Ozark National Scenic Riverways (MO)
Stuck Vehicle Leads To Drug Arrest
While investigating the sound of gunshots on October 19th, rangers
David Spain and Austin Konkel came into contact with two people who had
just crossed the Current River on foot near the Flying W bluff. They
reported that they'd gotten stuck while four-wheeling and requested a
wrecker. The rangers investigated further and located the stuck vehicle
and two more occupants. Wants and warrants checks revealed no warrants
against any of them, but one man was found to be on probation for
stealing anhydrous ammonia. All four exhibited behavior consistent with
use of a central nervous system stimulant, including extreme jerkiness
of movement, unnecessary and exaggerated arm movements, dilated pupils
in broad daylight, and bruxism (gritting of teeth). A consent search for
weapons yielded drug paraphernalia and a small quantity of
methamphetamine. The Missouri State Water Patrol prosecuted the four for
possession of the drug, and a search warrant was subsequently executed
at their residence. Two of the four were charged with four felony drug
counts in state court for methamphetamine production and possession.
Missouri leads the nation in methamphetamine production and use;
according to recent studies, most of the state's cases are generated in
counties near the park.
[Submitted by Larry Johnson, Chief
Ranger]
Point Reyes National Seashore (CA)
Attempted Suicide; Life Saved
On November 6th, rangers were notified by the Marin County Sheriff's
Office that a suicidal 28-year-old man might be in the Abbott's Lagoon
area and that he might attempt to kill himself with either a gun or a
knife. When rangers arrived at the Abbott's Lagoon trailhead, they found
a vehicle that matched the description of the one the man was driving.
While investigating, the rangers were notified that the man had called
911 from the sand dunes near the lagoon and told the dispatcher that
he'd just cut his throat. The rangers headed to the dunes, removed the
man's weapon, provided basic life support, and got him to a helicopter
that flew him to a local hospital. Despite considerable blood loss, the
man survived and recently admitted himself into a hospital for
psychiatric assistance. Ranger Chance Jones was the IC.
[Submitted
by David Schifsky, Acting Operations Supervisor]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Golden Gate National Recreation Area (CA)
Negotiated Rulemaking for Dog Management
The park has been given approval to move forward with a negotiated rulemaking (reg-neg) for dog management within its boundaries. This highly emotional, contentious and complex issue has been closely followed by NPS staff, park visitors, and congressional and community representatives. The decision to move forward with reg-neg reflects the agency's determination that it is in the public interest to do so and signals that the potential exists for NPS to incorporate public input in shaping federal policy regarding dog management in the park. Until and unless a new regulation is published for dog management in the park, the existing regulation (36 CFR 2.15), requiring dogs to be on leash where they are allowed in national park sites, will be enforced. The following provides some background on developments leading to this action:
- In response to increasing visitor conflicts, the Service solicited public comment on dog management under an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) from January to April of 2002. More than 8,500 comments were received.
- The park then contracted with the Northern Arizona University's Social Science Laboratory to compile the public responses and complete a public opinion telephone research survey regarding the issue. The survey was a social science tool aimed at determining the broader community's viewpoints with respect to the dog management issue.
- A federal panel, composed of five senior NPS administrators, convened to review the comments and technical information and to recommend whether or not the park should proceed with a rulemaking. The panel "concluded that off-leash dog walking in GGNRA may be appropriate in selected locations where resource impacts can be adequately mitigated and public safety incidents and public use conflicts can be appropriately managed," and that moving forward with a rulemaking process would be advisable.
- The superintendent concurred with the federal panel's recommendation to move forward with a rulemaking process and further suggested that the reg-neg process would give the greatest chance for a successful conclusion. The regional director and director concurred.
On October 21st, the Service announced the decision to undertake a formal reg-neg process in an effort to determine the following: 1) if off-leash use is appropriate in selected locations where park resources will not be impacted; 2) if the standards for appropriate use (as defined by NPS policies and regulations) can be met; and 3) if public safety incidents and public use conflicts can be appropriately managed. Next steps in this process are as follows:
- The U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution will assist the park to safeguard the impartiality of the reg-neg process. The institute will hire a neutral convener to determine if the community is willing to participate in a collaborative rulemaking process and if there is a potential for success. If so, the convener will identify potential members of a formal rulemaking (FACA) committee representing the community's diverse interests.
- The committee will work towards reaching a consensus on recommendations for NPS to use in drafting a proposed rule on dog management. The consensus must comply with pre-determined criteria established by the park to ensure the protection of significant resources and the safety and enjoyment of park staff and visitors. To the maximum extent possible, consistent with its legal obligations, the Service will use the consensus of the committee as the basis for the proposed rule.
- The proposed rule would need to undergo a concurrent environmental compliance review.
- The proposed rule would then be published by NPS in the Federal Register for further public comment.
[Submitted by Jim Wright]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Interpretation/Education Division
Amyt Garrett Receives 2003 Freeman Tilden Award
Park Ranger Amy Garrett, from Homestead National Monument of America, Beatrice, Nebraska, received the Freeman Tilden Award for her creative and innovative distance-learning program that connects students in the classrooms with park rangers in real-time, spontaneous interaction via fiber optics. National Park Service (NPS) Associate Director Chris Jarvi presented Ms. Garrett the award at the National Association for Interpretation Workshop in Sparks on November 13. The award is named for Freeman Tilden the author of "The National Parks, What They Mean to You and Me," and "Interpreting Our Heritage." Mr. Tilden's writings have had considerable influence on national park interpretation and education programs. The Award, sponsored in partnership with the NPS and the National Parks and Conservation Association (NPCA), is an annual award recognizing outstanding contributions to the public through interpretation by a NPS employee. Nominees for this award are judged upon their creativity, originality, and positive contributions to enhancing the public's understanding of the NPS and the resources it protects.
Ms. Garrett is presented the national award for her fine work using fiber-optic educational technology to offer a real-time interactive learning experience to the students and teachers of urban and rural Nebraska. Her use of innovative technology reaches beyond this memorial to the pioneers who settled the west into the classrooms of Nebraska bringing the students direct interaction with park rangers and other park professionals. An example of this was direct and live communication between the students and a firefighter walking directly from the fire line. One teacher comments that, "This was a great opportunity for the students to learn about fire ecology and see it applied locally." The application of the technology by Ms. Garrett allows the mission of the National Park Service and the story of Homestead to reach students and teachers unable to travel to the Monument. Currently the program is connected to 35 schools and 3,000 students. The students are able to work with technical equipment such as calculator based labs, and global positioning system units. Nebraska Educational Services at each location provided a "lab kit" and the students used them to work cooperatively with the ranger to learn about stream turbidity, temperature and light intensity. Ms. Garrett has applied traditional interpretive techniques through the use of innovative technology. She worked cooperatively with the Nebraska Educational Services Unit #5, K-Nection Star Schools Administrators, and Dark Fiber Solutions to implement this program. The program includes topics on natural resources, cultural resources, history, career opportunities and the mission of the Service. The first-hand experience this program offers has had a huge impact on the student's interest in the subjects and the desire to know more.
The award was created by the NPS and the NPCA to stimulate and reward creative thinking and original programming activity among NPS interpreters which, when delivered, results in positive impacts upon the heritage resources of the NPS and the visiting public. It is intended to recognize an individual who has successfully developed, revitalized, or delivered a specific interpretive or educational program, activity, or event in a particularly effective and creative fashion during a specific time.
[Submitted by Corky Mayo, corky_mayo@nps.gov, 202 513-7137]
Pacific West Region
GS-13/14 Regional Chief Ranger
Pacific West Region has issued an announcement for a GS-13/14 regional chief ranger. The announcement is on USA Jobs; applications must be postmarked by December 1st. The regional chief ranger is the principal advisor to the regional director, regional directorate, parks and partners on issues pertaining to visitor and resource protection, including law enforcement, ranger activities, wilderness coordination, and fire and aviation management. She/he develops and maintains close, effective working relationships with park chief rangers and their staffs and with those working in park protection programs in other regions, the Washington office and with the regional solicitor's office. He/she works on problem-solving, communications and coordination on a wide variety of protection program and operations issues for 54 parks and supervises staff in the region's Oakland and Seattle offices. A Type 1 LE commission is required. The parks of the Pacific West Region offer exciting resources, the opportunity to work with talented and committed people, tough challenges and the satisfaction of meeting those challenges. If you have any questions about the position, feel free to contact Marti Leicester, associate regional director for operations and education, at 510-817-1327.
[Submitted by Marti Leicester]
Saguaro National Park (AZ)
GS-7/9 Park Ranger
The park has an opening in its Tucson Mountain District for a full-time GS-7/9 LE ranger. The position is 6c covered. She/he will perform the full spectrum of ranger duties, including law enforcement, resource protection, and emergency services. Operations focus on drug interdiction, ARPA and backcountry patrols, traffic enforcement, DUI task force operations, and wildlife poaching task force operations. The district ranger also oversees a horse patrol operation and manages a district volunteer program. The park is recruiting through both merit promotion and all sources. The merit promotion announcement number is SAGU-03-17 and the OPM all sources announcement is DD181456 (GS-7) and DD181457 (GS-9). They are listed on USA Jobs, with a closing date of November 19th. The position is not required occupancy and government housing is not available, but housing is readily available in the area. For more information, contact district ranger Robert E. Stinson by e-mail or at 520-733-5116.
[Submitted by Bob Love, Chief Ranger]
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.