget request.
The Greenbook can be reviewed in its entirety on the web, thus significantly reducing printing and postage costs as well as preserving trees. Only a limited number of Greenbooks will be printed and distributed, so parks and offices are encouraged to use the online version. The Website currently contains Greenbooks from as far back as FY 2000.
The NPS budget homepage is continuously updated in order to provide current budget-related information such as budget news, historical budget data, and other important budget-related documents. In addition, the Budget Website continues to expand to offer features to better respond to user needs.
Accessing the Budget Website is easy. From InsideNPS, select either the "NPS Greenbook" or "NPS Budget" from the Reference Desk section (bottom, right-hand corner), or go directly to the Website at www.nps.gov/budget
Please be advised that the FY 2004 Greenbook currently available on the Web is based on the FY 2003 President's Budget Request and not the FY 2003 budget enacted on February 20, 2003. The FY 2004 request will be revised to reflect the enacted FY 2003 appropriation and a revised FY 2004 proposal will be developed. It has not been determined at this time whether the FY 2004 Greenbook will be completely redone — or whether adjusted summary tables and an executive summary only will be subsequently available.
[Submitted by Kenneth Mueller, Kenneth_Mueller@nps.gov, 202 208-7434] More Information...
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (WA)
GS-025-9 Area Ranger
Candidates are being sought for a lateral reassignment for a GS-025-9 law enforcement area ranger with a duty station at Kettle Falls. Park housing is not available, but there are rentals and homes for purchase in the Kettle Falls and Colville area. The area rangers is supervised by a GS-11 district ranger and works with another permanent GS-9 ranger and two or three seasonal rangers. Along with day-to-day duties, the area ranger is responsible for and will be trained to give DARE presentations at area schools. The park and Kettle Falls District are popular recreational areas, with fishing, camping, skiing, sailing, swimming and other outdoor activities. Kettle Falls is a small community with basic amenities, including grocery stores and K-12 schools. Colville, which is 12 miles away, is a much larger community. Both communities provide excellent living conditions and opportunities. Spokane is 75 miles from Kettle Falls and provides all big city amenities. If you're interested and eligible for lateral reassignment to a GS-9 positions, please email Dan_Mason@nps.gov or call him at 509-633-9441 ext. 123 by March 21. For additional information regarding the area or position, call Gig Lebret at 509-738-6266 ext. 109.
[Submitted by Deb Mason]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.