NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Monday, May 19, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Sequoia-Kings Canyon NP
Abandoned Historic Explosives Found In Crystal Cave
Park employees working in Crystal Cave late last Thursday afternoon found what appeared to be live explosives left over from the 1930s. All visitors and employees were evacuated from the area. Park officials also contacted the chief regional blaster, who is certified by the NPS in the handling of abandoned explosives and who also happens to work in the park. On Friday, the chief blaster and a cave specialist assessed the situation and found three drilled holes which may contain unexploded charges. The CCC opened up trails in the cave in the 1930s using small explosive charges to widen passages and increase head space where they deemed it appropriate. The discovery of the abandoned explosives was made while the cave specialist was planning a new lighting system for the cave. Efforts will begin this week to remotely remove the wires and any attached explosives. There's a distinct possibility, however, that the explosives used to develop the cave included nitroglycerin, which becomes unstable over time. The safest course of action therefore may entail detonation. In preparation for that possibility, park staff will install temporary blasting mats and blankets to protect cave formations and features. The area remains closed. [Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Officer]
Delaware Water Gap NRA
Body Of Second Missing Fisherman Found
The body of R.S., 62, the second of two fishermen who disappeared following a boating accident on the Delaware River on April 3rd, was found by two NPS employees last Wednesday. They were on boat patrol on the river when they came across remains about a mile south of Sambo Island, which is about 14 miles downriver from the accident site. The Warren County medical examiner conducted an autopsy and determined that the remains were those of R.S. R.S., T.P., 57, and R.P., 58, were fishing on the Delaware River on April 3rd when their boat capsized just south of the Dingmans Ferry Bridge. R.P. made it to shore near the Van Campen Inn on Old Mine Road in New Jersey and flagged down passing motorists, who called for assistance. He was later treated and released from a local hospital. R.S. and T.P. were reported missing and an intensive search effort was begun. The body of Timothy T.P. was found on April 19th in the Walpack Bend area of the river. The search for R.S. and T.P. involved personnel, search dogs, and equipment from numerous agencies and volunteer organizations, including Delaware Water Gap NRA, Upper Delaware S&RR, Valley Forge NHP, the New Jersey State Police Marine Services Unit and dive team, the New Jersey State Police Aviation Bureau, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Game Commission, the Pennsylvania State Police Aviation Division, Bushkill Fire Company, Dingman Township Volunteer Fire Company, Hemlock Farms Volunteer Fire Company, Northampton Fire Department, Port Jervis Fire Department, Portland Hook and Ladder Company, Whitehall Fire Rescue, the Civil Air Patrol, Pike County K-9, Ramapo Rescue Dog Association, and the Garden State Underwater Recovery Unit. [Deb Nordeen, Public Affairs Officer]
Cape Hatteras NS
Update on “Operation Consent Decree”
On Saturday, the incident management team that was assisting the park demobilized and turned the incident over to a small support team (Greg Stiles, IC). The park continues to rely on outside law enforcement rangers detailed to the area to provide additional coverage for the buffer/closures and the ban on night driving. Other personnel remaining at the park will install about 60 miles of symbolic fencing along the backshore, the toe of the dunes, and the park's ocean side. The Southeast Region special event and tactical team will return to the park throughout the summer for holiday and peak visitation periods. [Barbara Dougan, Incident Information Officer]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS:
Fort Union Trading Post NHS - The park is hosting an exhibit featuring historic “horse masks” created by students from a middle school on the Fort Peck Indian reservation, where many of the students are descendents of the Assiniboine and Dakota tribes who historically traded at Fort Union.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6516" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6516
Historic Preservation Training Center - Fort Sumter National Monument hosted over 75 participants from more than 15 national and state parks at a workshop on preserving coastal forts held from April 8th to April 10th in Charleston, South Carolina.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6518" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6518
Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings and the status of legislation pertinent to the National Park Service.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6517" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6517
Risk Management - The Washington Office has announced the recipients of the Director's Safety and Health Achievement Award and the Andrew Clark Hecht Public Safety Achievement Award for 2007.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1927" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1927
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Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found at the following web site:
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).
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