NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Friday, May 23, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Lake Mead NRA
Marina Fire Causes $1 Million In Damage
At about 6:30 a.m. yesterday morning, employees at the Las Vegas Boat Harbor Marina discovered a fire on the Lake Mead Marina portion of their 1,350-slip marina. The fire was isolated on a part of the Spyglass portion of B-Dock. Boats in slips 78, 79, and 80 were completely destroyed by the fire, and two other boats on that finger of the dock were damaged. Las Vegas Boat Harbor concession employees successfully contained the blaze with the assistance of park rangers and fire personnel. Investigators determined that the owner was not on the boat, and that no one had evidently been injured. The concessioner has conducted an evaluation of the damage and made a preliminary estimate that it totaled about $1 million. All boat owners affected by the fire have been contacted. This marina was moved in February from Boulder Harbor to its new location next to Las Vegas Boat Harbor Marina. Both marinas are now operated by Las Vegas Boat Harbor Inc. The fire has not in any way affected access to the rest of the marina, which remains open for business. [Roxanne Dey, Public Affairs Officer]
Sequoia-Kings Canyon NP
Crystal Cave Reopened After Removal Of Historic Explosives
Late on the afternoon on May 15th, park employees working in Crystal Cave found what appeared to be live explosives. After the discovery was made, all visitors and employees were evacuated from the area and park officials contacted the chief regional blaster, who is certified in handling abandoned explosives. On May 16th, the chief blaster and the park's cave specialist assessed the situation and found three drilled holes that potentially contained unexploded charges dating back to the late 1930's. They worked with park managers and staff to formulate a plan to remove any explosives with little to no damage to the natural formations in the cave. On Tuesday, May 20th, the chief blaster removed the wires from the three holes in an operation that lasted until 9 p.m. He then set off a total of seven small charges in an effort to cause the historic explosives to ignite, but none did so. The materials were determined to be inert and were manually removed from the holes. Crystal Cave reopened to the public at noon on Wednesday. [Alexandra Picavet, Public Affairs Officer]
Cape Hatteras NS
Update on “Operation Consent Decree”
Earlier this week, the sign installation crew completed the installation of signs delineating the backshore buffer area. One new closure was implemented on Wednesday to protect a tern colony south of ramp 44 on Hatteras Island and several existing closures were modified to protect observed breeding behavior, as required by the consent decree. An interactive beach access map, using Google Earth to show open and restricted areas, is now available on the internet. The web address is HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/orv-access-information.htm" http://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/orv-access-information. htm. Park and incident staffs have issued a First Amendment special use permit for the weekend for the distribution of written materials related to the beach access restrictions. The involved citizen's group is cooperative. Incident staff prepared several contingency plans for potential congestion and public safety issues that could occur over the holiday weekend. Forty-two people were committed to the incident as of yesterday. [Greg Styles, IC]
American Memorial Park
Three Charged In Theft Of Park Lighting Units
Three men have been charged in federal court for allegedly engaging in a conspiracy to steal portions of the metal lighting units from American Memorial Park, then selling them to a recycling center. D.C., 24, M.D.S., 35, and J.O., 52, were indicted on charges of conspiracy to sell government property and theft of government property. Ochcha was also charged with destruction of veterans' memorials. All three pled not guilty. J.O. was arrested last Friday, while D.C. and M.D.S. surrendered to the FBI last Thursday. The jury trial has been set for July 14th. According to the indictment, the men sold portions of the metal lighting units stolen from the park to the employees of Huang Zheng Recycling Center on several dates early last November. The units are valued at more than $1,000. [Saipan Tribune]
New River Gorge NR
Man Dies In River After Falling Out Of Raft
A 70-year-old man from Edmond, Oklahoma, died while participating in a whitewater rafting trip on the New River this week. Witnesses reported that he fell out of a commercially guided raft in a rapid known as Middle Keeney and was swept downstream through the lower Keeney and Dudley's Dip rapids. River guides on the trip retrieved him from the water and found that he was not conscious. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful and a radio call for help was made. NPS rangers and rescuers from the Ansted and Nuttall Fire Departments responded. The body of the rafter was removed from the river and transported by General Ambulance Service to the medical examiner. The accident and exact cause of death are being investigated by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and the National Park Service. [Gary Hartley, Chief Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS:
Channel Islands NP - The on-going restoration of bald eagles to the park suffered a setback last week when two bald eagle chicks were attacked by a sub-adult eagle and driven from their nest. They were recovered and are being treated by veterinarians.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6537" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6537
Federal Protective Service - All United States flags are to be flown at half staff on Monday, May 26th - Memorial Day - from sunrise until noon.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6535" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6535
Director's Office - Director Bomar yesterday announced a Servicewide superintendents conference that will be held in Utah in mid-July.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6542" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6542
Training Calendar - A listing of upcoming training courses offered by both the National Park Service and its partners across the nation.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=775" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=775
Event Calendar - Today's listing of upcoming NPS and NPS-related events across the nation. Today's additions include a meeting in July in Fort Collins to develop a strategic national plan for the all taxa biodiversity inventory program and a call for proposals for the 2009 George Wright Society conference.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=776" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=776
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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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