Park News July 24,2008

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

A barge and tanker collided on the Mississippi River near New Orleans around 2 a.m. yesterday morning, resulting in a discharge of about 9,000 barrels of number 6 fuel oil from the barge, which broke in two. Among the areas threatened by the fuel oil are two DOI sites – Delta National Wildlife Refuge and the Chalmette Unit of Jean Lafitte NHP&P. Number 6 fuel oil is a heavy viscous oil commonly used for fueling power plants and large vessels. Booms have been placed in passes that exit the main river, but by mid-afternoon the oil was beginning to appear on the unit’s shoreline. An area measuring about 2,350 feet long by 75 feet wide was impacted. A complete assessment is underway.

 

Crater Lake National Park

A fire started in the laundry room of the camper store in Mazama Village sometime between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on the morning of Monday, July 21st. Xanterra concession employees who were working near the area at the time noticed smoke coming out of the store, discovered flames and a small fire just inside the exterior laundry room door at the back of the building, and called 911 and park protection rangers via radio. They then returned to the laundry room door and used handheld fire extinguishers to attack the fire through a crack in the door. Ranger Pieter Sween soon arrived on scene and set up an incident command. He was followed by ranger Marshall Neeck  and the park’s structural engine, which was staffed by firefighters Liza Wall, Bill Devereaux and Cory Wall. Sixty minutes after the initial call, the Chiloquin Volunteer Fire Department company arrived with two engines, a water tender, and a full complement of firefighters. Working in concert with park staff, the Chiloquin company had the fire contained within 20 minutes. Mop-up operations continued until approximately 6:30 a.m. The laundry room itself sustained considerable damage. The fuel dispensing electronics that control the gas pumps were destroyed and will take at least a few days to repair.  All three commercial grade washers and three commercial grade dryers were destroyed, along with three-fifths of the linen/laundry stock of the entire concession operation. Numerous electrical circuits were also damaged, which in turn shutdown propane service, phone service, computer functions, and refrigeration units. Structural damage to the building was minimal and was restricted mainly to the door and exterior entry to the laundry room, but smoke damage was widespread (the full extent has yet to be ascertained). Xanterra has made an initial estimate of damages in excess of $75,000. The company hoped to have partial power restored by early Tuesday. They plan to reopen the camper store in a limited capacity as soon as possible, and anticipate that fueling operations will be up and running by the end of the week. Emergency purchases have been made to replace lost linens and towels, and temporary laundry functions will be performed at the Rim Dorm and Mazama Dorm. An assistant state fire marshal conducted an investigation immediately after the incident and has ruled the fire accidental. The cause of the fire has been determined as spontaneous combustion as a result of oil/grease rags that had been recently laundered and piled in large plastic cart.

 

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

A park visitor spotted five men with assault rifles and pistols in the woods near a popular visitor area early on the afternoon of July 11th. The five men had a sixth man on his knees with hands handcuffed behind his back and were pointing two AK-47’s at his head. They also had a video camera on a tripod nearby and were filming this apparent execution. Local police responded and detained the men, ages 18 to 24, at gunpoint. Ranger Jose Rochez also responded and helped officers collect evidence and conduct interviews. It turned out that the six were filming a movie without a permit, using several BB/pellet guns and two real AK-47s. The owner of those guns was arrested, while the others received violation notices for weapons and permit violations.

 

Gateway National Recreation Area

Gateway National Recreation Area is seeking two GS-1640-11 facility management specialists – one for a position on Staten Island, the other for a position at Sandy Hook. Housing may be available at both locations; moving expenses are available for the merit promotion announcements only. All announcements close on August 1st.

Both announcements are open under both merit promotion and delegated examining and can be found on USA Jobs by clicking on “More Information” below.



 More Information...

 

Haleakala National Park

Haleakala National Park, located on the island of Maui, Hawaii, is seeking candidates to fill one vacant WG-9 utility systems repairer operator position.  Candidates must be in possession of a current state wastewater license at the Grade 2 lever or higher and a current state water operators license at the Grade 1 level or higher and determine if the state of Hawaii will grant reciprocity for these licenses. This is a permanent full time position.

The utility systems repairer operator will have primary responsibility for the operation, repairs, and maintenance of the summit district watstewater treatment and recirculation facility, including reporting and laboratory testing.  He/she will also have responsibility for the maintenance and operation of the park’s water operations and distribution systems, including accurate record keeping, reporting, monitoring and testing.

The person selected will be stationed at the summit district of Haleakala National Park with offices at the 7,000 foot elevation where weather is often cool, wet and windy.  Summer temperatures vary from 50 to 70 degrees and in winter range from the low 30s to mid 60s.  Complete shopping and medical facilities are available in Kahului, approximately 30 miles from park headquarters.  Limited shopping and medical facilities are available in the Pukalani/Makawao area, about 19 miles from park headquarters.  Elementary schools are located in Kula, Makawao, Pukalani, and Haiku.  High schools are located in Pukalani, Kahului, and Wailuku.  Public transportation is not available to the park; personal transportation is essential.  Park housing is not available and accommodations can be found 10 to 20 miles down the mountain in neighboring towns.  Rental prices for an average two-bedroom cottage range from $1200 to $1300/month and a three-bedroom house from $1600/month; purchase prices begin at about $550,000 and range considerably upward.

Interested parties may contact maintenance mechanic supervisor Peter Kafka at (808) 572-4421 for more details on this vacancy.  For application procedures and to forward resumes, contact the human resource office at (808) 572-4403.  This recruitment announcement ends August 15th.

 

National Capital Region

National Capital Region's exotic plant management team (NCR-EPMT) is pleased to welcome Frank Archuleta as its team leader.

Frank earned a BS from Colorado State University in natural resource management with a minor in conservation biology.  He has worked for the US Forest Service as crew boss for a hotshot crew and field supervisor for a bark beetle suppression crew.  From May, 2005, until he came to the NPS in June, 2008, Frank has been restoring habitat for the US Fish & Wildlife Service in the Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR in south Texas.

Frank will be working with Sue Salmons, the team liaison for the NCR-EPMT, which serves 13 partner parks and the Appalachian Trail by advising resource managers on best practices, developing treatment protocols, and conducting control projects in areas that are biologically important. The NCR-EPMT works closely with park staff to integrate its efforts into each park's natural resource management program. The team also works with park partners to train YCC, Weed Warriors and other volunteers.  The NCR team is part of a Servicewide program facilitated by the Biological Resources Management Divison in Ft. Collins, Colorado.

During the 2007 treatment year, the NCR-EPMT identified 93 invasive non-native species in 58 locations where they conducted control projects.  Surveys documented that these species covered more than 3,121 acres.  The team treated 56 species with a total canopy cover of 247 acres.



 More Information...