Park News August 22,2008

Glacier National Park

A search began on Wednesday for a backpacker who was three days overdue from a lengthy and arduous planned hike in the park’s backcountry. The hiker is identified as Yi-Jien Hwa, 27, a resident of Kentucky and Malaysia. He is described as 6 feet, 1 inch tall, weighing about 170 pounds. He is believed to be hiking alone and carrying a blue Kelty backpack and trekking poles, along with other equipment, and he might be wearing dark-colored clothing of blue, black, or green. Hwa was last seen at St. Mary Visitor Center on August 11th, the first day of his planned hike. The hike was to end on August 18th at Kintla Lake. His car has been found in the Logan Pass Visitor Center parking lot. According to a backcountry permit filed with the park, Hwa’s path was to include the Floral Park area, Gunsight Pass trail, Highline trail to Goat Haunt, and Goat Haunt to Kintla Lake. Other hikers along this route were contacted in the initial search on Wednesday but nobody had seen him. Anyone who has any information about Hwa or who might have seen him is asked to contact the park at 406 888-7801. Hwa’s family notified park officials on Tuesday night that he had not contacted family members as agreed. The family said they had not heard from him since the first day of the hike. Between 20 and 25 personnel from the National Park Service and the US Border Patrol began searching areas at the beginning of Hwa’s itinerary early on Wednesday. Low temperatures, rain, and fog are expected to be a factor in the scope and duration of the operation. Other agencies are expected to join the search. The IC is Patrick Suddath.

 

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

Chalmette Battlefield, site of the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, served as a presidential landing site on Wednesday, August 20th, for helicopters carrying President Bush, his staff, and special guests. President Bush visited the New Orleans area to mark the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s landfall on the Gulf Coast. He spoke at Jackson Barracks, headquarters of the Louisiana National Guard pre-Katrina and currently under repair to resume its role. The president spoke about progress made since Katrina devastated the area and praised Louisiana residents as well as volunteers and donors from around the country for their work in recovery efforts. For security reasons, only essential park staff were on site during the president’s stop. Law enforcement rangers provided site security. Ranger Georgia Shaw served as incident commander for the landing, working closely with the Secret Service. Marine Helicopter Squadron One, which provides all helicopter transportation for the president, presented the park with a plaque of thanks. This was the first to the battlefield by any sitting U.S. president. The battlefield, one of six sites of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, is located south of New Orleans in Chalmette.

 

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

On August 3rd, two rangers were investigating illegal chainsaw use in the park’s backcountry when they were fired upon by a paintball gun. Rangers Shaun Hughes and Brad Heyrman were on patrol in the Beaver Lake area of the park near dusk when they heard a chainsaw running in the vicinity of one of the park’s remote backcountry designated camping areas, which provide accommodations for a number of parties on a single night. Chainsaw use is not allowed in this portion of the park. As they approached what they thought was the most likely campsite, they saw a group of six people sitting around a campfire. Before entering the campsite, they paused briefly about 30 yards away along the established trail to watch the group for officer safety reasons and to look for the chainsaw. Before they were able to formally announce themselves and make their approach, one member of the group said “What’s that?,” then picked up a weapon and began firing in the direction of the rangers, who heard and felt at least five rounds passing nearby and recognized them as probable paintball rounds. The rangers immediately took cover, announced themselves as National Park Service rangers, and ordered that the weapon be put down. Members of the group laughed and the weapon was not dropped promptly. After announcing themselves again and advising the shooter that they would return fire if any additional rounds were fired, the shooter put the weapon down on the ground and the rangers entered, took control of the scene, and seized the weapon. The assailant said that he had “heard some noises” in the woods and “thought it might be a bear.”  He said he was simply shooting in the direction of the noise and had not seen the rangers, any of the other camping parties, or the large group camped nearby in the group camp site. The party included four adults and two children. The holder of the backcountry camping permit was charged for the illegal chainsaw use. The shooter was charged with illegal weapon possession and interfering with agency function.

 

Saguaro National Park

On August 17th, Paula Gniewek, 70, of Tucson was reported missing to the Tucson Police Department.  Two days later, her vehicle was found at the Douglas Spring trailhead with a suicide note in the trunk. An interagency search of the area ensued that involved ground and horse-mounted searchers from a variety of agencies and helicopters from the Tucson Police Department and the U.S. Border Patrol. Gniewek’s body was found by ground searchers at 4:30 p.m. about a half mile east of the trailhead. The cause of death has not yet been ascertained; results of the autopsy are pending.

 

Visitor and Resource Protection

The following notice has been transmitted to the field from Karen Taylor-Goodrich, Associate Director, Visitor and Resource Protection:

I am pleased to announce the 2006 and 2007 Wes Henry National Excellence in Wilderness Stewardship Award winners. These annual recognitions are presented by the National Park Service, Wilderness Stewardship Program, to reward both an individual and a team or group from within the bureau for significant contributions to wilderness preservation. Recipients receive a generous monetary award and a Grizzly Bear bronze formally adopted in 2008 by the Wilderness Leadership Council (WLC) to commemorate the award. On behalf of the NPS, I would like to congratulate the following individuals and parks:

Jan van Wagtendonk
2006 Individual Award
Over Jan’s 35-year career and among his considerable and many achievements, his study of the ecological and social impacts of recreational use of parks resulted in a model to determine visitor recreational capacities in wilderness areas. This innovative work has and will minimize adverse impacts to wilderness resources.

Denali National Park and Preserve
2006 Group Award
The Denali National Park and Preserve group worked extensively with other agencies, organizations, and the public in developing the final Backcountry Management Plan, initiated in 1999 and completed in 2005. Their dedication has led to a better future for Wilderness management in Denali National Park and the Alaska Region.

Judy Alderson
2007 Individual Award
To many of her colleagues, Judy is the role model for national excellence in wilderness stewardship. Her unwavering spirit of service for wilderness over several decades is an inspiration and has helped ensure that wilderness throughout the United States is valued and protected. Judy’s rigorous and thoughtful ethic has established a foundation of consistency and accountability in the National Park Service’s wilderness program.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
2007 Group Award
For over three decades, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks struggled to deal with the challenge of reducing low-level military overflights of the parks. As a result of this group’s work, a long-term program of Overflight Management and Education was developed. This program successfully dealt with a very complex issue, resulting in higher quality wilderness character and higher quality wilderness experiences for the visitors of the Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness.

These recipients are at the forefront of undaunted wilderness stewardship, and they have achieved remarkable results in enhancing understanding and appreciation of our nation’s wilderness. Without local champions of this commitment and caliber, the Wilderness Stewardship Program would not be nearly so effective.

The wilderness program is guided by the WLC, formerly the National Wilderness Steering Committee. The WLC is comprised of superintendents and a variety of staff specialists from across the National Park System. This council advises the program on a wide range of wilderness and wildland issues to ensure that wilderness stewardship is integral to all park operations.

 

Yosemite National Park

Superintendent Mike Tollefson will be leaving his post at the end of the year to become the new president of the nonprofit Yosemite Fund, it was announced yesterday by The Yosemite Fund and the National Park Service.

“With his leadership, vision and familiarity with all aspects of the park, we are confident that our record of success and growth to preserve and protect Yosemite will continue in the years to come,” said Hal Cranston, chairman of The Yosemite Fund. “We are extremely fortunate that Mike is joining the Fund.”

The selection of Tollefson culminated a six month national search conducted by the organization’s Transition Task Force and Board of Trustees.

“I am excited to help those who care about Yosemite to preserve and protect the park’s future. My overarching goal will be to build on The Yosemite Fund’s successes of the last 20 years. I feel uniquely positioned to continue to support Yosemite’s special projects and initiatives through private funding and resources,” said Tollefson.

Working as partners with the National Park Service, The Yosemite Fund is the primary fundraising arm for trails, habitat, wildlife, visitor center exhibits and cultural preservation projects in Yosemite National Park. During the last 20 years, the organization has blossomed to 100,000 donors, who have generously contributed more than $45 million for over 200 park improvement projects. Tollefson will join The Yosemite Fund in January 2009.

“It has been a pleasure and a highlight of my life to be superintendent of Yosemite National Park and to work with all of the dedicated employees and partners that pull together to make Yosemite the unique and special place that so many love,” he said. “I am proud of all that we have accomplished together. Yosemite is a better place for the visitor and the resource is more protected.”

Tollefson has been the superintendent of Yosemite National Park since December 2002. His 36-year career with the National Park Service includes the superintendency of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California, Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee. He also has been in policy leadership positions in the National Park Service regional office in the Pacific Northwest.

As Superintendent of Yosemite National Park, Tollefson has guided a major construction program repairing old infrastructure, improving visitor services and providing increased resource protection.  The shuttle bus fleet has been replaced with hybrid electric buses. Sister park relationships have been established between parks in both Chile and China.

Donor contributions to The Yosemite Fund have transformed countless areas of Yosemite National Park since its inception in 1987. In just the last three years, The Yosemite Fund has completed a $13.5 million restoration of the approach to Yosemite Falls, and a $1.5 million restoration of Olmsted Point. It has completed a $13.5 million campaign to improve many of Yosemite’s most loved trails in Yosemite Valley, the Mariposa Grove of Redwoods and in the backcountry. This year, the Fund and the National Park Service have together undertaken a Centennial Challenge project. The $3.2 million Tunnel View Restoration Project will be completed and dedicated this October. Tollefson takes over for Bob Hansen, who led the organization for 20 years, and announced that he was leaving The Yosemite Fund earlier this year.

“Mike is the perfect choice to lead The Yosemite Fund and work with the National Park Service, donors, and many others to improve the park in the years ahead,” said Hansen. “I have been fortunate to be associated with many of the park’s sung and unsung heroes and to hold the trust of individuals who care so deeply for this place that they would provide their personal gifts in its favor. The passion of these people for Yosemite, like Mike Tollefson and those at the Fund, will continue to achieve what John Muir exhorted us all to d ‘make the mountains glad.’”

For more information about The Yosemite Fund, see www.yosemitefund.org or call 1-800-4MYPARK.

 

Risk Management Division

The Risk Management Division is very pleased to announce the arrival of Michael K. May as the Service’s new occupational safety and health program director. Mike joined the NPS on August 18th, bringing with him over 16 years of experience managing occupational safety and health programs at all levels. 

Mike began his safety career while serving on active duty with the United States Air Force, and, upon retirement from active duty, worked as an occupational safety and health manager for the Department of the Air Force at the Air Mobility Command headquarters in Illinois.  Most recently, Mike was an occupational safety and health specialist with the United States Secret Service in Washington, DC.  

Mike is a certified safety professional and has degrees in safety and in environmental management.  He is currently nearing completion of a masters degree in occupational safety and health and environmental management.  Mike is married to Reisha May, and has three children, Devin, Brandon, and Bria. 

Please join us in welcoming Mike to the NPS family.  His phone number is 202-513-7222, and e-mail is michael_may@nps.gov .   

 

Washington Office

The Washington Office has issued an announcement for a facility management specialist who will have responsibility for providing technical and administrative advice and thorough oversight on facility repair and rehabilitation projects and related information management systems throughout the national park system. The announcement closes on September 5th.  For a copy of the announcement, including a detailed job description and application procedures, please click on “More Information” below.



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Washington Office

The Washington Office is seeking a management analyst to perform administrative and analysis functions in support of the formulation, execution and review of appropriated fund and reimbursable service agreement budgets. The announcement closes on September 5th.  For a copy of the announcement, including a detailed job description and application procedures, please click on “More Information” below.



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Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

Chattahoochee River has issued an announcement for GS-5/7/9 protection rangers. Several positions may be filled from this announcement, which closes on September 1st. The announcement number is SESO 08-96 and can be obtained by clicking on the link below.



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Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site

Martin Luther King, Jr. NHS is actively recruiting for a protection ranger interested in a lateral transfer to a GL-0025-9 position in the park.

Applicant must meet all NPS enforcement medical, drug, and background survey standards.  On-site housing maybe available.

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site is located in Atlanta, Georgia.  The site has concurrent jurisdiction and the ranger selected will serve as a Level 1 commissioned law enforcement ranger. Primary duties include providing and sustaining security of historical and cultural resources and responding to accidents and emergencies. She/he will be responsible for initiating and maintaining contacts with park community organizations, law enforcement agencies, and partners.

Interested applicants should contact chief ranger Clark W. Moore at (404) 886-2840 or (404) 331-5190, Ext. 3607.