NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Monday, June 28, 2010

INCIDENTS

Gulf Coast Parks

Public Health Service Issues Advisories For Gulf Islands

The NPS Office of Public Health has prepared a video and public notices on the potential impacts of oil on human health. Tar balls have been found and recovered on Loggerhead Key in the Dry Tortugas. Here are today's updates:

Gulf Islands NS - A video has been prepared and posted to the web in which Captain Charles Higgins, director of the National Park Service Office of Public Health, describes possible effects of the oil spill on human health and provides sources where you can go for the latest information on health issues. The Office of Public Health helps protect and promote visitor health in parks through disease surveillance and response, on-site evaluation/hazard analysis, consultation, policy guidance, and coordination with local, state, and other federal health organizations. OPH officers are working closely with the superintendent of Gulf Islands National Seashore and other affected parks during this incident. A public health line has been set up 251-583-2757. To see the video, HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/archive/features/oilspillresponse/OilSpillSafety/ index.htm" click here. To see a PDF file with a copy of the public health precautionary notice prepared for visitors to the park, HYPERLINK "http://classicinside.nps.gov/documents/NPS%20-%20Public%20Health% 20Notice%20SIGNAGE%206-26-10.pdf" click here.

South Florida Parks (Big Cypress, Biscayne, Desoto, Dry Tortugas, Everglades) - The regular watch for tar balls has turned up four more at Loggerhead Key in Dry Tortugas. These were found above the debris line over a period of 48 hours and were processed through the proper channels to the Coast Guard and have been sent for analysis. Though they are old and weathered, it is important to note that this discovery emphasizes the importance of Dry Tortugas as South Florida's “best all-weather outpost" for early warning should oil products move into the South Florida area, as weather keeps driving sentry vessels off station and into shelter, while observations continue unabated in the park. The sentry vessel program continues to augment this watch for potential oil impacts, though with tropical storm forecasts and small craft advisories in place the sentry operations may be interrupted depending on the weather. The Florida Peninsula Command Center, where Dan Kimball, lead DOI representative in Florida, is stationed, is gearing up for a media open house on Tuesday. Science advisors have been working with other trustees to track the approximately 125 natural resource-specific damage assessment studies being conducted. NPS scientists are participating in most of the 11 workgroups established across the country. The South Florida NPS team is working to ensure that these technical working groups are acquiring the appropriate research permits and supporting logistics for sampling efforts in the parks of concern. In addition, efforts are underway to assure that NPS resources are explicitly included in the baseline outcomes.

Jean Lafitte NHP&P - No new developments.

Padre Island NS - No new developments.

For more information on the NPS, DOI and national oil spill responses and for a link to the BP on line oil spill safety training needed by all incident staff, please see the following sites:

HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/oil-spill-response.htm" NPS Oil Spill Response

HYPERLINK "http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doctype/2931/53023/" Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response

HYPERLINK "http://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/index.cfm" DOI Oil Spill Response

HYPERLINK "http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/" National Oil Spill Response

HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Conferences&id=1957" Oil Spill Safety Training

HYPERLINK "http://www.geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/" GeoPlatform

HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custommenu.cfm?lv=3&prg=1006&id=9336" NPS ICS 209 Incident Status Summaries

HYPERLINK "http://classicinside.nps.gov/documents/NPS%20-%20Public%20Health%20Notice%20SIGNAGE%206-26-10.pdf" Gulf Islands Public Health Precautions Notice

HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/archive/features/oilspillresponse/OilSpillSafety/index.htm" Public Health Service Oil Spill Safety Video

[Lynne Murdock, Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response]

Cape Hatteras NS

Turtle Killed By ORV During Restricted Driving Hours

During the night of June 23rd, a loggerhead sea turtle crawled out of the ocean and attempted to lay a nest between Ramp 70 and 72 on Ocracoke Island. While heading up the beach, the turtle was hit by an off-road vehicle and dragged approximately 12 feet. The animal was found dead with extreme injuries to the carapace and plastron by the park's turtle patrol early on June 24th. NPS law enforcement personnel were notified and investigated the incident, which evidently occurred during the early morning hours of June 24th in violation of the posted night driving restriction (from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.) that is in effect during the turtle nesting season. Eggs from the turtle appeared to be potentially viable and were moved to a nest location at the toe of the dune. Shortly after the first turtle was found, a new unmarked turtle nest that was laid just south of Ramp 70 on Ocracoke Island was found to have been driven over by an ORV (or possibly multiple ORVs). Twelve eggs were crushed. The nest was relocated to a new location due to the impacts of the ORV(s). It is unknown when this incident occurred or whether or not the ORV that ran over the nest was in violation of night-driving regulations. [Mike Murray, Superintendent]

Yosemite NP

Surprise Tour Bus Inspections Conducted

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, California Highway Patrol, and the park held joint surprise inspections of all commercial, for-hire multiple passenger tour buses in Yosemite between June 9th and June 20th. The purpose of these unannounced inspections was to ensure visitor safety through safe operation of tour buses in an attempt to reduce chances of crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving tour buses bringing passengers to the park. Roadside inspections adhere to the guidelines of the North American standard for bus safety. There are five levels of inspections, including a vehicle component, a driver component, or a combination of both. Inspections are designed to determine if buses are in compliance with federal regulations. Violations may result in fines or taking a bus out of service immediately. Over a period of five days of inspections, rangers, officers and inspectors examined 153 commercial buses. The results - 47 buses were found to be safe and were released with no citation, 55 minor “fix-it” tickets were written, 35 written citations and 27 verbal warnings were issued for mechanical deficiencies, 22 buses were placed out of service for mechanical deficiencies, and ten bus drivers were ordered out of service for logbook violations. The park receives approximately 3.5 million visitors per year, with approximately 250,000 arriving via tour buses. The large majority of tour bus passengers are international visitors, many of who come to Yosemite in conjunction with visits to other parts of California. It is a primary concern that these visitors are safe during their travels in the park. Further, the extensive travels of international visitors throughout the state affords the cooperating agencies the opportunity to work together to promote bus safety. Additional surprise inspections will continue throughout the year. [Kari Cobb, Scott Gediman]

Glen Canyon NRA

Rangers Rescue Two Visitors, Investigate Death Of Third

Park staff had a busy time last week responding to several medical emergencies and accidents:

A serious boating accident occurred near Sand King Beach across from the Stateline boat ramp during the afternoon of June 24th. A 30-year-old man fell from a boat and was struck by the propeller. He sustained major injuries to his lower body and was flown by Classic Lifeguard to the Flagstaff Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition in their ICU. NPS and Utah State Park rangers responded to the accident scene and are conducting the investigation. Alcohol appears to have been a contributing factor in this incident.

A man was killed in a single vehicle rollover accident on Warm Creek Road on the morning of June 23rd. National Park Service rangers and Kane County Sheriff's Office deputies responded. The initial investigation indicates that the diver was likely travelling at an excessive rate of speed and that alcohol was apparently a factor in the accident.

On a much more positive note, NPS rangers also saved the life of a 44-year-old man who suffered from major heart complications at Lone Rock Beach on June 22nd, employing an AED to restore his heartbeat. He was transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center and admitted to the ICU for further treatment.

[Scott Sticha, Public Affairs Officer]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS:

Everglades NP - A daylong ranger-guided ecotour in the park taken by a group of talented young musicians from Jacksonville inspired them to compose a music video entitled “To the Everglades.” A link to the video is provided. Photo.

Alaska Region - A capacity crowd of over 250 turned out for the opening of an exhibit entitled "Kiska and Adak: War in the Aleutians" at the Anchorage Museum in April. Photo.

Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings and the status of legislation pertinent to the National Park Service.

NPS Alumni - Lynn Thompson, an NPS career employee who served in various positions, including tours as superintendent of Yosemite and regional director of Rocky Mountain Region, passed away on June 13th in Marin County. Photo.

To see these and other stories posted on InsideNPS (or NPS Digest, its public version), click on one or the other of the following links (please note that not all stories in the former appear in the latter):

NPS employees: HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index

Non-NPS employees: HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/

NPS serious incident submission standards can be found at the following web site: HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/notify" http://inside.nps.gov/notify

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Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).

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