NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
INCIDENTS
Everglades NP
Four Cited In Endangered Species Act Case
On June 29th, Rangers Mike Herrin and Nate Hawley of the park's Gulf Coast District, assisted by ISB Special Agent Dave Mayeski, participated in Operation Dry Water, a nationwide BUI (boating under the influence) prevention program sponsored by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators.
While working the Indian Key Pass area, the rangers saw a commercial vessel well offshore as it was returning to Everglades City. Two patrol boats were set up to intercept this vessel as it entered a narrow area of the pass while the sun was setting.
As they stopped the boat, they saw the captain of the vessel immediately leave the helm and point to his crew to have them jettison something from the boat. The rangers were able to determine that a piece of line that was tied to a loggerhead sea turtle had been cut. The turtle was alive and picked up by rangers but did not survive. It had a long piece of trap line tied to one of its flippers as it was being pulled behind and underneath the boat.
As a result of the investigation, the four men onboard were all cited and released. The captain pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Endangered Species Act; he was fined $5000 and gave up his commercial saltwater license for two years. One of the crew members was found guilty of possession of a sea turtle and fined $1500; the other two were found guilty of possession of a sea turtle and fined $1000 each.
[Linda Friar, Chief of Public Affairs]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's InsideNPS. To see the full text, NPS employees should go to the InsideNPS home page ( HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index). Non-NPS employees can see most of them on the Morning Report web page ( HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/morningreport/" http://www.nps.gov/morningreport/):
Fort Scott NHS - Fort Scott National Historic Site recently partnered with its friends group and community members to present “Symbols of Sacrifice,” a series of programs that highlighted the sacrifice of Americans throughout much of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.
Commercial Services - The Commercial Services program has released its annual report for last year. Among other things, the report provides detailed information on concessions and franchise fee revenues, analysis of concessions services, and information on concession contracts.
Northeast Region - Saint Gaudens National Historic Site sponsored a class on modern techniques in historic preservation in August, employing nine historic structures on a recently acquired farm as a learning lab for historic preservation.
Independence NHP - Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell made an impromptu visit to Independence National Historical Park on October 24th to thank park staff for their service during the government shutdown.
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace NHP - Park staff joined local students and members of the Future Farmers of America this year in planting, cultivating and harvesting a park garden established through the Department of Agriculture's People's Garden initiative.
Northeast Region - Noemi “Ami” Ghazala has been selected as the new superintendent of Women's Rights NHP. She replaces Tammy Duchesne, who recently was named superintendent of Pu'uhonua O Honaunau NHP.
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The Morning Report is produced by the Office of Communications with the support of the Office of the Associate Director for Information Resources. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov).
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