THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OFTHE INTERIOR PEOPLE LAND &WATERWATER June 1997 Volume 4, Number 6
Preserving the Goose, 20 The How Welfare To Work Great Can Work, 4 American MMS Marks 15th River Anniversary, 24 Cleanup
Alaska Land Pacts, Majestic Niagara Falls, an icon of America’s natural heritage, serves as our symbol of the on-going 2 & 19 nationwide effort to clean up the nation’s rivers and breathe new life into riverfront towns and cities. A new Cabinet-level initiative, the American Heritage Rivers program (pages 10-11), can help communities to revitalize their waterways. Our coverage also looks at the broadest national study to date of the correlation between contaminants and hormone levels in fish, and what that could mean for river wildlife. The findings (page 12) underscore community concern for cleaner rivers. Other articles describe Interior efforts to clean up acid mine drainage in Appalachian watersheds (page 13); fight whirling disease in the West’s foremost trout streams (page 22); counter the spread of invasive weeds in riparian areas Earth Day (pages 9, 21); and help Honduras save its threatened Río Platáno Biosphere (pages 16-17). Every Day, 6
Utah attorney Pat Shea looks at issues like a THE INSIDE LINE scientist and emphasizes the economic consequences of decisions. He was nominated
Lay director of the Bureau of Land Management, 28. Interior People 2-3 out by: Mark Ha out Around the Department 4-5 Working With America 6-7 Bureau Bound Science and Stewardship 8-9 Kathy Karpan’s a coal miner’s daughter and a “no U.S. Geological Survey 12-14 nonsense administrator,” as well as a Wyoming
Office of Surface Mining 15 • ll state leader, and former journalist. And she’s been named to lead the Office of Surface Mining, 15. Bureau of Indian Affairs 18-19 ISC Gr National Park Service 20-21
Fish and Wildlife Service 22-23 aph
Minerals Management Service 24-25 ics The Death of Coral Bureau of Reclamation 26-27 The Life of Hawks Bureau of Land Management 28-29 & Pages 8-9 Office of Insular Affairs 30 Information Technology 31 Legislative Update 32
Need subscription changes or information? Letters to the Editor? E-mail to [email protected]. Fax to (202) 208-5133. Phone (202) 208-7291. Write to PLW, Main Interior, MS 6013, 1849 C Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20240. Historic Refuge People, Land & Water can be found on Legislation Interior’s homepage at Fish and Wildlife Service raptor specialist http://www.doi.gov/doi_plw.html Craig Koppie, right, talks with Argentinean Passes House, 32 Ambassador Raúl Granillo Ocampo about Swainson’s Hawks. Photo by Tami Heilemann, ISC
nterior People: A Look at Department Employees I NOT ABLE QUOT ABLES
“This is a win-win for the environment and a win-win for BLMer Honored for the Kenai Native Association shareholders. The association Helping Group Hurt by finally will get to develop its property with $4.4 million in seed money and the Federal Government will get clear title Oklahoma City Bombing to important land inside the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, especially the 800-acre Stephanka Track—the Theresa Herrera, New Mexico State Office crown jewel of the Kenai River Basin.”
Laura Stich, a Bureau of Land Management Deborah Williams, special assistant to Secretary Babbitt for employee, was honored recently by the Federal Alaskan affairs, speaking of the signing of an agreement with the Executive Board for her commitment to an Kenai Natives Association, Inc.—an Alaskan Native urban organization that was almost devastated by the corporation—that will protect valuable Kenai River habitat while Oklahoma City bombing. also allowing the native association to develop its land that had been inside a national wildlife refuge. The explosion at the Alfred P. Murrah The agreement, which uses about $4.4 million in funds from the Building killed or Exxon Valdez oil spill settlement, puts into force a land exchange injured many members authorized by Congress in the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands of the Oklahoma Inter- Management Act of 1996 and resolves a long-standing land Agency Training management issue involving the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Council—a group that Story, page 19. acts as a clearing house Deborah Williams for training programs Assistant to the Secretary for Alaska for government employees. Reconvening the council’s meetings was extremely painful for those remaining. Coleman Named Superintendent Laura Stich However, the group resumed its work 18 months ago. of Washington’s Rock Creek Park
Stich, who is a support services assistant with Adrienne A. Coleman, a 17-year career helped launch more than 200 partnership and BLM’s New Mexico-Oklahoma Tulsa District employee with the National Park Service, has interagency agreements designed to support park Office, was sent to the Council’s meetings to find been named superintendent of Rock Creek Park programs. She also administered more than $2 free or low-cost training for BLM employees. in Washington, D.C. She is only the second million in grants to non-profit organizations in Stich volunteered to be secretary of the newly woman to hold the job since 1965 when the support of National Park Service programs and reformed council. park became independent. resource protection activities.
Laura felt so strongly about this commitment “Adrienne has strong management skills and During this period, Coleman coordinated the that she drove 250 miles round-trip each month works well with community groups,” said Terry Historically Black Colleges and Universities to keep the meetings running, taking the R. Carlstrom, the acting director of the Program to improve internship and employment minutes and publicizing free or low cost training National Capital Regional in making the opportunities nationwide for students of those offered by other government agencies. announcement. “She is very familiar with the institutions. She also coordinated transition issues confronting the park, and her personal activities for two years prior to the establishment “Laura has been an outstanding employee who knowledge of the community and fluency in of the Mary McLeod Bethune National Historic has been enthusiastic and willing to do what she Spanish will be extremely valuable in addressing Site, Washington, D.C., as a unit of the National can to help her co-workers and other agencies these challenges.” Park System. with needed training,” said Tulsa District Manager Jim Sims. “We’re proud of her Coleman, who became assistant superintendent From 1980 until 1983, Coleman conducted accomplishments,” Sims added. of the park in March 1996, has been acting research and analyses of operational components superintendent since the retirement of her of the 600-member United States Park Police, a Stich and another council member launched a predecessor, William Shields, in April of this unit of the National Park Service headquartered similar inter-agency training council in the Tulsa year. During her tenure as assistant in Washington, D.C. Her prior experience area to provide the same opportunities for superintendent, Coleman led the team that includes service with the National Capital agencies located in northeastern Oklahoma. developed a new General Management Plan for Housing Authority of Washington, D.C., as public Because of her commitment, several agencies the park. As superintendent, she assumes information officer and as an administrator in with larger budgets have offered training slots to management responsibility for the entire 2,800- public housing, community development, and the Oklahoma BLM employees at no cost. acre park, including visitor services, urban renewal programs. maintenance, resource management, safety, As many government agencies face declining concessions, and administration. Coleman studied sociology while attending budgets and lack of funds to offer training to Howard University from 1967-1969, and employees, Laura Stich has gone above and From 1983 until 1996, Coleman worked in the continued her studies at the University of beyond her job of bringing free and low-cost Management Consulting Division of the National Maryland to obtain a degree in business and training to the BLM Tulsa District employees as Park Service, National Capital Region, becoming management. She, her husband, and son reside well as other government agencies. division chief in 1990. In that position, she in Rockville, Maryland. MMS Center Honored Rock Creek Park Cathy McNish Rock Creek Park is one of the largest and Today’s Rock Creek Park, which became The Western Administrative Service Center of oldest urban parks in the country. Established independent of the military control board and the Minerals Management Service has received in 1890 under a military control board, it other national parks in 1965, has some 30 Excellence in Government Awards from the predates by nearly a half century the birth of picnic areas, several playgrounds, 25 hard- Denver Federal Executive Board. Excellence the National Park Service as an agency under and soft-surfaced tennis courts, a golf course, Medallions went to Todd Leneau, of the Service the Department. The system of “roadways and and many miles of nature trails, horse trails, Center’s Procurement Branch, and to the bridle paths...and footways for pedestrians” and bike paths. The park, including its nature Personnel Branch for excellent public service. envisioned by its founders in Congress quickly center, historic Pierce Mill and Carter-Baron Jan Fletcher, Service Center manager, was also became a reality and has been enjoyed ever Amphitheater, attracts nearly two million presented a Special Recognition Award for since by generations of Washingtonians. annually. extraordinary customer service.
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Watersheds
First of Its Father of Big Kind Book Bend Ranch
Marian Hansson, left, the first Bob Armstrong has become American Indian Fellow at the only the third individual to win Smithsonian Institution, the prestigious Conservation compiled a milestone publication Lifetime Achievement Award from on the Smithsonian’s Kiowa the Nature Conservancy of Texas, collections. Wearing a blue Kiowa Page 25. cloth dress, Hansson is shown with Georgette Palmer and Palmer’s daughter at the American Indian Colorado River Water for Mexico Exposition in Anadarko, Oklahoma. Page 7. This year’s high flows on the Colorado River will allow the United States to allocate an additional 200,000 acre-feet of water to Mexico, bringing that country’s total delivery to 1.7 million acre-feet for 1997. $$$$ Other topics at the Colorado River summit meeting with Mexican Balanced Budget Agreement officials centered on sedimentation buildup at Morelos Dam and boundary issues caused by changes in the river channel. Page 26. A proposal that would balance the federal budget—for the first time in a generation—would protect natural resource and heritage preservation programs at current levels for five years. Page 5. Pulling Together in the War on Weeds A coalition of public and private sector groups has developed the first nationwide OIA’s integrated strategy to address a major Mystery national environmental and economic Isle problem—the rapid spread of destructive non-native weeds that threatens native A former pirates lair and scene of a murderous labor revolt, Navassa plant species and destroys fish and animal Island—a dry spec of land off the coast of Haiti in the Caribbean Sea— habitats. Page 21. is placed under Interior’s jurisdiction. Page 30.
BLM Milwaukee Office Gateway Staffers Honored Joins Educational Fishing Several members of the Gateway National Recreation Area staff were honored by the New York Federal Executive Board during its recent Jim Boylan, Milwaukee District Public Affairs public service recognition awards ceremony.
Participants in the annual Fishing Has No Kevin C. Buckley, the general superintendent, Boundaries event in Hayward, Wisconsin, display won the distinguished executive award; Vernon their catch after a pretty good day on the water. Butler, maintenance mechanic supervisor, and BLM, Eastern States, Milwaukee District employees Charles Pellicane, director of planning and participated in the tenth anniversary event on May professional services, received the outstanding 16-18. The program is an educational, non-profit, supervisor award; and Mary Gibson Scott, volunteer organization dedicated to opening up the superintendent, Jeanette Parker, assistant great outdoors to disabled individuals throughout superintendent, and the Staten Island Unit the world. won the distinguished team award.
Buckley was recognized for his accomplish- ments as superintendent of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and for his accomplishments since becoming general superintendent of We’d Rather be.....FISHING! Gateway National Recreation Area in 1990. Geoff Walsh, Eastern States Wildlife Biologist their time and their boats to give the kids an on- Butler was recognized “for getting the job done, the-water experience not readily available to not only before schedule but generally at Thirty youngsters from Washington, D.C.’s Miner children who live in the city. substantial cost savings to the government.” Elementary School enjoyed a day filled with fishing and environmental fun in the sun during BLM Congressman Tom Davis from Virginia’s 11th Pellicane’s award results from “hard work, Eastern States’ Kids Fishing Day 1997 at the district, Park Authority Executive Director Walter dedication, and initiative, and for community Occoquan Regional Park in northern Virginia. Mess, BLM Deputy Director Mat Millenbach, and service.” In addition to his full time supervisory Eastern States Director Pete Culp kicked off the role at Gateway, Pellicane and his wife Irene are Kids Fishing Day, which Eastern States has April 29 activities with brief welcomes and actively involved in fund-raising for Korean sponsored since 1991, brought together volunteers reminders to be safe and have fun! orphans, supervise a church kitchen, and cook from local community organizations, state, and for the homeless on Long Island. federal governments to teach outdoor ethics and The Pathways to Fishing educational seminar environmental responsibility to fourth and fifth stations were strategically set up along the river’s The Staten Island Unit was singled out for its grade youngsters from Miner Elementary—Eastern edge. The kids learned about water safety, the technical, talent, and communication skills and States’ adopted school. proper way to handle fish, and how to tie fishing flexibility as well as its creativity in the face of knots. The site provided a great place for the kids unforeseen circumstances which provided New Organizers solicited support from area merchants to practice their casting skills before boarding York with its newest Park Service site, Fort such as Giant Food, Safeway, Shoppers Food boats for about two hours of fishing. Although Wadsworth. Warehouse, Pepsi Cola, Coca-Cola, Bagel Gourmet, some of the youngsters returned to dry land with and Utz Quality Foods for refreshments for the kids nary a nibble, a few lucky first-time anglers proudly The winners were selected from a Federal and volunteers. displayed their catches before releasing their fish Executive Board panel of more than 100 back into the Occoquan River. nominees from all federal agencies in the New The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority York area. The awards were presented by James donated the use of the park and waived licensing After lunch, activities included building blue bird K. Kallstrom, assistant director in charge of and parking fees for participants. About 40 houses for the park and viewing a red-tailed hawk the Federal Bureau of Investigation at a fishermen from Virginia Region I BASS (Bass provided by the National Zoo for special ceremony aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid in Anglers and Sportsman Society) generously donated environmental events. Manhattan on May 7.
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Around the Department W2W Interior’s Welfare To Work Plan When President Clinton signed the welfare reform These efforts work. A recent act last August 22, overhauling the nation’s welfare summary of the Job Corps system, he hoped the day would be remembered Work Experience Program not for what it ended, but for what it began. “The conducted by the Fish and bill restores America’s basic bargain of providing Wildlife Service in the Hadley, opportunity and demanding responsibility in Atlanta, Portland, return,” the President said. Albuquerque, and Minneapolis Regions, shows that out of 118 A noble vision. An estimated two million welfare students who completed the recipients will leave the rolls during the next four program over the last five years, including about 700,000 heads-of- years, 39 are currently households. Ninety percent of them are single employed by the FWS, another mothers, 42 percent have a high school education, 27 are employed by other while 16 percent have had some college instruction. federal agencies, and 17 But 70 percent had recent work experience before returned to school for more going on welfare. The President wants the Federal training. Government, as the nation’s largest employer, to contribute to the greatest extent possible to this By working with tribes to national effort. enhance self-governance, education, economic Vice P But the devil, as they say, is in the details. How can opportunities, and the quality of resident Gore nton the Federal Government, which is under continuing life for their members, today President Cli pressure to streamline operations and reduce more than 90 percent of current employees, provide jobs for some of these workers? employees hired by the Bureau of In signing the welfare reform act, President Clinton, described the Indian Affairs are Native Welfare-To-Work Program as “an historic chance to try to recreate Interior’s Welfare-To-Work plan, which Secretary Americans who work on or near the nation’s social bargain with the poor. We’re going to try to Babbitt submitted to the White House on April 9, the reservations. Further, the change the parameters of the debate. We’re going to create a system sets a goal of 325 hires over the next four years, Department’s tribal Adult and of incentives which reinforce work and family and independence.” calling on managers to take additional measures Bilingual Education programs within current staffing and budget levels to help have helped more than 10,000 heads of households move their families from Native Americans acquire basic literacy and other need to stay on the job,” warns Vice President welfare dependence to self-sufficiency. The target proficiencies toward the equivalent of secondary Gore, who will oversee this initiative during the includes seasonal and temporary hires. The school certification. next four years. projected breakdown is 1997 - 50, 1998 -75, 1999 - 90, 2000 - 110. But the Department’s Welfare-to-Work plan would “Current studies show that more than 50 percent of go further. welfare recipients entering the workforce for the Duty and Obligation first time lost their jobs within the first year. We The plan encourages hiring into all types of need to design training and recruitment programs “I believe that helping America’s most chronically positions and, to begin the effort, identifies eight to help address this problem and encourage impoverished people rise from welfare to the kind work categories and the associated skills needed for approaches, such as long term mentoring, that lead of work that builds pride is not simply an them, such as clerical, laborer, maintenance to long-term employment for former welfare initiative,” said Secretary Babbitt. “It is our duty worker, custodian, and teacher’s aide. Major recipients.” and one of our oldest obligations.” Department bureaus and offices are now in the process of developing their specific plans on how to President Clinton has directed federal agencies to Interior’s initiative would build on existing hiring reach out, hire, train, and retain Welfare-to-Work expand the use of the Worker-Trainee Program and and training programs using existing budget employees. More than 60 Interior work locations in other excepted service hiring authorities to address authorizations. No new jobs would be created. Its 23 states and the District of Columbia have been the recruitment and retention challenges. The goal is to recruit, train, and employ former welfare initially identified as having the most potential for program allows agencies to quickly and easily hire recipients while also keeping Interior’s the hiring program. entry-level persons for up to three years, with the commitments to other hiring programs for ability to convert the appointment to career status if minorities and the disadvantaged, as well as The Local Level Emphasis the employee has performed satisfactorily. Though rehiring programs for employees who lost their jobs recently underutilized, the program allows agencies in recent lay-offs. “The program cannot be implemented from to bypass complex federal personnel hiring rules Washington,” said Bob Stone, project director for and procedures to bring people into the junior Right now, the Department works with state, local, the National Performance Review. grades of the work force. and tribal welfare groups by operating 185 Indian “It must be acted upon locally to schools, running twelve Job Corps centers, take into account the different “To ensure employment success, we recruiting more than 7,500 seasonal workers circumstances in every city and will provide the hired welfare nationwide each year and participating in such town in America.” More than 85 recipients with sound orientation programs as the Youth Conservation Corps and the percent of federal jobs are located training and transition services,” said D.C. Summer Youth Program. Hiring programs outside the Washington Secretary Babbitt. “The plan directs include hundreds of field conservation projects in Metropolitan Area, Stone explained. transition training in social skills, the Bureaus of Reclamation, Land Management, the workplace skills, employee assistance, Minerals Management Service, as well as Under Interior’s proposal, field as well as guidance to managers and interpretive educational projects in the National managers are being empowered and supervisors about flexible hours, Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, encouraged to work through the child care, and transportation and the U.S. Geological Survey. Federal Executive Boards and subsidies.” Federal Executive Associations. These boards and associations are The Department’s Employees W 2 W in an excellent position to foster Assistant Program can also provide i o n long-term collaboration with the help for employees in adjusting to I n f o r m a t local community on the initiative. their workplace environments. Used Bob Stone properly, the program can help them lfare to Work b sites on We ouse Interior field managers have been NPR Project Director work through issues that could cause Several we he White H e available: T s asked to take an active role in problems for them. Additionally, the programs ar ation Page i orm Inform community meetings that bring together federal program can provide consultative services to Welfare Ref re> agencies and state and local welfare organizations managers, human resources personnel, and at ov/WH/Welfa .whitehouse.g to discuss how best to ensure the distribution of mentors and can be a valuable part of the training 5 At left, the pink blossoms of tulip trees in Rawlins Park frame the E Street entrance to the Main Interior Building. The blossoms were a backdrop this year for a multi-agency Earth Day event attented by hundreds of Interior employees. Photo by Stephanie Hanna, Office of Communications. Below, Deputy Secretary John Garamendi reiterates Interior’s commitment to the partnership school principals Gloria Henderson, at center, of Stevens Elementary, and Miguel Ley, at right, of Ross Elementary. Above and below EARTHDAY are Interior displays at the Earth Day event in Rawlins Ken Naser, Environmental Policy and Compliance Park. Photos by Mark Hall V Secretary Babbitt and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley joined the River Rats. Deputy Secretary John Garamendi led a mass demonstration in the nation’s capital. And thousands of Interior workers around the nation helped E organize an array of earth science and environmental awareness events to celebrate Earth Day 1997. In the Windy City, Secretary Babbitt and Mayor Daley took R part in a clean up project on April 22 along the Chicago River with an inner city youth organization known as the River Rats, and a group of Americorps volunteers. Babbitt honored the young volunteers with a special award for Y outstanding conservation work. “Witness a local miracle,” he said, “what was practically a dump [in the Bridgeport section of the city] is becoming a D park. Through strong environmental laws and the daily acts of environmental heroism like those of the River Rats, our air is cleaner, our river is cleaner, and our urban children are growing up in better places.” The River Rats are A Marriage Made for the Earth A building a greenway along the Chicago River near its confluence with the Illinois & Michigan Canal. The group is Lars Johnson, Jackson District, Bureau of Land Management led by Jose Lopez and the Chicago Youth Centers Fellowship House. Students from Piney Woods Country Life School in Rankin County, Mississippi, are Y discovering how trees reduce air and noise pollution, save energy by canopy cover, reduce Deputy Secretary Garamendi represented the Department erosion, and improve our quality of life. As part of a Bureau of Land Management-co- at a multi-agency recognition of Earth Day in Rawlins Park, next to sponsored program, the students are learning the value of trees to urban environments the Main Interior Building in Washington, D.C. The clouds broke while building a database of information by locating, identifying, measuring, and and the rain stopped long enough for the Department employees assessing campus trees. and representatives to join the General Services Administration and the Office of Personnel With help from the BLM’s Jackson District staff and other private Management in celebrating the 27th Earth Day. partners, the Piney Woods youngsters are learning about the latest in computer technology from industry partners, including Theresa The outdoor venue really lent itself to the twelve Foster of the Mississippi Automated Resource Information System. displays and exhibits that represented Interior, Foster is teaching students how to use the state-of- the-art Geographic depicting not only the diverse missions of its Positioning System to collect data for downloading onto the Piney Woods bureaus, but also the multitude of ways that we computers. She is also teaching them to use Geographic Information work to keep the Earth healthy. Exhibits on clean System technology to prepare landscape maps and other maps of the streams, recycling in the National Parks, campus. waterfowl and wetlands, Earth sciences, law enforcement, science centers, and reclamation Bob Schoolar from BLM’s Jackson District is also sharing his efforts stretched from one end of the park to the Geographic Information System expertise and has developed several other. interesting maps for the Piney Woods area. Another local industry representative, David Thompson, an urban forestry expert from Garamendi spoke to the crowd about how the Thompson Environmental Design, has taught several classes on the various efforts of the Department are subject at Piney Woods. He has also conducted field work with the demonstrations of how we “Celebrate Earth Day students for data collection. Every Day.” To the principals of the Department’s partnership schools, Ross Elementary and Additionally, Leonard Paulding, another industry partner, presented a Stevens Elementary, the Deputy Secretary special workshop for six Piney Woods teachers on the capabilities of the recommitted the Department to working with the Geographic Information System ARCVIEW software—a program that is schools and presented teacher instructional aids enabling the students to present campus trees in mapped format and to on subjects such as earth sciences, volcanoes, and query and manipulate their data to learn about their environment. mapping. The program’s final product will be an Urban Tree Inventory and Master The day in the park was complete with ice cream and other Tree Plan for the 85-acre Piney Woods Campus with associated data and maps to help refreshments provided by the three agencies’ employee recreation ensure healthy trees and future urban tree maintenance at Piney Woods School. The long associations. The Department’s efforts at the rally were coordinated term benefits include ongoing instruction in urban forestry and computer technology in by the Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, which helped the school curriculum. to organize the Rawlins Park event. This program is funded by an Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Grant from the Other Earth Day 97 efforts of the U. S. Geological Survey, Minerals Mississippi Forestry Commission. Partners in the program include the Jackson District Management Service, and Bureau of Reclamation are recounted on BLM, Mississippi Automated Resource Information System, Thompson Environmental pages 14, 24, and 26 respectively. Design, and the U.S. Forest Service. 6 RediscoveringRediscovering thethe KiowaKiowa CollectionsCollections Below, at left, Marian Hansson wears Marian Kaulaity Hansson’s interest in American Indian cultures began as a a traditional white child, listening with wonder to her family’s stories of Kiowa history and buckskin Kiowa traditions. But neither she nor her family could have known at the time how dress with intricate valuable her lifelong study of the Kiowa people would become. bead work and family heraldry at the American Hansson was born in Lawton, Oklahoma, at the Kiowa Indian Hospital. Her Indian Exposition in Anadarko, parents and grandparents, who were fluent speakers of their native language, Oklahoma, in 1996. At right, bequeathed that gift to Hansson, whose first language was Kiowa. By tribal Hansson, wearing a skirt and tradition, her grandfather—James Two Hatchet—bestowed her Kiowa name, vest she designed with hand Spottedwings. The name belonged to her maternal great-grandmother who was a painted traditional Kiowa respected medicine woman. artwork, visits with a Comanche friend in Through personal contact with many Kiowa elders, Hansson patiently gathered Washington, D.C. knowledge and information about her Kiowa heritage. As her grandparents explained tribal dance customs, clothing styles, decorations, and colors, Hansson’s interest in Kiowa life and traditions expanded to embrace all North American Indian cultures. After attending public schools in Fort Cobb, Oklahoma, she went on to higher education, ultimately obtaining a master’s degree in Anthropology at the University of Oklahoma. Along the way, Hansson received extensive traditional artistic training from her talented mother, Christine Kaulaity, and developed a keen interest and expertise in the craft techniques of the Kiowa people. During independent study as a student at the University of Science and Arts in Oklahoma, Hansson interviewed and photographed Kiowa elders who related stories and legends in their native tongue. Her knowledge and ability with the Kiowa language allowed her to translate this vital information into English. And then, almost as if it had been ordained, an opportunity came along that allowed her to focus all of her studies, training, knowledge, interest, and love of Kiowa culture on a major project at the Smithsonian Institution. For six years, from 1985 to January 1992, Hansson served as the first American Indian Fellow On her father’s side of the family (Rickey Kaulaity), Hansson’s great at the Smithsonian Institution and principal investigator on an initiative that grandfather was Chief Red Tipi of the Elk division. This political division took compiled all of the collected information and artifacts at the Smithsonian the lead in war ceremonials. Red Tipi’s sons were Kaulaity, Bointy, Tsoodle, concerning the Kiowa people. Ahhaitty, and White Bear. Her paternal grandmother was also a medicine woman and keeper of the buffalo medicine. Hansson’s research work, entitled A Guide to the Kiowa Collections at the Smithsonian Institution, was published February 27 by the Smithsonian At Interior, Hansson is the curator of museum property for the Bureau of Indian Contributions to Anthropology, Number 40. Intended as a guide for researchers, Affairs, providing accountability and management for the Department’s this 444-page publication, which includes numerous historical photographs, is collection of Native American and Alaskan Native artwork and artifacts—more the first of its kind about a specific tribe and a model that can be employed in than 21,000 items. But of equal importance, she notes, the work allows her to similar projects for other tribes nationwide. continually apply her expertise in documenting the history and types of materials used in Native American artwork and craft items. During this intense research and educational experience, Hansson worked alone each day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., delving into every facet of the Smithsonian collections, including the archives, storage, art galleries, fieldnotes, Kiowa Artists manuscripts, and material culture items—artwork, clothing, ceremonial items. In 1918, a select group of young Kiowa was Hansson’s fluency in Kiowa enabled her to add important information to the given formal art field notes of James Mooney, who conducted the first extensive research instruction through the among the Kiowa for the Smithsonian’s Bureau of American Ethnology. auspices of a mentor, Mooney’s work from 1891 to 1918 is one of the largest and most comprehensive Mrs. Susan Peters, documentations about an Indian people in the United States. His handwritten who later would be notes included Kiowa words that were not understood by others. With her instrumental in seeing extensive knowledge of Kiowa genealogy, Hansson also was able to name the same group Above, a section of a mural painted by Kiowa artist unidentified Kiowa leaders in historical photographs. enrolled at the James Auchiah. The full mural adorns a wall of the University of Oklahoma Main Interior Building cafeteria. When Mooney made contact with the Kiowa, they were among the last of the School of Art. original Indian civilizations of the southern plains maintaining their culture were the first Native fellow southern plains’ and traditional ways. The painted heraldry of many Kiowa leaders especially This group, which American artist to tribesmen, has been of interested Mooney. Specific designs belonged to a person or family. Tipi and included Spencer receive international inestimable importance. shield designs of chiefs and medicine men could not be copied or used by Asah, Stephen recognition for their Two Kiowa artist, others, because of the sacred and ceremonial meaning to the owners. Mopope, Jack work. The influence of James Auchiah and Hokeah, James this group on Steve Mopope, painted The Kiowa had six recognized divisions or sub-tribes, each having its own chief, Auchiah, and Monroe succeeding generations murals on Department subordinate to the head of the tribe. The rights to use these designs are passed Tsatoke, became of Indian artists, not of the Interior walls, on or inherited by certain family members. This heraldry was displayed in full known as the Five only among the Kiowa, under a government only once a year when the six Kiowa political divisions reunited for their annual Kiowa Artists. They but also among their commission. sundance, forming the complete camp circle. The Early History of the Kiowa People At times, Hansson’s Kiowa research travois for travel. A nomadic and Commissioner of Indian Affairs. In revisited her family’s history. On her adventurous people, the Kiowa 1869, the Kiowa—with about 1,500 maternal grandfather’s side, traveled out onto the plains, where people—had 6,000 horses. Hansson’s great great grandfather, they acquired horses which medicine man Taybodal, a tribal revolutionized their lifestyle. On the Material wealth was important but historian and respected elder, had plains, they came to know the closely linked to social rank and related the history, legends, and Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Dakota status. Noble personality traits and cultural practices of the Kiowas to tribes. virtues were socially recognized and James Mooney. respected, and the highest honors The Kiowa kept pictographic calendar The horse was the medium of were given to those who distinguished histories of events. The record Taybodal described the earliest exchange in economic transactions. A themselves in warfare. Ambitious above—the Onco calendar—covers historic knowledge of the Kiowa as man’s wealth was reckoned in terms warriors advanced socially by 37 months from August 1889 to living near the Yellowstone area and of the number of horses he owned. acquiring the necessary wealth with July 1892. Missouri Rivers, in a region of great The Kiowa became one of the which to demonstrate generosity— cold and deep snow. The Kiowa then wealthiest tribes on the southern distributing these riches among had no horses and used dogs and the plains, according to a report of the family and tribe. 7 Science and Stewardship Coral Death Human Influence or Nature’s Way? Ellen Prager, Gene Shinn, Barbara Lidz, and Robert Halley U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Program, St. Petersburg, Florida Coral reefs are one of the most diverse, productive, and economically significant habitats on Earth, and around the world they are changing. Some of this change is the result of natural variability, and some reflects human influences. Recognizing the distinction between man-made impacts and natural variability in reefs can be a difficult task, but the distinction is crucial to our understanding of reefs and our ability to protect reef environments. Above, coral bleaching occurs In tropical regions throughout the world, the deleterious effects of specific when the coral expels the color- human activities are clear. Boat groundings and anchoring, dynamiting and the giving, symbiotic algae from use of cyanide for fishing, and removal of coral for sale in souvenir shops have within its tissues. In this direct and obvious impacts. photograph, half of the coral head appears a healthy brown Overfishing of herbivorous fish or the direct release of sewage into clear, color and half is bleached white. nutrient-poor waters can promote rapid and destructive algae or sponge growth At right, USGS scientists drill and possibly coral disease. High levels of silt from agricultural runoff or the a core from an individual coral release of pesticide-containing waters has also been shown to kill corals. head to examine a reef’s growth history and investigate both While these influences are clear, there is another class of reef decline in which human and natural impacts. the distinction between human and natural effects is not as easily discerned. Throughout the 400-million-year history of coral reefs, sea-level rise and storms Are coral diseases a symptom of stress due to human intervention in the sea, or (including El Nino events—the warming of ocean currents in the eastern Pacific are they a natural phenomenon which is only now being recognized as longer which affects weather patterns throughout the region) have modified and altered time records become available and more reefs are being carefully scrutinized? coral growth. Human or Naturally-Induced Death Geologists have identified numerous sites where reefs flourished in the past, but many of these reefs are now dead or buried. Examples exist in the deep and Coral bleaching is another phenomenon recognized world-wide. Bleaching shallow waters off the Florida Keys. Similar reefs once grew more than 50 miles occurs when corals expel the color-giving symbiotic algae living within their off the west coast of Florida, an area now recognized as the Florida Middle tissues. Bleaching has been shown to occur as a result of increased Grounds. These reefs were growing some 2,000 to 10,000 years ago, when temperatures or ultraviolet (UV) radiation. human influences on the sea were minimal. If we examine the rate of sea-level rise and typical coral growth rates, all of these reefs should have been able to Has periodic and sporadic bleaching always occurred, or is it now more keep pace with sea-level rise. So why did these reefs stop growing? prevalent because we are beginning to see the widespread and intensified impacts of human population growth? Or is the perceived increase simply the The Crowded World of Coral Reefs result of more people looking more closely at the water than ever before? Scientists throughout the world are attempting to answer these questions Today, reefs show signs of decline even in remote areas throughout the world, through research. making one wonder whether reef decline is a product of natural processes or instead reflects the global spread of human activities. Space on coral reefs is At the USGS, scientists are using various techniques to study reef history and to extremely limited. Therefore, some scientists believe that periodic disturbance differentiate human from natural impacts. Cores have been collected from large is a necessary and natural part of sustaining a reef’s high diversity. Storm waves reefs to examine the reef’s composition, age, growth, and geologic history. commonly break corals and open new space, allowing for renewed colonization and increased competition. Geochemical techniques are utilized to examine temperature variations, sea- level rise, and storm history. In the Florida Keys, the Monitoring wells have been emplaced last major storm event to investigate the infiltration and occurred in 1965. USGS content of sewage nutrients and research has indicated pollutants in groundwaters beneath that before 1965, large reefs. storms hit the area every six or seven years. What A comprehensive survey and mapping effect has the last 33 years of sand composition in the Keys without a major storm had suggests that study of the sediments on Florida’s reef system? may provide a means to assess and In 1983 a Caribbean-wide predict reef vitality. New studies have plague killed been proposed to examine the impacts approximately Ship groundings, such as the one shown here in the Florida Keys, of atmospheric dust, turbid coastal 95 percent of all the spiny do extensive and permanent damage to the reef framework. waters, and sediments on reefs. And sea urchins, Diadema other investigators continue to study antillarium, a natural sites of past reef growth and search for grazer of algae growing on Coral reefs are built by tiny coral polyps—simple animals that explanations for their demise. reef surfaces. Before that work together in huge colonies. The polyps are mostly soft time, the Diadema stomach surrounded by a hard limestone skeleton. When the A continuing USGS priority is to population was extremely animals die their skeletons—by the billions—add new layers of increase our scientific understanding dense. Was this die-off a limestone to the reefs over the centuries. Coral reefs grow in of the critical interplay between the natural response to an tropical waters where the temperature is more than 70 degrees natural environment and human excessive population? Fahrenheit year-round. They are found in more than 100 intervention. Further research is countries. clearly needed to better differentiate How has the removal of man-made from natural impacts and the sea urchin population variability in coral reefs. However, affected the composition of Caribbean reefs? Over the last decade, several given what we already know, it is possible to protect reefs and hope they flourish diseases have infected corals world-wide—white-band disease, black-band while we search for more answers. disease, a spotty white pox disease, and a fungal infection on sea fans. The establishment of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and These diseases are believed to be the result of a coral pathogen or bacteria, but development of a management plan are an attempt to aggressively protect coral where it originates and why it strikes remains a mystery. One hypothesis is that reefs from those activities that we know are harmful. Without such efforts, loss these diseases have always been present in the ocean, but corals only become of coral reefs in Florida and around the world will cause devastating changes in vulnerable to attack when already stressed by some other factor, such as the health of the physical environment that sustains life on Earth and the pollution. economic well-being of Earth’s population. 8 Saving Swainson’s Hawk Patricia Fisher A wildlife puzzle involving a precipitous decline in chemical manufacturer Ciba-Geigy, a the number of Swainson’s hawks returning to the producer of monocrotophos. United States each spring was solved recently. During special ceremonies at the Embassy of The partners launched an intense effort to Argentina in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Fish and educate farmers and provide them with Wildlife Service recognized the exemplary on-the- alternatives to monocrotophos, which is ground effort by Argentinean wildlife agencies in not registered for use on either helping to save the hawks. grasshoppers or alfalfa. As the result of this cooperation, only 24 hawk deaths In recent years, biologists knew the number of were reported this winter. Through its Swainson’s hawks breeding in some areas of North International Affairs Office, the Service America was plummeting but they couldn’t provided Argentinean counterparts nearly determine why because no one knew exactly where $150,000 to help fund activities such as the the birds wintered. During the past three years, U.S. education campaign, surveys to monitor die- wildlife biologists fitted a number of birds with offs, and training in detection of pesticides. miniature satellite transmitters. They followed the hawks’ flight and located the wintering grounds in “Migratory birds don’t recognize borders,” said the Pampas region of central Argentina. Acting Service Director John Rogers. “This makes it important to look beyond our own Researchers discovered thousands of Swainson’s backyards and be good neighbors saving wildlife.” hawks dying from the misuse of the pesticide monocrotophos to control grasshopper devastation Rogers recognized the special partnership between Tecnología Agropecuaria, Servicio Nacional de in Argentinean alfalfa fields. The birds were literally the United States and Argentina as he honored the Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria, and the falling from the trees as Argentinean Secretaría de Recursos Naturales y Desarrollo they roosted during the wildlife agencies Sustentable. Ambassador Raúl Granillo night. During the winter whose grassroots Ocampo accepted the awards on behalf of the of 1995-1996, wildlife work with the three agencies. biologists estimated agricultural 20,000 hawks died from community was “This year marks the 35th anniversary of the ingesting grasshoppers so crucial to the publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring in that had been sprayed operation’s which she warned that the continued use of with the pesticide. success. At the pesticides would doom migratory birds,” said Grasshoppers are one of May 8 ceremony, Rogers. “The episode of the Swainson’s hawks puts the birds’ favorite foods. he presented us on notice that we must continue to be vigilant Special and take quick action when birds are threatened by Recognizing that quick Commendation pesticides.” action was necessary to awards to the stem this loss, the Service Instituto The International Affairs Office implements the facilitated a partnership Nacional de Western Hemisphere Program, a regional initiative made up of several that develops and strengthens the capacity of Latin Argentinean wildlife The Swainson’s hawk is an impressive brown and tawny bird about 24 inches American and Caribbean nations to manage and agencies, the academic long, with a 54-inch wingspan. These birds of prey are long-distance migrants, conserve biological diversity for the benefit of local community, the private flying more than 6,000 miles between their breeding grounds in the western communities. The program supports projects sector, and other North American prairies and grasslands and their wintering grounds in related to human resource development, concerned organizations, Argentina’s grasslands. They have voracious appetites for insects and small information exchange, and environmental including the prominent mammals and are often found near agricultural fields. education. Students from Belmont Elementary School in Woodbridge, Virginia, and the Escuela Argentina de Washington also participated in the May 8 event celebrating the successful multi-national effort. Fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-graders from each school took part in a Swainson’s hawk poster contest to reflect the theme, “Good Neighbors Saving Wildlife.” Acting Director John Rogers presented special certificates to the top three winners from each school. The first-place artists exchanged their posters, which will be exhibited at the two schools. “The children said it all with their great designs,” said Rogers. Ambassador Raúl Granillo Ocampo is at far right in photo on left. Photos by Tami Heileman, ISC BeetleBeetle ManiaMania SweepsSweeps GrGreateat LakesLakes RegionRegion control effort is not elimination of purple loosestrife, but rather keeping the plants at a Larry Dean Research into this form of biological control, begun manageable level. If all of the plants are gone, the at Cornell University in the mid-1980s and in 1992, insects won’t have the food they need to survive and Just as the rush to the music stores for the Beatles led to the introduction of four species of European any reintroduction of loosestrife would rekindle the Anthology collection has subsided, natural resource insects in North America. The insects were tested problem of the plants spreading uncontrolled.” agencies are getting lined up for yet another beetles on various plants, including farm crops, to make release, also from Europe. sure they would not attack beneficial plants and Mattson also noted that purple loosestrife has a therefore become nuisances themselves. Research 175-year head start and would be difficult to These are beetles of the insect variety, however, indicated the insects would starve rather than eat eliminate totally. However, distributing the bred by staff at Cornell University in a project anything other than loosestrife and the project European insects shows clear signs of success at funded by the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Federal moved on to the breeding and placement phases. reducing populations of healthy plants. A minimum Aid program. And these insects hold the key to of 500 to 1,000 insects are normally released per controlling the spread of purple loosestrife The Service’s Great Lakes-Big Rivers region was part site. This often results in visibly defoliated (Lythrum salicaria). of the first release of these insects, with about loosestrife plants after the first year and a $300,000 from the Service’s Federal Aid program combination of large reductions in the plant mass Loosestrife plants are hardy perennials originating going toward this effort. The program has been so and the rebounding of native plant species by the in Europe and Asia with a beautiful purple successful that refuges such as Sherburne, Horicon, second year. flowerhead. The plant forms dense stands in a wide Shiawassee, and the Upper Mississippi River range of wetland and lakeshore habitats, replacing MacGregor and Winona Districts have taken on To date, about 25,000 insects have been released on native plants, degrading food, shelter, and nesting propagation of these insects for future releases as Service lands in the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region. sites for wildlife. There are no current chemical or needed on Service lands. The grant sources for the An additional one million are anticipated for mechanical means to provide long-term control initial production came from a combination of release this year throughout North America. Purple against the spread of loosestrife, but insects from Federal Aid and North American Wetlands loosestrife is found in 49 states and Canada. Europe—leaf- and flower-eating beetles and root- Conservation Act monies. feeding weevils—are natural predators capable of Interior has helped to develop a national strategy to minimizing the number of plants. However, these Jim Mattson, purple loosestrife coordinator for fight the war on non-native invasive plants, page insects are not native to North America. the region, pointed out, “The goal of this biological 21. 9 December Deadline For Community Nominations Communities interested in winning a first-round designation as an American Heritage River must submit nominations by early December. An interagency committee will review the nominations before making its recommendations. President Clinton will designate the first ten American Heritage Rivers by year’s end.The program’s principles and criteria were developed through an interagency team convened by the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Federal agencies hosted a series of 12 meetings across the country in April and May that enabled the interagency team to discuss the proposal with local community representatives and private sector leaders and learn of their needs. On May 19, the draft American Heritage Rivers initiative was published in the Federal Register to gather more public comment by mid-August. After that, the Cabinet will review the comments and prepare final recommendations for the President. Because of its majestic waterfalls, the Niagara River, which flows through part of New York State, has become one of the better known rivers in the nation, drawing millions of visitors annually. American Heritage Rivers Roger Stephenson, National Park Service “From the Pine River in Michigan to the Blackstone River in New England, community groups are cleaning up their rivers and breathing new life into their Great rivers define America. towns,” said Secretary Babbitt, who has met with coalitions working to protect more than 70 waterfronts around the nation. They helped to build the nation, linking communities through transportation and commerce, providing critical natural resources for development, enriching “These meetings not only highlighted the successful interaction of local and cultures and aesthetic appreciation, while creating unique American ways of federal programs, but also demonstrated the tremendous potential to integrate life. those programs and spread these ideas across the country.” The continent’s first inhabitants developed thriving agricultural civilizations To help these communities restore the legacy of their rivers, President along the major waterways. The rivers and estuaries of the eastern seaboard— Clinton has launched a Cabinet-level initiative to refocus and redirect federal from the Hudson and Delaware to the Savannah and James—nourished the first programs, grants, and technical assistance to provide special support to local European settlements. The fledgling USA was a union of river communities groups that are working to improve stretches of America’s heritage waterways. before it was a continental nation. First announced in his State of the Union Address earlier this year, the The majestic Mississippi and its tributaries—from the Missouri and Ohio in the American Heritage Rivers initiative aims to recognize the ambitious efforts that north to the Arkansas, Tennessee, and Red Rivers in the south, opened the many river communities are making to revitalize their surroundings, create a interior of the continent, linking the vast American heartland from the Great healthy environment, and protect their historical and cultural heritage. Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. And the awe-inspiring watercourses of the West, from the mighty Columbia to the rugged Colorado, continue to provide the “This initiative is intended to support community plans—including region’s life blood for development. environmental and public health protection, recreation, and job creation,” said Secretary Babbitt. “To accomplish this, the Administration will better Yet, as important as these rivers were to America’s past, they are equally vital to coordinate federal environmental and cultural programs with the communities the nation’s future. Recognizing their continuing commercial and cultural along the rivers, and provide these groups better access to existing federal significance, many American communities are working with government and resources.” private groups to revitalize their river corridors. The partnership will be created from the community up—through local, state, tribal, and federal governments—rather than from the top down, Babbitt The Mississippi River, explained. “It is not a land grab for rivers. On the contrary, it is an effort to the greatest of increase community stewardship of rivers, not to increase federal management America’s waterways, around rivers,” he emphasized. has served not only as a vital commercial artery “This program is not about more regulation. It is about more effective action. It for the nation’s redirects federal resources toward communities that are striving to preserve heartland but also as an their cultural heritage. This initiative does not alter state, local, or federal inspiration for laws,” Babbitt said. “Our experience has been that greater community American artists. While involvement and careful consideration of a community’s needs can mean that Samuel Clemens (Mark federal agencies make different—and better—decisions.” Twain) may be the best known writer influenced by the river, thousands of others, including poets, songwriters, painters, and photographers have heard its siren song. The Mississippi’s heritage, often associated with the paddle-wheel riverboat, continues to be a valuable regional resource, generating tourism and recreational opportunities for local communities. 10 The projects that will be undertaken will be funded under existing budgets through smarter utilization of existing resources. The program is an organizational tool to make a broad array of dozens of existing federal programs more effective. Each project will be different. Depending on a specific community’s proposal, it may be appropriate to fund activities within clean water projects, or under habitat restoration partnerships, or possibly under humanities grants. What Does It Mean To Be Designated? American Heritage River designations will recognize outstanding community-based efforts to ensure the vitality and place of the river in community life for future generations. In Denver this could mean developing parks along a river. In Mesa and Phoenix, Arizona, it might mean enhanced recreation in the river. In Cleveland, it could encourage riverside commercial development that will revitalize the surrounding community. In Chicago, it might give urban youths the opportunity to teach others about their river—opening the door for those students to become scientists and environmental professionals. The President will designate rivers where communities have demonstrated, through a one-stop application process, that local partnerships are in place to protect distinctive qualities of their river and surroundings. To qualify for the American Heritage Rivers program, sponsoring communities or organizations must demonstrate broad community support for a revitalization plan that includes a commitment of non-federal resources; local and regional partnership agreements; strategies that lead to action; and an ability to achieve measurable results. The nominations should include information on the importance of the river to the culture, history, economic development, public health, and environmental quality, as well as the way of the life of the locality. Designated rivers will receive special recognition from President Clinton. Each American Heritage River will serve as a model of the most innovative, economically successful, and ecologically sustainable approaches to river restoration and protection for communities across the United States. Designated communities will receive focused support in the form of programs and enhanced services, including a “river navigator”—a federal employee who will work with and alongside the community to provide access to the federal agencies and simplify program delivery. The programs that would be involved would depend on the community’s specific needs. Each community also will receive a commitment from federal agencies to act as “Good Neighbors”—to formally and thoroughly consider the effects of their actions on American Heritage Rivers in making decisions that affect communities. During the first year, federal agencies not only will focus on improving service and program delivery to the designated river communities, but also will improve information access and service delivery to all river communities. There will be an emphasis on establishing stronger intra- and interagency communications systems and incentives for field staff to rely more on partnerships with other federal agencies. Implications for Interior Agencies Taking advantage of designated American Heritage Rivers as reinvention laboratories, federal agencies can examine new ways in which to coordinate people and resources to assist all river communities in their river restoration and community revitalization efforts. Interior agencies have historically helped local efforts to restore and revitalize river communities, and this work will continue. But the Interior employees who will be coordinating the Department’s participation in the new initiative expect to be especially busy this summer. That’s what the National Park Service’s Chris Brown, of the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program, anticipates as he and others active in the interagency venture inform and educate Interior employees, and promote those Interior programs that can best serve river communities. Brown represents Interior on the interagency panel charged with blending the environmental, historic preservation, and economic development programs which exist in Internet Communication Services the federal government and can be tapped to benefit river communities. and Interior Bureau Contacts The initiative also offers important benefits to Interior agencies, Brown points out. “The The American Heritage Rivers Home Page is located at initiative will encourage businesses and other nongovernmental partners to engage in Interior field staff also participated in a 2-hour video orientation to the initiative. The Chris Brown, National Park Service-Rivers, Trails, and briefing originated in Washington, D.C., on June 17, and was made available to dozens of Conservation Programs, at (202) 565-1200; Jennifer Pitt, downlink sites across the country. (Call Jennifer Pitt at (202) 565-1185 for more NPS-RTCA, at (202) 565 1185 and Kevin Foster, at (202) information.) 343-5969; Steve Blanchard, U.S. Geological Survey, at (703) 648-5033; Craig Czarnecki, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, These men and women will serve as important local contacts whether a community chooses at (703) 358-1718; Fred Fox, OSM, at (202) 208-2567; Jim to compete for a designation, or decides simply to seek information and guidance. The field Handlon, Bureau of Reclamation, at (202) 208-6252; Gary staff will be listed in a resource packet mailed out in late June to more than 40,000 Marsh, Bureau of Land Management, at (202) 452-7795. individuals and organizations with an interest in river restoration. Roger Stephenson is a special assistant for communications to the director of the National Park Service. 11 U.S. Geological Survey Gordon Eaton, Director Kathleen Gohn, Bureau Editor Contaminants Affect Hormone Levels in Fish Across the Country up this reconnaissance study with detailed Study Finds Cause assessments of fish reproduction at selected sites,” said Steve Goodbred, USGS research scientist and for Concern senior author of the report. Levels of fish sex hormones—estrogen and More than 600 common carp were collected and testosterone—may be affected by contaminants in analyzed from 25 streams in 13 States and the At top left, Tom Muir, right, and a lab assistant take some U.S. streams, according to a recent USGS District of Columbia. The selected streams drain tissue samples for lab analysis. At top right, Steve report. These hormones, which are produced by areas with a wide range of land uses and different Goodbred, first author of the report, holds an the endocrine system, regulate important degrees of contamination. Results of the study extremely large carp. physiological functions, including sexual indicate significant differences in sex hormones development and reproductive ability. The national and vitellogenin, an estrogen-controlled protein Resources Division of the USGS), the USGS, and the reconnaissance study that produced the report is necessary for egg development in fish and birds. University of Florida’s Biotechnologies for the the broadest investigation to date of the potential Although some of these differences probably result Ecological, Evolutionary, and Conservation Sciences for endocrine disruption in fish. from natural variability, correlations between Program. Most of the sites sampled are established contaminants and the levels of sex hormones in water-quality sites of the National Water Quality “The finding of a correlation between hormone carp indicate that some of the site-to-site Assessment program, a major USGS initiative levels and contaminant levels in fish from such differences were associated with certain responsible for assessing the levels and distribution diverse locations is both a cause for concern and a contaminants. of contaminants in the nation’s water resources. call for further investigation,” said Dr. Gordon Eaton, USGS director. “With its extensive water It is not yet possible to pinpoint which specific The report is entitled Reconnaissance of 17b- quality and new biological research capabilities, the contaminants or factors may be related to the estradiol, 11-ketotestosterone, vitellogenin, and USGS has a unique responsibility to provide critical significant differences noted among the hormones. gonad histopathology in common carp of United resource information such as this to policymakers The groups of contaminants that were significantly States streams: Potential for contaminant-induced across the government and in the private sector.” correlated with hormones were pesticides in water, endocrine disruption. It was authored by Steven L. phenol compounds in streambed sediments, and Goodbred, Robert J. Gilliom, Timothy S. Gross, The study did not assess whether the apparent organochlorine compounds in biological tissue. Nancy P. Denslow, Wade B. Bryant, and Trenton R. disruptions in endocrine systems have adversely Schoeb (USGS Open-File Report 96-627). The affected fish. “Since altered sex hormones may The study was a collaborative effort among the report is available for inspection on the World Wide cause reproductive impairment, we need to follow National Biological Service (now the Biological Web at http://water.wr.usgs.gov. Assessing the Red River’s Historic Flood As North Dakota’s Red River receded after seriously damaged or destroyed by major floods record spring flooding, USGS specialists began in California and Nevada, the Pacific Northwest, studying the flood’s effects on river structures the Ohio River Valley, and North Dakota. The and water quality, and collecting streamflow USGS worked quickly to replace and repair information to refine flood forecasting models. stations and to keep the information flowing from this network. The April-May flooding in North Dakota far exceeded previous floods in 1950, 1969, 1978, Through its network of 7,000 streamflow- 1979 and 1996. On April 17, flow of the Red gaging stations, which are cooperatively funded River of the North at Grand Forks, North by more than 700 federal, state, and local Dakota, broke a 100-year-old record of 85,000 agencies, the USGS provides vital information cubic feet per second (cfs) or 55 billion gallons to the agencies responsible for flood warnings per day (bgd) that was set in 1897. The river and river forecasts. Under this program, which continued to rise until it crested about 54 feet has operated since 1887, the USGS collects at Grand Forks on April 21, exceeding the Using a Humvee provided by the National Guard, streamflow information needed by federal, state maximum flood level recorded in 1897 by USGS hydrologists measure the flow of the Red River and local agencies for planning and operating about four feet; the maximum flow was at Grand Forks during the peak of the flooding. water-resources projects and for watershed 112,000 cfs (72 bgd). management, in addition to flood warnings. As the floodwaters receded, the USGS, in coopera- used for technical design and scientific study. Many In recent years, the network has changed tion with several state agencies, began making engineering structures (flood-control reservoirs, for considerably with the advent and widespread use of additional measurements to assess the flood’s example) are designed to pass, treat, or hold a real-time streamflow data. More than 60 percent of overall impact. In the aftermath of a flood, USGS volume of water for a specific period of time. In the stations in the network use satellite radio crews monitor the flow of the affected river to build these cases, the discharge is the primary design transmitters to broadcast data 24 hours a day a comprehensive profile of the flood, to track variable and the piece of information that is most directly to cooperators like the National Weather evidence of scour at bridges, which can be severely highly valued. Service, who in turn use the information to provide eroded and destabilized during floods, and to river forecasts and flood warnings. The number of sample water quality to determine the presence and In addition, in order to use streamflow data, stations equipped with data-collection platforms, movement of toxic chemicals and sediments as the scientists must often transfer data collected at one which provide for the real-time data, has more than result of the flooding. site to other locations along a river course or to doubled in the past ten years, even though the nearby rivers where data are not available. For most overall number of gages is decreasing. Discharge measurements are essential to developing purposes, discharge data provide the most flood-forecasting models and helping to understand transferable information. Discharge at one site is General access to the real-time data is available the nature of a particular flood. In addition, often directly related to discharge at other sites on through the World Wide Web on the Internet. Those streamflow discharge data collected by the USGS the same or nearby rivers, but river stages at in need of information on the height and flow of a are the basis for the design of dams, bridges, water- different sites are rarely correlated as easily and river—from flood forecasters to fly fishers—can treatment and waste-water treatment plans, and the usually are of limited value beyond the immediate access state-by-state information through the USGS formulation of environmental regulations. vicinity at which they are collected. main home page at: http//www.usgs.gov/. By clicking on the word “water” and then accessing While river stage—the height of the river during a Nationwide, 1997 has already been a year of “real-time streamflow,” users can click on the state flood—is an important piece of the flood picture extensive flooding. Since January 1, more than 175 for which they need information and then the for the public, river discharge is more commonly USGS streamflow-gaging stations have been individual river where gaging stations are located. 12 Helping Restore Appalachia’s Damaged Streams In partnerships with other federal agencies such treatment reaction, in a process the Office of Surface Mining (OSM), states, called “armoring.” academia, industry, and local interest groups, the Biological Resources Division of the USGS is Preliminary trials of the equipment helping to restore acid-damaged streams in the have been very promising. At the Appalachian coal region. BRD is helping to reduce National Park Service’s Friendship recovery costs and improve aquatic resources by Hill Historic Site in Pennsylvania, developing new technologies to treat the acidity and the treatment of an AMD stream on by producing new information on biological effects the property raised the pH of the to assist management. water from 2.6 to 7.3, well within the range of a biologically healthy Appalachian streams provide unique recreational stream. Additional field tests, opportunities for an expanding urban and supported by a USGS State suburban population. However, many of these Partnership grant, are currently streams also suffer from the degradation created by underway at the state-operated the extraction of another important Appalachian Toby Creek AMD treatment plant natural resource—coal. near Kersey, Pennsylvania. More than 8,000 miles of streams in the A patent application has been Barnaby Watten, left, BRD scientist, explains the new AMD treatment Appalachian coal region have been affected by acid submitted and the next steps in the technology being developed at USGS Leetown Science Center to mine drainage (AMD). In Pennsylvania alone the process include further field tests Kathrine Henry, far right, acting director of the Office of Surface 3,200 miles of stream degraded by AMD create an and the use of cooperative research Mining, during a recent demonstration. From left, are Watten, Fred estimated annual loss of $67 million in revenue and development agreements to Fox (OSM), Vermell Davis (OSM-with back to camera), Hardy Pearce associated with sport fishing. assist in the technology transfer. (BRD), and Kathrine Henry. Additional miles of streams have been acidified by Related biological studies are the byproduct of burning coal—the emissions form examining the behavioral effects on fish exposed to the restoration of approximately 25 miles of the acidic deposition that is transported in the acute increases in dissolved carbon dioxide and Cranberry River,” said R. Kent Schreiber, the atmosphere, traveling long distances to affect even determining the health of wild fish after stream research manager at the Leetown Center. remote streams. In Pennsylvania, for example, it is treatment. Bill Krise at Leetown Science Center’s estimated that more than 1,800 miles of trout Research and Development Laboratory in The restoration effort has provided additional streams are influenced by this form of acidity. Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, and colleagues at fishing opportunities that add an estimated $2 New cost-effective treatments are needed to restore Pennsylvania State University are concurrently million annually to the revenues of the State of stream water quality degraded specifically by AMD. conducting this research. West Virginia. This technology, as well as the One such tool has been designed and is being cooperative effort to test direct application of developed by the USGS Leetown Science Center in The toxicity of AMD effluent on fish and aquatic limestone sands to the stream bed, is now being cooperation with the Freshwater Institute, invertebrates and the effects of manganese, one of used on other streams with measurable success. Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The equipment was the metal precipitates, is also being investigated. “One of our goals in building these cooperative demonstrated during a recent visit by OSM’s Additionally, cooperators at Cornell University are projects,” said Center Director Bill Palmisano, “is Acting Director Kathrine Henry. developing a computer program that will simulate to demonstrate the effectiveness of partnerships performance of the equipment and assist in field and a shared vision to improve our resource “The pulsed-bed design of this new equipment uses applications. management.” carbon dioxide to improve dissolution of granular limestone, increasing alkalinity and reducing The Leetown Science Center has worked since 1985 By participation in Appalachian Clean Stream acidity in the treated water,” explained Barnaby to develop and demonstrate treatment technologies Initiative, Eastern Mine Drainage Federal Watten, a scientist at the Leetown Center. “This for Appalachian highland streams damaged by acid Consortium, and Mid-Atlantic Highlands technology also prevents metal coating of the deposition. “Working with the West Virginia Coordinating Council, the USGS has joined with limestone materials used for treatment.” Limestone Department of Natural Resources, a rotary drum more than 40 government and citizen groups to is a natural buffering agent, but it often becomes treatment system was tested on Dogway Fork and ensure this technological and biological information covered by the iron that precipitates during the application of this technology has contributed to is widely distributed. Geologic Division Targets AMD Several projects within the USGS’s Geologic Division This project is developing methods to use contain. Changing economic conditions have are focussed on aspects of acid mine drainage in geophysical logging tools to chemically characterize resulted in the abandonment of many of these the Appalachian basin. AMD associated with the rock layers to predict the acid-producing and mines. mineral deposits is also a significant problem in the -neutralizing potential of the rocks. region. For both coal The goals of the research effort are to provide a deposits and mineral The second project is better understanding of the environmental deposits, the culprits determining the role of signatures of these deposits to aid land-use are the same: pyrite bacteria in the detection planners and industry in their decision making (iron sulfide) and and treatment of acid process, and to improve our theoretical other heavy-metal mine drainage. Natural understanding of the environmental processes that sulfide minerals that precipitates of iron affect these deposits to aid reclamation efforts. weather to produce compounds can easily be acidic, heavy-metal confused with AMD from At the Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine, now within the laden waters. active and abandoned National Park Service’s Prince William Forest Park, coal mines. Bacteria that Virginia, the discovery of more economic sources of The primary objective produce AMD create sulfur caused the closure and abandonment of the of the first project is yellowish precipitates, in mine. The National Park Service recently reclaimed to develop the ability contrast to those the site. The USGS is cooperating to evaluate the to predict locations producing reddish success of the reclamation by assessing the current that are prone to acid precipitates where ground- and surface-water quality. mine drainage and Acid mine drainage destroys vegetation and impacts neutral ground water other potentially downstream areas miles from the pollution source. discharges. This project In the Great Smoky Mountains National Park of hazardous impacts of has used remote sensing North Carolina and Tennessee, the USGS is surface coal mining. techniques to cooperating with the National Park Service to Current methods of sampling coal-bearing rocks to discriminate between these two different kinds of investigate the geochemical controls on water determine potential acid production in mining and precipitates, in cooperation with federal and state quality associated with the abandoned Fontana and reclamation are nonrepeatable and subjective, agencies tasked with environmental protection Hazel Creek mines in the southern part of the park. making prediction, mitigation, and treatment from AMD. difficult. Preliminary results indicate that watersheds In cooperation with the National Park Service, draining regionally extensive, pyrite-bearing industry, and other stakeholders, the Geologic country rocks in the park produce natural acid AMD Interest Group: Division is investigating the geochemical controls “rock” drainage that represents a greater load of Additional information is available on acid mine drainage associated with massive acid and heavy metals than the comparatively sulfide deposits—deposits that are as much as 50 insignificant drainage issuing from the abandoned through the Internet Newsletter of the percent pyrite and heavy-metal sulfides. mines, which locally have greater acid and heavy- USGS Mine Drainage Interest Group at Historically, massive sulfide deposits have been metal concentrations. Ironically, the Great Smoky http://water.wr.usgs.gov/mine/ valued for their sulfur content, and more recently, Mountains ecosystem has been adapting to the for the copper, lead, zinc, gold, and silver they natural acid rock drainage for millions of years. 13 Pettinger Honored for Remote Sensing Work The Alan Gordon Memorial Award was presented to USGS scientist Our $400 Billion Lawrence R. Pettinger by the American Society for Minerals Industry Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing during the Society’s The United States’ output of mineral-based annual convention in Seattle, materials contributed nearly $400 billion to the Washington. The award was given nation’s economy in 1996, according to a new USGS in recognition of Larry’s career report. Mineral Commodity Summaries 1997 is the accomplishments in remote latest government publication to provide detailed sensing research, remote sensing information on 1996 events, trends, and issues in program coordination, operational the domestic and international minerals industries. remote sensing applications, and technology transfer of remote The report summarizes minerals industry trends sensing. according to continent and mineral type and also provides an outlook for domestic minerals growth Larry Pettinger, left, receives the Alan Gordon The purpose of the award, which was presented for 1997. It also provides statistics on the major Memorial Award from Dr. Tina Cary, president of on April 9, is to encourage and commend world production of nearly 90 mineral commodities the American Society for Photogrammetry and individuals who contribute significant supported by cooperative information exchange Remote Sensing. achievements in remote sensing and partnerships with more than 60 countries. photographic interpretation. According to Mineral Commodity Summaries 1997: The value of U.S. raw nonfuel minerals production USGS Scientists Help Students Study AMD remained at $38 billion in 1996. The value of domestic minerals production has increased in 30 Fourth graders at Kingwood Elementary of the past 36 years. The top three states were School (Preston County, West Virginia) Arizona ($3.5 billion), Nevada ($3.2 billion) and were treated to an acid mine drainage California ($2.8 billion). Delaware ranked 50th ($11 Earth Day activity by a bevy of earth million). scientists. The group included USGS scientists, Eleanora Robbins and Total U.S. international trade in raw minerals and Melvin Mathes, a USGS volunteer, processed materials of mineral origin was valued at Cindy Warren, and colleagues from $88 billion in 1996. Imports of processed mineral USDA-Natural Resources Conservation materials were valued at an estimated $49 billion, Service, Brooke Levy, West Virginia and exports were valued at an estimated $33 State Soil Conservation District, Jill billion. Imports of metal ores and concentrates and Hauser, and Monongahela Soil and raw industrial minerals increased 8 percent to $2.6 Water Conservation District, Mary billion. Exports of raw minerals increased slightly Lebnick. to $3.1 billion. The Cheat River Watershed Association The outlook for the domestic minerals industry in also provided membership cards for 1997 will depend largely on the demands for metals each student. Teacher Linda by the automobile industry and for industrial Newcome had the students primed minerals by the building and highway construction with water samples they collected from Students at Kingwood Elementary listen to USGS scientist Eleanora sectors. These industries are significant consumers their wells, creeks, ponds, and the Robbins. In right foreground is Jill Hauser. Photo by Mary Lebnick of steel, aluminum, copper, glass, cement, crushed Cheat River. stone, and sand and gravel. Lacking fish in many rivers, Preston On the international scene, global mineral County is one of the places in West priorities were focused on gold, nickel, steel, Virginia most highly affected by aluminum, cobalt, and base metals. Demand for abandoned coal mines. Some samples industrial/construction minerals was fueled by were very acid indeed (pH 2.5—more economic growth in Asia and Latin America. acid than vinegar). Water from the drinking fountain and toilet were also The report is available for purchase from the tested for acidity (and hilarity), along Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, with cola and non-cola soda pop, which Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. The stock number is are more acid than the streams in 024-004-02443-7; the price is $16 inside the Preston County. United States and $20 if ordering from outside the nation. Individual two-page summaries are All the local data were transferred to a available through MINES FaxBack (703) 648-4999 large map of the county. The activity and are on the World Wide Web at was covered by reporters from a local http://minerals.er.usgs.gov/minerals. newspaper and TV station. The following day, a parent sent in a note reporting that her son had shifted his Teacher Linda Newcome and her 4th-grade students at Kingwood career goal to becoming a scientist and Elementary School in West Virginia. Photo by Mary Lebnick saving mankind. Where Has All Their Water Gone? USGS Maps an Answer disagreements. Recently, USGS geophysicist Jeff Wynn extended earlier geophysical Since 1978, there has been intense political and legal studies by supervising an airborne electro- The ai controversy in southeastern Arizona over the effects magnetic survey to characterize the ground- rcraft use with a d in th of ground-water withdrawal by the Fort Huachuca water hydrology of the Upper San Pedro n elec e surve tromagnet y was eq Army base and the neighboring town of Sierra Vista drainage around the Army base. ic sur uipp U veyin ed on the nearly San Pedro Riparian Refuge. SGS ph g system. oto by The survey area included several active gunnery and Natural Jeff Wynn The Upper San Pedro River basin hosts a remarkably artillery ranges, a busy unmanned reconnaissance Resources Division diverse range of wildlife, some of it endangered. At aircraft test range, and a Drug Enforcement Agency- Coordinator was extremely happy with the Ramsey Canyon Nature Conservancy Reserve, for tethered drug-interdiction dirigible (called an the results, because for the first time the entire instance, at least 15 different species of Aerostat). Support from and coordination with local water table has been continuously mapped. hummingbirds have been identified. In 1978 a military authorities was excellent. Riparian Refuge was established along the San Pedro The coordinator can now see, among other things, River, whose drainage basin extends into northern Jeff and his colleagues are still developing the structures in the basin that both channel and block Mexico. software needed to fully interpret the new the aquifer in different places. Further analysis of electromagnetic survey data, but the initial this new data set should show the relationship (if There are only a few wells in the area, so the extent conductivity-vs-depth profiles examined go a long any) between Upper San Pedro aquifer being tapped and character of the water table are not well known. way toward explaining how the geology affects the by the Fort Huachuca well-field and the surface This lack of hard data was fundamental to the aquifer in this region. The Army Environmental and water flow in the San Pedro Riparian Refuge. Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation Citizen Awards Program OSM is establishing a program of Citizen Awards to recognize outstanding contributions by coalfield citizens and grassroots organizations to Kathrine L. Henry, Acting Director the implementation of the Surface Mining Jerry Childress, Bureau Editor Control and Reclamation Act. OSM Acting Director Kathrine L. Henry said nominations from the public are being sought in two categories: Regional Awards, and Partnership Awards. OSM also will present a Director’s Award recognizing an individual’s lifetime Kathy Karpan of Wyoming contributions. “Citizen participation is at the heart of the Nominated OSM Director surface mining program,” Henry said. The surface mining law would not have come into being without the sustained efforts of coalfield Calling her a “no nonsense administrator,” citizens crusading to end the environmental Secretary Babbitt praised the selection of abuses of the past and Wyoming state leader Kathy Karpan as the shift the country to new next director of the Office of Surface Mining ways of mining coal with Reclamation and Enforcement. President built-in safeguards for Clinton announced his intention to nominate people and the Karpan on May 6. She must be confirmed by environment. the Senate. “Once the surface “Kathy Karpan has the background, experience, mining law was passed, it integrity, and impressive professional created many avenues for qualifications that are needed to help protect citizens to get involved,” America’s natural resources and carry out the Henry said. Thus vigorous program at OSM,” Babbitt said. individual citizens have a statutory role in Karpan was elected in 1986 and reelected in practically every phase of Kathrine L. Henry 1990 to serve as Wyoming’s secretary of state, the surface mining OSM Acting Director the second highest office after governor. Prior program. to that she spent two years on the Wyoming attorney general’s staff and two years (1984- “At the 20-year mark, it is only fitting for those 86) as director of Wyoming’s Department of whose contributions have meant the most to Health and Social Services, one of the largest receive public recognition for their efforts on agencies in the state government. behalf of safeguarding the coalfield environment and protecting people’s homes and farms from Karpan currently serves as the manager of potentially damaging effects of coal mining. Karpan & White Law Offices, and president of the Karpan & White Corporate Services. Nominations should give the name, address, and Her other work experience includes telephone number of the individual being serving as deputy director of the Office of recommended for a Citizen Award, plus Congressional Relations and later as legal organizational affiliation, if any. The most counsel in the Economic Development important part of the nomination is a brief Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce Kathy Karpan, a Wyoming description (two to three pages) of the nominee’s (1978-81), during the Carter Administration. state leader, attorney, experienced government work on behalf of the implementation of the administrator—and daughter of a coal miner— Act’s programs and activities. Awards will be She spent six years on the staff of U.S. Representa- has been nominated by President Clinton to lead presented August 3, 1997, in connection with the tive Teno Roncalio, as press secretary and later as the Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation. Act’s 20th anniversary observances. Completed chief of staff. Karpan also worked as a journalist for nominations should be sent to the nearest newspapers in Cody and Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Upon confirmation by the Senate, Karpan will Coordinating Center: for the Canberra Times in Canberra, Australia. become the 13th director of the 20-year old Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center, Office A native of Rock Springs, Wyoming, and the The OSM Director has policy and administrative of Surface Mining, 3 Parkway Center, Pittsburgh, daughter of a coal miner, Karpan earned both a responsibility for developing and enforcing mining PA l5220, FAX (412) 937-2903; Mid-Continent bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s regulations under the Surface Mining Control and Regional Coordinating Center, Office of Surface degree in American Studies from the University of Reclamation Act. The agency operates with an Mining, Alton Federal Building, 501 Belle Street, Wyoming, and a J.D. from the University of Oregon. annual budget of $271 million and a work force of Alton, IL 62002, FAX (618) 463-6470; Western 670 employees nationwide. Regional Coordinating Center, Office of Surface Mining, 1999 Broadway, Suite 3320, Denver, CO 80202-5733, FAX (303) 672-5622. Excellence in Government Award to Shirley Lahr of OSM’s Denver Center Shirley L. governs those activities, in addition to Shirley Lahr Lahr of exploring government employment OSM’s possibilities. Western Regional Coordinating Center in Denver, Colorado, has been During fiscal year 1997, Lahr named runner-up for Outstanding assumed responsibility in OSM offices Equal Opportunity and Special nationwide for ensuring the agency’s Emphasis Program Coordinator as compliance with laws and regulations part of the 35th Annual Excellence in for federally conducted programs and Government Awards Program, activities to ensure accessibility for sponsored by the Denver Executive persons with disabilities. Board. OSM EEO Specialist Diane Wood joins New Mexico State University OSM officials said that Lahr’s vice president Averett Tombes, and WRCC Director Rick Seibel in Beginning in January 1996, Lahr initiative both in the federal signing a cooperative agreement to provide funding for Hispanic coordinated the Center’s initiative for workplace and in implementing students to develop geographic information system coverages and sponsoring minority candidates in programs with states and tribes will scientific research relating to reclamation of surface coal mines in the Department’s Summer Intern have permanent benefits in making New Mexico, Kentucky and Tennessee. Support for this and similar Program. Her efforts aided summer the federal/state/tribal workforce initiatives is part of an OSM plan to increase educational and interns in becoming familiar with more diverse, and will result in a employment opportunities for Hispanic and other minority students. mining and reclamation on Indian quality workforce with more cultural tribal lands, while also learning awareness. about the regulatory process that 15 In Honduras, Interior works to save an ancient homeland and Central Threatened Legacy America’s greatest natural treasure. Eric A. Greenquist The Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve Last December the United Nations’ World Heritage from the land, and as villagers turn to outsiders for Committee added the Río Plátano Biosphere employment, traditional activities in the reserve Reserve—Central America’s most pristine natural give way to economically transient— area—to its “red list” of World Heritage in Danger. and more destructive—land uses. In addition to commercial logging, The largest protected area in Honduras and part of squatters and developers use the the largest rain forest in Central America, the land for intensive farming and reserve joined 21 other listed world sites where the livestock grazing, while miners legacy of the earth and its peoples is most in danger contaminate the Patuca and Plátano of being lost. At Río Plátano, squatters and rivers, sickening villagers. developers had cut and burned almost one-tenth of Indigenous residents cut mahogany the 1,297,000-acre reserve. The land grab had for foreign furniture-makers, and erupted into violence, driving indigenous villagers work for miners and foreign fishing from their ancient homelands. companies. The UN action did not surprise the Interior team In September 1995 the Forestry that, for more than a year, has worked to help Administration of Honduras, protect the reserve. Latin America, with more than which is responsible for one-half of the world’s remaining tropical forests, protecting the reserve, joined has the highest rate of deforestation in the Interior, the Agency for developing world. Working under the Partnership International Development, for Biodiversity, a three-year program funded by the and Peace Corps in the Agency for International Development, Interior is Partnership for Biodiversity. helping to fight this rampant deforestation—the Because biodiversity most environmentally destructive force in the conservation is closely tied Western Hemisphere. to the fates of indigenous peoples, the Partnership Hunger drives much of the invasion. “The food chose as its leader situation in Honduras is critical,” says Osmín MOPAWI—a nonprofit Padilla of the Honduran Ministry of Health. At organization that helps least 1.2 million Hondurans suffer from life- villages in the region. All Interior threatening malnutrition. Sixty percent of specialists work for the Partnership intermittently, Hondurans—5.7 million persons—eat what they in addition to their normal workloads. The Río Plátano winds through the heart of the can find to subsist. Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site. At top left Environmentally Friendly is a typical Miskito family home along the Río Plátano. Due to In spite of the destruction, the reserve remains an the heavy rains, all travel in the reserve is by cayuco, above important cache of biodiversity. Nine-tenths of the Businesses rightand at left, or foot. Photos by Eric Greenquist reserve are intact, not yet having experienced the deforestation and human population growth that “The Río Plátano is a have damaged the region. Conservation special place,” says International calls the reserve part of the most Edgardo Bodden, a Last year, however, critical two percent of the earth’s land surface. Miskito villager in Raistá. on the eve of the “But people need work to farm’s first In keeping with its designations as a Biosphere live.... Jobs like lobster shipment, the zoo Reserve and World Heritage Site, the area includes fishing and wood cutting canceled its order. the homelands of four ethnic groups: the Miskito, are destructive and Suddenly without a Garífuna, Tawahka-Sumu, and Pech. These peoples unstable.... We need local buyer, villagers number fewer businesses that are not so watched hundreds than 16,000 destructive.” of butterflies persons in the emerge from their reserve and In 1995 MOPAWI and cocoons and flutter subsist on Peace Corps volunteer away into the small gardens, Robert Gallardo began a butterfly farm in Raistá surrounding rain forest. Those butterflies had been hunting, and on the north coast of the reserve. Villagers worked worth more than $600: cash needed by the village. fishing. 4,700 hours to cultivate plants that wild butterflies And the farm’s second crop would be ready in only seek for egg-laying. Several zoos in North America fifteen days. No one knows and Europe exhibit live butterflies; one zoo had how many promised to buy all the pupae the farm could Faced with disheartened villagers, MOPAWI alerted villagers the produce. In the village of fewer than ninety Interior. Within hours Geneva Chong, a botanist outsiders have persons, most of whom subsisted on small gardens with the U.S. Geological Survey, and Loren Cabe, displaced. But and periodic jobs, this arrangement had seemed an economist with the Bureau of Land as intruders ideal. Management, found a new buyer and worked out push villagers terms for sale. Since then Geneva and Loren have found more buyers, made the farm more conservation- At top left, Geneva Chong, left, and Marlene Arias, administrator of the Raísta butterfly farm, prepare to capture live butterflies in a remote part of the reserve as part of a biological evaluation of the farm’s potential. Photo by Eric Greenquist. Above, Arden Anderson, in the center of the group, leads Miskito and Pech villagers in Las Marías in one of the activities he used to help explain concepts of biodiversity conservation. Photo by Lisa Myers. At right, Lisa Myers leads a lesson in biodiversity values and conservation for Pech and Miskito villagers in Las Marías. Photo by Arden Anderson. At far right, from left, Arden Anderson, Loren Cabe, Lisa Myers, Tony Pardinas, and Eric Greenquist arrive in Palacios to begin work. Photo by Geneva Chong 16 ned Legacy Biosphere Reserve Above left, a Pech woman weaves a bag out of the bark of a majao tree. The Partnership helps ensure that traditional handicrafts are done in a sustainable manner and provide needed income to villagers. Photo by Eric Greenquist. Above, Edgardo Bodden, a Miskito villager, arranges pupas ready for shipment to zoos and oriented and collectors. At right, Richard Enriquez, right, and Benjamin helped solve a Morales, president of the indigenous organization RAYAKA, discuss variety of biological local needs for organizational strengthening as they wait for a boat and financial at Sacapesca. Richard used many such informal meetings to gain a problems. To date more diverse sense of local ideas and concerns. Photo by Eric the farm has sold Greenquist pupae worth $5,480 and its operation is far more stable. “Education will help villagers understand the long Arden Anderson term effects of their actions,” says Lisa Myers, nds through the heart of the of the Bureau of who leads Interior efforts in environmental rld Heritage Site. At top left Land Management education. Lisa works with Peace Corps volunteers Controlling Illegal Activities long the Río Plátano. Due to and Lisa Myers of and teachers to develop course outlines for children reserve is by cayuco, above the National Park and adults. The Honduras government needs a permanent ot. Photos by Eric Greenquist Service help the presence in the reserve to monitor and control 380 villagers of Las With education providing the motivation, Richard illegal activities. Under the Partnership, the Marías, a Pech and Enriquez of the Fish and Wildlife Service focuses Forestry Administration of Honduras agreed to staff Miskito community on organizational and planning skills. “Many local two offices this year. The German Government will in the heart of the reserve. As many as 280 tourists grass-roots organizations need help conducting fund these offices and Interior will help the visit Las Marías annually. Villagers see opportunities meetings, defining goals, developing strategies, and Forestry Administration begin conservation actions for service businesses. According to Martín motivating village members,” says Richard who has with village organizations. Aerrera, president of the local ecotourism helped North American tribes develop conservation committee, as many as eighty villagers eventually plans. Lisa and Richard teach the basic skills Another need is to legalize the boundaries of the could benefit from tourism. villagers need to manage local resources. reserve. A 1992 Presidential Agreement expanded the reserve to 2,013,000 acres, but Honduras’ Last September Arden and Lisa began a series of An example of community-based management is in National Congress never approved the new workshops to teach villagers about the needs of Plaplaya, on the coast of the reserve, where villagers boundaries. With Partnership assistance, Forestry tourists for lodging, transportation, trails and are restoring marine turtle populations. Until Administration officials drafted the needed guides. Working with village carpenters, Fish and recently, the national fisheries administration of legislation, which they expect their Congress to Wildlife Service architect Tony Pardinas designed Honduras did all such work and only on Honduras’ enact this year. a village meeting house and structures to improve southern coast. In 1995, however, MOPAWI and the drinking water. The village asked for these designs, Joy Foundation paid Garífuna villagers in Plaplaya Perhaps the Partnership’s biggest potential coup in part to develop ecotourism, and provided the small stipends to protect the nests of loggerhead however, is a proposal by Rigoberto Sandoval materials and labor to build them. Interior provided and leatherback turtles. That year, villagers saved Corea, the general manager of the Forestry tools and additional materials that villagers could 43 nests from poachers and released 1,007 baby Administration, to organize land uses within the not get locally. Villagers completed the meeting turtles to the sea. reserve. As part of this process, Sandoval offered to house and water pumps last month. grant 40-year use rights to indigenous villages. The MOPAWI and fisheries administration biologists, Partnership helped to design this unprecedented A key to developing local businesses is the ability of helped by Peace Corps volunteer Jocelyn Peskin, offer. If completed, this would give villagers their locals to operate them independently of outsiders. continued this project in 1996 under a food-for- first legal means to evict outsiders from their Loren Cabe helps Peace Corps volunteer Paul work program. “Villagers are motivated as much by traditional lands. Dickey develop training programs for villagers, a desire to protect turtles as by the food they many of whom only recently learned about money. receive,” says David Bowman, a Fish and Wildlife Under the Partnership for Biodiversity, Interior is Service biologist who helps train local villagers and helping to lay the foundations of future efforts by Community-Based works to expand this project to other communities. villagers, government agencies, and organizations. “People remember when nesting turtles were While Interior will touch few communities, it will Conservation common,” explains Adalberto Padilla of help to leave a legacy of improved cooperation and Because the Forestry Administration of Honduras MOPAWI. “Now they search many nights just to find trained persons. During its first year, Interior has has no staff in the reserve, conservation efforts one.” School children enthusiastically support the helped in many ways. must rely on villagers. The indigenous peoples see project, helping to release the baby turtles and the need for local controls. In a region where scolding their parents for taking turtle eggs. Donaldo Allen of the indigenous organization villagers hunt all wild animals for food, Mariano RAYAKA compares Interior’s work with the past Pagooda of Las Marías says, “I see scarlet macaws This project, however, is not sustainable. Neither promises of help from other groups. “You are the along the trails. I know tourists want to see scarlet MOPAWI nor the national fisheries administration last to arrive,” he says, “but the first to begin.” macaws but if I don’t shoot them someone else of Honduras has the funds to maintain it. Interior, will.” therefore, proposed a unique solution: If Honduras’ Eric Greenquist is the district wildlife biologist for fisheries administration agrees to establish a the Bureau of Land Management in Eugene, Oregon, According to Dr. Gustavo Cruz of the University of program of marine turtle conservation along the and the Honduras project manager for Interior’s Honduras, indigenous peoples have caused local north coast within ten years, Interior will find Office of International Affairs. He can be reached at declines in populations of iguana, turtles, tapir, and donors to help fund it during the first decade. The (541) 683-6114; Fax: (541) 683-6981; Email: other wildlife. Osvaldo Munguía of MOPAWI fisheries administration is working to develop a [email protected] reports shortages near some villages of mahogany, strategic plan and budget to begin the program this cedar, ceiba (used for canoes) and tunu (used for year. Meanwhile, the Partnership continues the clothing and handicrafts). food-for-work program in Plaplaya. 17 Bureau of Indian Affairs At right, Rob Baracker, the director Ada E. Deer, Assistant Secretary of the BIA’s Albuquerque Area Ralph Gonzales, Bureau Editor Office discusses the need for increased communication between federal managers of programs for Native Americans and tribal leaders from the region. San Carlos Apaches Sign Water Albuquerque Office Launches Pact with Phelps Dodge Federal Network Initiative The BIA’s Albuquerque Area Office recently helped tribal After marathon negotiation sessions, the San leaders in the area bring some of their major concerns with Carlos Apache Tribe reached a favorable U.S. Government programs—especially their desire for settlement with Phelps Dodge Corporation over meaningful consultation—to top administrators of federal use of the Tribe’s water and the ownership of a agencies. The effort launched a network-building initiative that pumping station and pipeline located on can provide tribal leaders with greater access to federal reservation land. programs targeted for Native Americans. The terms require Phelps Dodge employees to The milestone conference at the Indian Pueblo Cultural vacate the San Carlos Apache Reservation and Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, brought together 20 of abandon the pump station, pipeline, and a the 25 area tribal leaders and senior representatives of disputed right-of-way on reservation land by eighteen federal agencies—a first in terms of the diversity of July 23. Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation will federal agencies. Meetings between several tribes and a single operate the pump station and pipeline for an federal agency had been more common in the area. interim period of up to 18 months, providing water to Phelps Dodge for operation of its The catalyst for the get-together was the Government Morenci copper mine. Phelps Dodge will pay the Performance and Results Act, which requires that federal tribe $25,000 per month for use of reservation agencies produce a strategic plan to guide their future Commissioner Eluid Martinez of the lands and all costs of Reclamation’s interim direction. In developing the plan, agencies are required Bureau of Reclamation discusses his operations so that no costs from the settlement to consider the views and suggestions of groups and agency’s programs and activities that are borne by U.S. taxpayers. organizations potentially affected by the strategy. serve American Indian communities. When the Bureau of Reclamation has had Since Albuquerque Area Office leaders knew that all federal appropriate time to train members of the Tribe departments and bureaus were following the same guidelines, to increase communication between the to maintain and operate the pump station and they decided to issue an invitation to several agencies to give federal government and its tribal pipeline, Phelps Dodge will surrender its them an opportunity to present their strategic plans to their stakeholders,’ said Rob Baracker, BIA’s interest in all facilities and electrical tribal stakeholders. area director. “It gathers federal agencies transmission lines on reservation lands and no that have Indian programs on an annual longer divert water from the Black River into Interior representatives at the March 13 roundtable included: basis to share plans and report the pipeline system or pump groundwater John Cook, regional director, National Park Service; Lynn performance.” adjacent to reservation lands. Starnes, deputy regional director, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Chris Kenny, director, Native American Affairs, For non-Interior agencies, the conference Instead, the San Carlos Apache will lease about Bureau of Reclamation; and Rob Baracker, the director of was an excellent opportunity to establish 14,000 acre feet of water to Phelps Dodge that BIA’s Albuquerque Area Office. contacts with the area tribes. Conversely, will result in payments to the tribe of about $1 area tribal leaders were able to make million per year in charges for the water and Participants from other federal agencies were: John Kelly, contacts with key managers of federal distribution system. Phelps Dodge also will the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico; Leon agencies. And at a time of shrinking provide an initial $5 million cash payment for McCowan, regional director, Department of Health & Human federal budgets, the roundtable also the lease and will pay all costs associated with Services; David W. Gray, director, Office of External Affairs, created opportunities to pool federal the operation, maintenance, and replacement of U. S. Environmental Protection Agency; and W. John Arthur, resources to better serve the needs of the the pump station and pipeline facilities from III, assistant manager, Office of Environment, U.S. tribes. which the mine benefits. Department of Energy. The tribe will also agree under the settlement The federal representatives outlined their agencies’ to dismiss a damage claim recently brought strategic plans and discussed how those plans Building a Network against Phelps Dodge in Tribal Court, while proposed to include the tribes and their concerns. reserving the right to seek legal recourse for Representatives of area tribes then offered comments During the roundtable, the BIA’s Albuquerque past damages against Phelps Dodge in federal and suggestions on what the federal agencies Area Office staff hosted a luncheon and court if necessary in the future. The tribe has presented. Among other benefits, the exchange prepared directories of the federal participants asked that most of the income derived from the revealed that while federal agencies have difficulty to help foster increased personal contacts and settlement and the lease to be held in trust for understanding tribal needs and desires, many tribes maintain a federal-tribal network that can members of the tribe. have problems benefit Indian communities. understanding the In addition, the agreement makes possible budgetary and planning After the morning session, the Albuquerque the full implementation of the 1992 San processes of non-BIA federal staff hosted a luncheon in the area office’s Carlos Settlement Act, under which the tribe agencies. conference room. The speaker was the will receive a $41 million trust fund and the Honorable John Kelly, United States right to market significant amounts of water. Tribal leaders felt the initial Attorney, District of New Mexico. That The 1992 legislation would have expired at roundtable was useful and a afternoon the participants were free to tour the end of June had the new agreement not consensus was reached that the various branches of the office, which had been reached. additional meetings will be set up both static and interactive displays for held on a yearly basis. the interested parties. “This landmark settlement has resolved decades of dispute and avoided lengthy, “Meaningful consultation The federal speakers at the roundtable were contentious, court battles,” said Secretary with tribes in an active role photographed and these images were digitally Babbitt in announcing the agreement on in intra-government scanned. The representatives’ names, May 21. “All the parties are winners and are activities is essential to true addresses, and telephone numbers were added to be commended for having stuck it out government-to-government and these directories were available to anyone through hundreds of hours of difficult and relations,” said Elmer who wanted to contact a federal participant. contentious negotiations. The intense Torres, governor of the While the pictures will help participants to negotiations were mediated by David David Hayes Pueblo of San Ildefonso. remember who was who, they also show that Hayes, recently appointed council to Roland Johnson, governor the government isn’t full of faceless, uncaring Secretary Babbitt. Haynes was credited with of the Pueblo of Laguna, agreed, saying “A great need agencies. Written copies of the federal working “extraordinarily hard” to attain the exists to pursue relationships with other federal agencies’ proposed strategic plans also were settlement. agencies besides the BIA.” “The roundtable is an distributed to the tribal participants. element of the Albuquerque Area BIA’s strategic plan 18 Land Pacts Benefit Alaskan Natives, Conservation Kenai Natives Association The English Bay Corporation Pact The Department signed an agreement with the In one of the largest purchases of private lands for inclusion in Kenai Natives Association, Inc.— the National Park System in the last ten years, an Alaskan Native urban the Interior Department signed an corporation—that will protect agreement with the English Bay valuable Kenai River habitat while Corporation—an Alaska Native also allowing the native association to group—to purchase about 32,537 develop its land that had been inside a acres of corporation land. The national wildlife refuge. properties, bought with funds from the Exxon Valdez oil spill settlements, are The agreement, which uses about $4.4 located in the Kenai Fjords National million in funds from the Exxon Valdez Park and the Alaska Maritime National oil spill settlement, puts into force a Wildlife Refuge. land exchange and purchase authorized by Congress in the Omnibus Parks and The prime coastal lands and fjords to be Public Lands Management Act of 1996 and acquired include important habitat for a resolves a long-standing land management range of species injured by the 1989 Exxon issue involving the Kenai National Wildlife Valdez oil spill, including pink salmon, sea Refuge. otter, harlequin duck, black oystercatchers, pigeon guillemots, and marbled murrelet. Under the exchange, the Kenai Native Association The lands also provide significant will sell about 3,254 acres of wildlife habitat and opportunities for tourism and recreation. the rights to select these lands inside the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge to the U.S. Fish and Secretary Babbitt called the May 19 pact “a Wildlife Service. The parcels include the 803-acre tremendous conservation achievement that Stephanka Track of prime Kenai River property would provide permanent protection of these and about 2,000 acres in the Moose River lands, through an outstanding partnership watershed. The Stephanka Track will be with the Alaska Native shareholders, the City nominated for the National Register of Historic of Seward, and the State of Alaska. At the Places to protect its important archaeological and same time, the English Bay Corporation will cultural values. In exchange, the association will be able to use these funds to create a brighter receive $4 million from the Exxon Valdez future for its shareholders.” settlement fund and the balance from three federal trustee agencies. Under the terms of the $15.37 million purchase, the U.S. Government would acquire To provide the Kenai Native Association, which 32,537 acres of land, including 30,257 acres has 560 shareholders, with additional within the boundary of Kenai Fjords National opportunities for economic development, Interior Park and 2,280 acres in the Alaska Maritime will amend the boundary of the Kenai National National Wildlife Refuge. The corporation’s Wildlife Refuge to exclude about 15,500 acres of shareholders would retain certain subsistence association-owned land and to remove hunting and fishing rights on a portion of the development restrictions—imposed by the lands in the park that are closest to the Alaskan Native Claims Settlement Act—from this village of Nanwalek (the shareholders’ land. The association also will receive a five-acre associated village that was formerly known as refuge headquarters site in old town Kenai and English Bay) and furthest from the City of important subsurface rights, with the exception Seward. The corporation, established under of coal, oil, and gas rights, beneath its retained the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, land. retains 43,000 acres of land outside the national park near Nanwalek, To compensate for the refuge’s lost acreage, the located southwest of Homer on the exchange legislation authorizes the creation of Kenai Peninsula. a 37,000-acre Special Management Area on Lake Todatonten in the Alaskan interior. The “Our lands must provide for our area—located next to the Kanuti National people forever,” said Donald D. Wildlife Refuge, northwest of Fairbanks—is on Emmal, president of English Bay land owned by the Bureau of Land Management Corporation. “We will place our and will be managed for fish and wildlife proceeds in a trust fund so we can conservation while remaining open to subsistence ensure the financial security of our hunting and fishing. children. An archeological fund will help preserve our culture.” The “This is a great day for Alaskan Natives, wildlife, the corporation has set aside $500,000 Kenai River, and the Bureau of Land Management,” from the proceeds to study cultural said Secretary Babbitt in announcing the resources on the lands to be sold. agreement on May 13. “I commend Chairman Don Young and Congressman George Miller for their “This agreement, when combined successful work to pass this important bipartisan with other efforts by Governor Tony legislation. This agreement will both protect fish and Knowles, highlights the wildlife habitat on the Kenai River and provide Alaskan partnerships and comprehensive Natives with significant new opportunities for economic approach taken recently to protect development on the Kenai Peninsula.” Molly McCammon the truly spectacular scenery and Executive Director wildlife resources of the Kenai “The legislation will allow the Kenai Natives Association Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Peninsula,” said Molly greater flexibility to use our lands and will provide Trustee Council McCammon, Executive Director of additional lands and important subsurface interests the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee and the necessary funding to promote the economic Council. development of the association’s resources, while still respecting and preserving our heritage,” said Diana The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council is Zirul, president of the association. providing $14.1 million from the civil settlement with the Exxon Corporation for the purchase. The council , The agreement was reached in partnership with the which consists of three trustee representatives from State of Alaska, with the support of Governor Tony the Federal Government and three from state Knowles. “Protecting the Kenai River is important to government, administers the $900 million joint all Alaskans,” Knowles said. federl-state settlement fund from the oil spill. “This is one of a series of gains to protect the Kenai The $1.25 million balance will come from the three River. A partnership of federal, state, and local federal trustee departments - Interior, Agriculture- governments, along with the Kenai Natives Forest Service, and Commerce-National Oceanic and Association, sport fishing groups, commercial fishing Atmospheric Agency—out of the $50 million oil spill groups, business, and private landowners has come criminal settlement that is administered by the together, and, by putting the river first, we all Clinton Administration. benefit.” 19 National Park Service Below, Brig. Gen. Robert S. Onge, commandant of cadets at West Denis P. Galvin, Point, and Joseph T. Avery, superintendent of Park Service Acting Bureau Director Manhattan Sites in New York City, enjoy the parade in honor of Ricardo Lewis, Bureau Editor the centennial of Grant’s Tomb. NPS Photo by Kevin Daly. At right is the national memorial toˇ Ulysses S. Grant. The Tombs of General and Mrs. Grant are here. NPS Photo byRichard Frear Garrison Gold for Glacier Glacier National Park, Montana, has received the regional 1996 Garrison Gold Award for the most distinguished education program in the NPS Intermountain Region, which has 86 park sites ranging from Montana to Texas. Manhattan Sites Honor Grant Three innovative education efforts were cited in the award: Native American Speaks, which Manny Strumpf Grant High School bands from Ohio and Oregon, features Blackfeet, Salish, and Kootenai tribal the marching band and a battalion of cadets from members; Work-House, a heritage education Several thousand spectators lined the streets of the United States Military Academy, and the King’s curriculum presenting a view of natural New York’s upper Manhattan to help the National Point Merchant Marine Academy marching band, as resources from both the Native American and Park Service commemorate the 175th anniversary well as the horse mounted units of the United scientific viewpoint; and the park’s World Wide of the birth of General Ulysses S. Grant and the States Park Police and Gateway National Recreation Web page, which received first place honors this centennial of the General Grant National Memorial, Area’s Sandy Hook Unit. year from the National Association for better known as Grant’s Tomb. Interpretation in the Interpretive Media Other marchers included members of the Grant category. The spectators who sat on folding chairs, occupied family, active military personnel, veterans Presenting the award, Intermountain Regional portable bleachers, and stood at curbside along organizations, Civil War re-enactors in period Director John Cook noted that “Work-House Riverside Drive overlooking the Hudson River costume from throughout the eastern seaboard, has been especially helpful in reaching out to witnessed precision military, school, and Park New York City Mayor Rudolph Giulliani, children on nearby tribal lands....” Public Service marching units, enjoyed Civil War re- members of the Congress, Deputy Regional Director Affairs Contacts: Amy Vanderbilt (406) 888- enactors in authentic period uniforms and heard Chrysandra Walter, and Park Service 7906; Elaine Sevy (202) 208-6844. stirring marches. About 2,000 marchers took part superintendents from the North East region and in the mile-long parade. elsewhere. Migratory Birds Have Their “It was a special occasion for one other reason,” The solemn commemoration ceremony which Day said Joseph T. Avery, superintendent of National followed, included placing of official wreaths at the Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, Park Service Manhattan Sites which oversees the memorial by Congressman Jerrold Nadler; Ms marked International Migratory Bird Day (May Grant Memorial. “The day also enabled the Park Walter and Superintendent Avery; and by 10) with a bird walk and special evening Service to unveil the completely refurbished and Brigadier General Robert S. Onge, program on the Plight of Neotropical Birds. repaired memorial for which planning had begun commandant of cadets at the United States Military Dick Coe, a seasonal naturalist at the park, several years before the event.” Academy, representing President William served as the Colorado State Coordinator for the Clinton. Taps and a 21-gun salute by West Point event again this year. The park also will Avery noted that the April 27 parade and ceremony cadets ended the ceremony. undertake a third summer season of research, were the largest Park Service public event in funded in part by grants from Canon USA, to Manhattan since the dedication of Ellis Island in Refurbishing was completed in the spring of 1997 study the productivity survivorship of migratory September of 1990. The parade, which preceded a at a cost of more than $1.8 million. birds in the park’s elk winter range. formal centennial ceremony, included Ulysses S. The theme of this year’s nationwide observance of International Migratory Bird Day was Join the The National Register of Historic Places Flock...Be Part of the Solution. The event celebrated the spring migration and return of millions of birds to their nest areas in North The Galloping Goose America and sought to teach citizens how they For its importance in transportation, the Rio can play a vital role in stopping the decline of Grande Southern Railroad, Motor Number 7, has some bird populations. Many of this country’s been listed in the National Register of Historic 800 migratory bird species are still in peril Places. The vehicle is an outstanding example of because of the loss of habitat and misuse of the innovative “Galloping Goose” cars—gasoline common pesticides. Populations of some powered motor cars which operated on the tracks species are declining by as much as two to four of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad in Colorado percent each year. For information on migratory from the Depression until 1952. PARKS bird program activities at Rocky Mountain National Park or in the State of Colorado, The cars were created in 1929 as cost cutting contact Dick Coe at the park at (970) 586-1336 measures to save the Rio Grande Southern or (970) 586-4518. Railroad. The Galloping Goose cars traveled over the 162.6 mile railroad from Durango to Ridgeway Texas Bauhaus Aloha and Mahalo in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. Each car was The 1941 Chester and Loraine Nagel House, an operated by one man and produced revenue at low early example of International Style residential Rangers at Kalaupapa National Historical expense. The body and chassis were built from a 4- design, was listed in the National Register of Park, Hawaii, recently made an amazing door 1926 Pierce-Arrow Model 33. Historic Places on April 17.Architect Chester discovery—a monk seal with a newborn pup on Emil Nagel’s design for the Austin, Texas, one of the park’s white sand beaches. Monk Galloping Goose Number 7 retains almost all of its residence successfully disseminated the Bauhaus seals are a critically endangered species, with original design that remained at the end of its aesthetic, while taking into account the factors of only 1,200 estimated worldwide. The pup is active service. The car is operational, although use, climate, and locally available materials. The AROUND THE strong and healthy, according to park wildlife undergoing restoration to the tourist period (1950- two-story, 1400 square-foot house is a long, thin biologist Rick Potts. The community of 51) by Volunteer Project Leader Bill Gould and block oriented east-west for solar tracking and Kalaupapa has taken great pride in this arrival other volunteers. Goose No.7 was listed in the wind direction. and is assisting the park in protecting the beach National Register on February 28. area where the monk seal and her pup are After World War II, the rising popularity Nagel located. This is the first recorded monk seal received in the national press for this house, birth for the park and the only such birth dubbed the “Texas Hillside House,” led to an known to have occurred in the Hawaiian Islands invitation for Nagel to teach at HarvardUniversity this year. Only two pups were recorded in the with Walter Adolph Gropius, the German-born state of Hawaii last year. Public Affairs Contact: American architect who founded the Bauhaus Cindy Daly (202) 208-4993. school of design. The style was known for its adaptation of science and technology to art, and for experimental use of metal and glass in buildings. The Nagel house is at 3215 Churchill Drive. 20 FDR Memorial Joins Presidential Monuments The nation’s newest memorial was conveyed to the United States in a May 2 dedication at which President Clinton gave the Address of Dedication. The FDR Memorial takes its place of honor next to the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and Thomas Jefferson Memorial as the fourth monument to an American president on the National Mall in the monumental core of the nation’s Capital. The FDR Memorial Commission—the congressionally-chartered public corporation that sponsored the project—formally conveyed the 7.5- acre memorial during the ceremony. The commission is co-chaired by Senators Mark Visiting hours at the memorial are from 8 a.m. Hatfield and Daniel Inouye. Participants also to midnight daily, including holidays. Entrance included Vice President Al Gore, David B. is free to the public. National Park Service Roosevelt (President Roosevelt’s grandson), rangers, operating from a small contact station at Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and opera the entrance, will be on duty to serve visitors and singer Denyce Graves. Mike Wallace, of the CBS interpret the memorial. The entrance is located Above left, television network, served as Master of Ceremonies. adjacent to the intersection of Ohio Drive and West President Clinton Basin Drive, S.W. cuts a ceremonial FDR Memorial designer Lawrence Halprin of San ribbon officially Francisco was present at the dedication along with Public parking for some 247 vehicles, including 14 opening the FDR artist/sculptors Leonard Basin, Neil Estern, handicapped-accessible spaces, was constructed Memorial as First Robert Graham, Tom Hardy, George Segal, before work on the memorial began in 1994. Lady Hillary and master stonecarver John Benson. Additional spaces, located in Lots A, B, and C under Rodham Clinton the 14th Street Bridge, off Ohio Drive, S.W., in East and Vice President Entrusted to the care of the Department of the Potomac Park, replaced parking along the portion Al Gore applaud. Interior, National Park Service, the memorial of West Basin Drive which was eliminated when the Above, the becomes the 375th unit of the National Park memorial was built. A bus parking lane, also added memorial’s center System. The memorial is built at the precise point during the construction, has space for 18 buses. piece is the statue designated for such a monument by the originators West Basin Drive has parking for persons with of FDR and his dog, Fala. At right, a sculpture of the 1901 McMillan Plan. It is anchored at both disabilities near the entrance to the memorial. depicts a Great Depression-era American listening to ends of the plan by the Jefferson and Lincoln First-time visitors are advised to allow 30 to 45 a Fireside Chat radio broadcast by President Memorials. The FDR Memorial is located along the minutes to fully experience the memorial. For an Roosevelt. Photos for NPS by David Barna famous Cherry Tree Walk and focused on the in-depth look at America’s newest national Washington Monument across the waters of the memorial, visit the FDR Memorial homepage on the Tidal Basin. internet at http://www.nps.gov/fdrm/index2.htm. National Strategy For the War on Weeds The rapid spread of destructive non-native plants $2.5 million annually to battle what has been waterways,” said Deputy Secretary John has become a major environmental and economic termed the “Silent Green Invasion.” Another $80 Garamendi in announcing the plan with Deputy problem that threatens native plants, alters natural million is needed by the Park Service to manage Secretary of Agriculture Richard Rominger. landscapes, and destroys fish and animal habitats. and halt the spread of these weeds, which now Garamendi noted that the effort will require the Experts infest more than 7 million acres of parkland. cooperation of private landowners, federal land estimate that managers, as well as state and local governments. these invasive To combat this growing problem, the Invasive Weed “Anything less than a national approach involving plants already Awareness Coalition—a public and private sector all affected landowners and concerned citizens will infest more initiative—recently announced a national strategy. do little to control the current rate of infestation.” than 100 The three-part plan, entitled Pulling Together- million acres of National Strategy for Invasive Plant Management, Data that reveals the impact of invasive plants in America’s sets goals for control and protection against alien the United States compiled by the Federal croplands, plants, focusing on effective prevention, control, Interagency Committee for the Management of forests, parks, and restoration. The strategy also incorporates three Noxious and Exotic Weeds will be published in a preserves, main themes—research, education, and factbook. Scheduled for distribution later this year, wilderness partnership—to help in the control of alien plants. the book will contain useful information broken areas, wildlife down state-by-state for use with the national refuges, and The Coalition, which includes plant scientists, strategy. urban spaces, conservation organization, farmers, ranchers, state and continue to and national agencies, and private industries, Copies of the national strategy can be found on the increase by 8 to developed the strategy with information and Internet at: http://bluegoose.arw.r9.fws.gov/ 20 percent suggestions from numerous federal, local, and state ficmnewfiles/NatlweedStrategytoc.html. Program annually. agencies and groups that are affected by invasive Contact: Gary Johnston (202) 208-5886; Public plants. Affairs Contact: Cindy Daly (202) 208-4993. Deputy Secretary The National John Garamendi Park Service “Invasive plants are a serious threat to the health European beetles help to control purle loosestrife, alone spends and productivity of our public lands and Page 9. Weed Warriors Take the Field The President’s Garden Noxious weeds on public lands in the West educational materials and programs designed are estimated to be spreading at an alarming to improve understanding of the threat to The President’s Garden, an exhibit capturing the magic and rate of 2,300 to 4,600 acres per day. That’s an park resources form these weeds. beauty of 200 years in the life of a living garden, will be area approximately twice the size of Rhode displayed at the White House Visitor Center through September Island that is invaded each year. But never The Dinosaur National Monument project is 2.Many historic events and informational gatherings occurred fear, the Weed Warriors are on the way! one of 14 projects chosen nationwide for the in the garden. More than 60 black and white and color 1997 Expedition Into the Parks photographs, paintings, and illustrations from past and present Volunteers this summer at Dinosaur conservation program, funded by a $1 capture these events. Live floral and plant displays compliment National Monument, Colorado, will remove million contribution from Canon U.S.A., Inc., the exhibit, including a seedling cultivated and grown from the weeds along the canyons of the scenic Yampa through the National Park Foundation. famous Andrew Jackson Magnolia. Accompanying the exhibit is and Green Rivers. Severe infestations of Funded through Canon’s Clean Earth a 30 minute video Upon These Grounds: Exploring the White extremely aggressive weeds, such as tamarisk, Campaign, Expedition Into the Parks has House Garden. perennial pepperweed, and Russian benefited 32 national parks since its Knapweed, threaten to destroy the natural inception in 1995. The exhibit, which opened on April 9, was organized by the habitat for the park’s native plant and animal Public Affairs Contact: Cindy Daly (202) White House Historical Association, the White House Curator’s species. 208-4993; Program Contact: Tamara Office and the Superintendent of Grounds for the White House Naumann, Park Botanist, (970) 374-3000. in cooperation with the National Park Service. Program Park staff and volunteers also will work on Contact: Tom Payton (202) 208-1631 or 1 (800) 717-1450; native plant restoration projects and Public Affairs: Jacqui Handly (202) 208-4989. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service John G. Rogers, Acting Director Some of America’s foremost trout Janet L. Miller, Bureau Editor streams have been haard hit by whirling disease, but research has been stepped up to address the problem. Research Stepped Up In Fight Against Trout Whirling Disease Judy Maule An intensive cooperative effort to fight whirling in Logan, Utah, at a symposium co-sponsored by disease—a potentially lethal infection that is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Whirling devastating trout populations in some of America’s Disease Foundation, Trout Unlimited, and the most renowned streams—will tap the talents of 34 Federation of Flyfishers, and others. Thirty papers research teams this year, adding new insights to the shed new light on the geographic distribution of the growing store of knowledge being developed to disease, new diagnostic techniques, sensitivities of address this problem. different fish strains to the disease, and the interactions of the parasite (Myxobolus cerebralis) The decline of wild trout populations is especially with its fish and worm (Tubifex tubifex) hosts. critical in the Rocky Mountain West. In recent years, whirling disease has been associated with an While a breakthrough has not yet been made to estimated 90 percent decline in Montana’s upper find a solution for dealing with the disease, Madison River wild rainbow trout population, as scientists attending the symposium agreed on well as losses in Colorado’s South Platte, Gunnison, several key pieces of the puzzle: 1) the age of fish, and Colorado Rivers. dose of infection, and temperature are factors The whirling disease parasite has been detected in affecting the degree of infection; 2) many trout at least 22 states: Alabama, California, Colorado, This year’s scientific teams will be working in field species and strains are susceptible to whirling Connecticut, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, and laboratory studies to identify better methods disease but research is needed to determine the Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New for diagnosing whirling disease, collecting samples, least susceptible; and 3) non-lethal methods for Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, and determining fish susceptibilities. The research diagnosing whirling disease need to be developed. Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West will also investigate the genetics and ecology of the Virginia, and Wyoming. parasite and its worm host, factors that influence Whirling disease is caused by a microscopic infection (fish age, size, water temperature, and parasite. The spores of Myxobolus cerebralis, The 1998 whirling disease symposium is scheduled dose), and containment and decontamination released when infected fish die, are ingested by for February 19-21 in Fort Collins, Colorado. For procedures. Tubifex worms, which live in mud. Inside the further information about the symposium, contact worm, the parasite takes on a new form, becoming the Whirling Disease Foundation, a non-profit In addition, the teams will look into sources of capable of infecting young salmonids, especially organization (P.O. Box 327, Bozeman, MT 59771- parasite transmission, distribution of the parasite in rainbow trout, before their cartilage hardens to 0327; E-mail: [email protected]) whose mission is wild stocks, risk assessment methods, and strategies bone. Myxobolus cerebralis gets into the cartilage to raise funds for whirling disease research. to increase public awareness about whirling disease. near a fish’s organ of equilibrium and multiplies Symposium proceedings from the Logan meeting very rapidly, sometimes into the millions, are available for $8 from the Foundation. The latest findings on the impact of whirling pressuring the organ and causing the victim to disease on trout were presented to 120 fish swim erratically, losing its ability to forage or scientists, managers, and policymakers March 6-8 escape predators. NPS Awards National Fishing Week Lures Youth Vicki Boatwright Judith Maule this instruction, which culminates with the children’s pledge to abstain from drug use. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees Gerald More than 500 Washington-area youngsters spent a Especially designed for inner-city children and J. Vits and James P. Oland are recent day fishing on the Mall to kick off National Fishing their families, Hooked On Fishing presents fishing recipients of Vice President Al Gore’s National Week, June 2-8, a nationwide celebration in which as a healthy hobby, promotes interpersonal skills Performance Review Hammer Award. The award, an estimated 500,000 Americans participated in that encourage a drug-free lifestyle, and named after an infamous $600 hammer thousands of community events that highlight the emphasizes fishing as a sport entire families can purchased by the government in the 1980s, fun of fishing and foster stewardship of aquatic enjoy. recognizes individuals and organizations for resources. instituting measures to cut red tape and Other highlights of the day included casting eliminate government waste. On June 2, school children from Virginia, demonstrations by world-class anglers Gwenn Maryland, and District of Columbia schools tried Perkins, director of women’s outdoor programs at Vits and Oland were part of a multi-agency team their luck fishing in a 7-acre lake at Constitution Orvis; and Steve Pennaz, host of ESPN’s North made up of employees from the General Services Gardens near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial American Outdoors Administration, the U.S. Navy, the in Washington, DC. The lake was stocked with and editor of North Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Fish and channel catfish from the Fish and Wildlife American Fisherman Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service Service’s Orangeburg National Fish Hatchery magazine, and that successfully disposed of several large parcels in South Carolina. Bass and bluegills were entertainment from of surplus federal land while resolving some previously stocked in the lake’s shallow colorful country long-standing squatter issues and protecting the waters. crooner and avid habitats of several endangered species, including angler Fishbone Fred the leatherback sea turtle. The National Fishing Week kickoff is hosted and his band from annually by several Federal agencies, Boca Raton,re Vits, a realty team leader employed in the including the Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida. Service’s regional office in Atlanta, and Oland, an National Park Service, Bureau of Land ecological services field supervisor based in Management, USDA Forest Service, and After lunch, provided Boquerón, Puerto Rico, helped GSA National Marine Fisheries Service, as well as by Guest Services, representatives with on-site field visits and the District of Columbia Department of Inc., the children provided valuable information about the Fisheries, the American Sportfishing participated in a brief environmentally sensitive lands proposed for Association, and industry and conservation ceremony held by the disposition. groups. These organizations and community Photo by Rosa Wilson, NPS kickoff sponsors, partners also sponsor thousands of fishing then spent the rest of The awards, consisting of a framed hammer with week events across the Nation during National the afternoon fishing with rods and reels they got a handwritten message from the Vice President Fishing Week to celebrate the sport of fishing. to keep for future outings. and a signed certificate, were presented to Vits and Oland along with other project participants The children began by learning about fish biology Established a decade ago, National Fishing Week is at an April 11 ceremony in Washington, D.C. and habitat, fishing safety and ethics, and angling celebrated the first Monday through the following techniques from specialists from the sponsoring Sunday in June. About 2,500 National Fishing Week organizations. Sponsors used the award-winning events are held annually with an estimated half- 22 Hooked On Fishing-Not On Drugs program during million participants nationwide. Amy Midgett, Firefighter Tom Crews a history of huge fires that burn tens of thousands of acres. These Firefighter Amy Midgett, a 6-year veteran of the blazes can occur at almost any time Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge (Manteo, of year. North Carolina) fire crew, has seen a lot of changes in the fire program since it started in 1991. The area’s high fire potential and extremely wet soils pose a unique The year she was hired, the only pieces of fire problem requiring specialized equipment available for firefighting were basic hand equipment (such as the low-ground- tools, chain saws, and a truck with a slip-on pressure flextracked fire tractor pumper. At that time, the North Carolina Forest being operated by Midgett) and well- Service was the primary initial attack fire responder trained firefighters. It also takes and the refuge fire crew was used mostly as a back- teamwork and close coordination of up hand crew for mop-up and containment. resources to effectively and safely conduct wildfire suppression operations. tractor as with using a pulaski (a chopping and Today, Midgett is a member of a well-trained initial digging tool) or chain saw. attack team capable of fielding a unit of flextracked Although the Service is now the initial attack fire tractors with plows, portable bridge, heavy responder on refuge fires, the North Carolina Forest According to Mike Bryant, the manager of Alligator bulldozer, and fire engines. She and other members Service is still the Service’s primary fire cooperator River National Wildlife Refuge, Midgett’s experience of the Alligator River Refuge staff have worked hard in Eastern North Carolina. The two agencies and hardworking attitude greatly benefit the fire to make the needed changes in the evolution of the maintain very close ties by training together and program, especially as it expands to include more fire program at the refuge. Midgett also serves on coordinating activities before and during the peak and more acres of prescribed burning each year. The fire crews in the western UnitedStates and other fire seasons. Alligator River fire crew will take a primary role in parts of the East. an aggressive 20,000-acre prescribed burning goal Midgett’s primary job on the fire crew is as engine for refuges in Eastern North Carolina in 1998. With high-hazard fuels being the norm for Alligator boss and assistant crew leader. However, like many River and the neighboring refuges, a well-trained of the crew, she has been cross-trained to operate Tom Crews is the Fire Management Officer at and -equipped fire crew is a must for maintaining fire tractors in the event of an emergency. Midgett is Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in Manteo, safety. Refuge lands in Eastern North Carolina have as comfortable behind the steering levers of a fire North Carolina. Pact with Army Improves Habitat on Former Base Georgia Parham wildlife, and habitats on about 51,000 acres of the The disappearance of native prairies throughout base during the next three years. This portion of the country is prompting alarming declines in Bird songs are replacing the sound of exploding the installation, used as a firing range while the many grassland-dependent species. Some of these ordnance at Jefferson Proving Ground, a 55,000- base was active, is not well-suited for commercial species, many of which are in decline around the acre Army installation in southern Indiana closed or other uses because of an estimated 1.5 million country, have found a haven at Jefferson Proving in 1995 under the Base Realignment and Closure rounds of unexploded ordnance. Ground and are beginning to thrive. Act. Under an agreement recently forged between the Army and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Funding for the Service’s activities will be provided One example is the Henslow’s sparrow, considered Service experts will help the Army assess and by the Army, which retains ownership of this endangered by the State of Indiana and a migratory manage the base’s impressive array of fish and portion of Jefferson Proving Ground. Part of this bird of concern nationally. Jefferson Proving wildlife resources. area is still used by the Air National Guard for Ground, with 5,000 acres of grasslands in several training exercises. The remaining 4,000 acres, at tracts, supports one of the four largest known “Jefferson Proving Ground has served a key role in the southern end of the base, is being converted to populations of Henslow’s sparrows, with more than preserving democracy and the freedoms we so other private and commercial uses. Public use of 900 pairs counted during the 1996 breeding richly enjoy,” said Major General John season. Longhouser, Commanding General, U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command. “It is time to begin From Bombs To Birds Jefferson Proving Ground also contains one of the the process of converting this real estate to more largest unfragmented blocks of mature forest in peaceful purposes. This agreement provides the the firing range is limited due to the danger posed the lower Midwest. Such forested areas are opportunity for an enhanced level of ecosystem- by the unexploded ordnance. However, the Army, increasingly hard to find in this heavily based management and study while the Army and the Service, and the Indiana Department of agricultural region, although they provide vital the Service address long-term natural resource Natural Resources are discussing options for habitat for many wildlife species, including those management.” possible future use by recreational users. considered endangered. Jefferson Proving Ground’s forests provide summer habitat for the Federally “This agreement represents a one-of-a-kind Jefferson Proving Ground is considered by wildlife endangered Indiana bat. In addition, the Indiana opportunity to conserve and manage some of the managers to contain an extraordinary diversity of Department of Natural Resources has released the Midwest’s finest forest and grassland habitats,” wildlife and habitats. The Army regularly used state-endangered river otter along waterways added John Blankenship, assistant regional controlled fires to reduce the chance of wildfires within Jefferson Proving Ground. director for the Fish and Wildlife Service. “I touched off by exploding ordnance. These periodic commend the Army for its vision in recognizing the burns mimicked the natural processes that create The Service will manage the base’s forests and value of the resources within the borders of and maintain prairies. Thus, Jefferson Proving grasslands, develop a plan for Indiana bats and Jefferson Proving Ground.” Ground, while not a native prairie, contains other endangered species, manage and enhance exceptionally productive grasslands that support a aquatic habitats, and promote public Under the agreement, the Service will be wide diversity of prairie-dependent birds and other understanding and awareness of the area’s natural responsible for evaluating the status of fish, wildlife. resources. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service used the occasion to introduce its recreated Atlanta Celebrates Earth Day Woodsy Owl character. The zoo’s distance learning program focused on the history of conservation in Evelyn Nelson America, including the first Earth Day celebration. There were wildlife shows and games focusing on From Zoo Atlanta’s Flamingo Plaza, Atlanta Mayor refuges and migration. At the Service’s exhibit of Bill Campbell declared April 22, 1997, Earth Day confiscated endangered and threatened species in Atlanta, Georgia, and presented a copy of the parts and products, a wildlife inspector taught the city’s signed proclamation to Acting Fish and public about wildlife protection laws. Wildlife Service Southeast Regional Director Sam Hamilton and Zoo Director Dr. Terry Among the Federal and state agencies, Maple. Using the theme Planet Earth—The Time Is corporations, and private conservation Now, government agencies and private conservation organizations participating in the event were The organizations gathered at the zoo to participate in Georgia Conservancy, Georgia Department of the day-long expo highlighting the importance of Natural Resources, the National Park Service, conserving Earth’s resources. Environmental Protection Agency, USDA Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, Save the Manatee More than 2,000 schoolchildren toured the colorful Club, Urban Resources Partnership, Georgia-Pacific Wildlife Inspector Debbie Bossie shows visitors displays promoting the message that natural Corporation, the U.S. Army Forces Command and samples of confiscated endangered and threatened resources conservation is everyone’s responsibility. the U.S. Department of Energy. The event was co- species parts and products while explaining the Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich led a sponsored by the Fish and Wildlife Service and importance of wildlife laws. Photo by J. Sebo, group of third-graders on a tour of the exhibits. Zoo ZooAtlanta. ZooAtlanta officials reported the highest Earth Day attendance in five years. 23 Minerals Management Service Cynthia Quarterman, Director Rolando Gächter, Bureau Editor Outreach Can Be Fun Earth Fest volunteers enjoyed the fun and sun at New Orleans Audubon Zoo while educating the public about the MMS. Gulf Region office employees Wanda Kraemer, Jay Cheramie, Kenneth Colwart, Albert Naquin, Lance Belanger, Debra Andrews, Elizabeth “The hallmark of this agency has been its ability to Peuler, Sandra Pavlas, Michael Saucier, evolve in response to changing economic and Darrell Griffin, business climates,” MMS Director Cynthia Bradley Hunter, Quarterman said in her keynote speech at the Janice Todesco, Offshore Technology Conference. “During its first Other areas where the Royalty Management Troy Trosclair, 15 years, MMS’s Royalty Management Program has Program has shown excellence and efficiency are in Kewen Huang, matured from a collection agency into a world-class forming network links to states and tribes, Karen Misconish, financial manager, and the Offshore Minerals implementing the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty student volunteer Management Program, once purely process-driven, Simplification and Fairness Act, and developing Nicole Lorraine, has grown into a dynamic resource manager.” alternate dispute resolution techniques. The and Caryl Fagot, program also revised its who coordinated the This year’s 15th anniversary of policies to simplify reporting effort, gave up their the founding of MMS coincides and payments and speed the Troy Trosclair, right, weekend to help with the 50th anniversary of flow of revenue to bureau production engineer with celebrate the New offshore development and during customers. the Houma District and Orleans version of her participation at the Offshore Earth Fest volunteer, Earth Day last month Technology Conference, held in With near-record production of points out species of along with a record Houston from May 5-8, the offshore natural gas and rising mammals found in the crowd of almost director reflected on the bureau’s production of offshore oil, Gulf of Mexico 30,000 visitors. milestone by reviewing some of revenue is increasing. Over the its major accomplishments and past several years, the Offshore Staffers handed out Whales and Dolphins of the outlining its plans for the future. Minerals Management Program Gulf of Mexico mini-posters, bags, and has moved to a more focused brochures. They also debuted the hands-on “MMS has forged a record of leasing program with an Drilling for Oil game. In a simulated activity, achievements, and expects to emphasis on the safe and kids and adults alike tried to find the oil deposit become the best mineral environmentally sound below the surface of the ocean floor. The resource manager,” Quarterman development of about 6,500 participants were both enthusiastic and said. The Royalty Management leases and has redirected determined and kept coming back to play again Program administers revenues for critical resources to respond to and again. They also played the zoo sponsored nearly 20,000 individual allottees the unique requirements Earth Quest game by answering MMS’s question and 34 mineral-producing among the Alaska, Gulf of about the kinds of marine life found beneath a tribes and federal Mexico, and Pacific regions. platform. Staffers used the exhibit’s colorful offshore and onshore underwater photos to illustrate actual examples leases. There are about “We look forward to the next 15 of life around a platform. This is the fifth year 65,000 producing and nonproducing years as we work to understand and evaluate new the Gulf Region office has joined with other federal and Indian natural gas and oil technological issues, economic risks, and, federal, state, and local agencies, businesses and leases, and, in recent years, the program especially, environmental concerns,” Quarterman community groups in the celebration. The office distributed about $4 billion annually to added. “I am personally very excited about the is grateful to all those who gave their time to states, tribes, opportunities and challenges that face both the make this exhibit the a success. allottees, the U.S. offshore oil and gas industry and MMS regulators. Treasury, and We look forward to continuing our work with Meanwhile, on the Internet other federal industry representatives. We have been a tough, but agencies. fair regulator over the years.” The MMS Pacific Region showcased its Santa Barbara Channel- Santa Maria Basin Circulation Study through an online exhibit at the Energy Center Debuts Agriculture and Living Sciences Career Day in Ventura, California. With help from the MMS Assistant to the director, Dr. Robert W. (Bob) Middleton, Information Superhighway, students and their participated in the grand opening ceremony for Galveston’s new teachers saw real-time oceanographic data while Offshore Energy Center. After serving as a movable offshore drilling oceanographers discussed how they analyze and unit for almost 30 years, the Ocean Star began its service as the use real-time wind and current data to promote Center this past April. The former environmental safety in federal waters along drilling unit is now permanently berthed California. The event was Coordinated by the at Pier 19 in Galveston, Texas. University of California Cooperative Extension of Ventura County, to promote awareness of the At the rechristening of the Ocean Star, agricultural, natural resources, and Middleton cited the rich potential of the environmental sciences, and their related offshore oil and gas industry to provide industries. jobs and energy for our nation. Middleton said the Energy Center would In addition, the Pacific Region’s Office of be both a major new attraction for Environmental Evaluation highlighted the MMS Galveston and a means to educate the Environmental Studies Program at the 6th public about the safe and annual Oxnard High School EarthBound environmentally sound development of Exhibition. MMS environmental scientists spoke offshore energy resources. Other to students about active studies being conducted dignitaries, including Congressman along the California coast and how these studies Nick Lampson (Texas), agreed with will help MMS manage the Pacific Outer Middleton’s comments. Continental Shelf. Members of the Galveston Chamber of Commerce with Bob Middleton, At the Center, visitors can experience the full range of day-to-day third from left, and Dillard activities—offshore drilling and production, marine transportation, Hammett, second from left, a environmental protection, construction, pipelining—through videos, member of the Center’s Board of equipment exhibits, and interactive displays. Among the exhibits is Directors. Photo by Mieko Mahi of the MMS Interactive vieo entitled Future Choice. The MMS Is also Mieko Photography and Video proud to have provided the OEC with the photos for use throughout the museum, and to have the agency seal displayed as an in-kind donor. It is open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 24 Recognizing a Lifetime of Western Conservation The Nature Conservancy of Texas has presented its have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to Conservation Lifetime Achievement Award to Bob protecting and preserving our natural heritage. Armstrong, Interior’s assistant secretary for Land The award also honors those who appreciate the and Minerals Management. The honor took place at integral role the environment plays in Texas’ the Conservancy’s 1997 Conservation Awards economic vitality and quality of life. Luncheon in Austin. For the past 20 years, Armstrong has worked to Armstrong, only the third individual to win the encourage protection of critically important sites prestigious award, joins distinguished company. in Texas by both public and private organizations. Previous winners of the private, non-profit group’s The acknowledged “Father of Big Bend Ranch,” award include former First Lady Lady Bird Armstrong earned his moniker while serving as Johnson and former Texas Congressman J.J. commissioner of Texas’ General Land Office. In Jake Pickle. that position, he championed the acquisition of land now known as the Big Bend Ranch State The Nature Conservancy of Texas has been Natural Area. In doing so, he repeatedly butted presenting its Conservation Lifetime Achievement heads with the Texas legislature and various special Award since 1993 to individuals and corporate interests. Finally, in 1988, the State of Texas citizens whose leadership sets an outstanding secured an initial 216,000 acres of land for $8.8 example in environmental conservation and who million and has enlarged the park to 287,000 acres since then. Assistant Secretary Bob Armstrong recently received The Nature Conservancy of Texas Lifetime Achievement Award. We at MMS congratulate Bob for his achievements. MMS Employees Enjoy a Day in the Sun Stephen Shaffer More than 300 Washington area MMS employees recently celebrated the first annual MMS Employee Appreciation Day at Northern Virginia’s Algonkian Regional Park. MMS employees were treated to a barbecue lunch and enjoyed the opportunity to recognize some of their colleagues’ outstanding accomplishments in teamwork and innovation during the awards ceremony. Director Cynthia Quarterman and MMS Employee Association spokesperson Dora Hardy promised the headquarters’ celebration would be an annual event. With hundreds of flying frisbees, MMS employees participated in many events such as golf, fishing, horseshoes, and volleyball. More than 70 people completed the one-mile fun run and walk. More than a dozen teams competed in the MMS Team Olympiad which consisted of the dreaded three-legged race, the always wet-water balloon relay, and the ever dangerous wagon-pull race. However, the most challenging and controversial event by far was the tug-of-war. With spirits running high, the teams have already begun to organize and plan for next year’s Employee Appreciation Day. “It was fun seeing all the folks let their hair down and have a good time,” a participant observed. An MMS manager was heard warning another group that her team would take top honors next year. “It was a great day to show our appreciation and give back to In the tug-of-war competition, at top, the Information our hard-working MMS employees,” said Director Quarterman. Technology Division team pulls to victory. Team anchor “It truly was a wonderful time to laugh and get to know each Gig Kocher helps team mates Kevin Spaner, Judy Mork, other better,” she added. The week of May 5th was officially and Margaret Wiese. Above, Leasing Division-Team LD designated as National Federal Employee Recognition and includes, front row left to right, Kim Coffman, Stephen Shaffer, Appreciation week. Ralph Ainger, Alice Drew. Back row left to right, Jan Arbegast, Kent Dirlam, Jane Roberts, Dan Henry, Renee Orr, Margaret Clark, Bill Quinn, Karen Smith-Monds, and Rasa MMS’ Western Administrative Service Center Employees Kregzdys. At right, Intermar’s Joanne McCammon helps prepare the barbecue lunch for Honored, Page 2. more than 400 of her fellow MMS employees. On shore, in East Texas and Louisiana, salt domes federal waters which are now managed by the Weaver H. McCracken had historically been good places to strike oil. So Department’s Mineral’s Management Service. Chevron drilled into a deposit of pinch out sands Offshore Pioneer butting against a salt dome offshore. The first well, Since 1948, the Gulf of Mexico as a whole has drilled from the A Platform, came up dry. produced more than 13 billion barrels of oil and well over 100 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The Bill King McCracken, a geologist, served as Chevron’s watcher market value of that product exceeds $325 billion on the B Platform, reviewing the work of Noble and has generated more than $90 billion for the When you think of a pioneer from the Smoky Drilling Company, the contractor on the Offshore U.S. Treasury. Gulf offshore oil and gas activities Mountains of Haywood County, North Carolina, you Pioneer project. “It was a fairly ticklish business are enjoying a resurgence of activity as technology probably think of a buckskin-clad mountain man since drilling through the cap rock and porous sand in the form of 3-D (dimensional) seismic survey with a coonskin cap and flintlock rifle. But Weaver layers and into the salt beneath would contaminate techniques and innovative platform designs for McCracken is a different breed—a pioneer of the drill muds and make the well tricky to control,” deep water have uncovered new opportunities for offshore oil discovery in the Gulf of Mexico. McCracken said. “At about 4,000 feet the ‘mud extracting the oil and now highly-valuable, clean- loggers’ noticed the first indications of oil-bearing burning natural gas lying beneath the Gulf’s “It was back in ’48, not long after the end of World sediments. They brought up the core of rock and waters. War II,” McCracken recalled. “Chevron, then the material through which the well had been drilled.” Standard Oil Company of California, set three Core analysis verified that well B had struck the first Some people think country boys don’t get much platforms in the Bay Marchand Area in open water commercial quantity of offshore oil in the Gulf of education, but Mr. McCracken spent two years at about a mile offshore. The workers were quartered Mexico. Western Carolina University then finished his in a war surplus LST (tank landing ship), anchored bachelors degree at the University of Alabama. It adjacent to the active platform. Those, who like me, The Bay Marchand Field has gone on to produce was 1942 and the Navy grabbed him for four years have spent time on a World War II vintage LST know more than half a billion barrels of oil. From there, of service. After his discharge, he took a master’s what floating palaces they are,” said McCracken. exploration soon pushed farther offshore into degree at the University of Texas. 25 Bureau of Reclamation Director for Human Resources Margaret Sibley, Eluid Martinez, Commissioner left, and Commissioner Martinez congratulate Carrie C. Kemper, Bureau Editor Reclamation-wide winners Donna Hirning and Jennifer Handy. BOR photo by Mark Volkoff, Mid Pacific Region. Below, the members of the Reclamation Secretarial Advisory Council gather for a group portrait. BOR photo by Mark Volkoff, Mid-Pacific Region Top Secretarial, Support Staffers Honored at Awards Conference Diane Buzzard, Mid-Pacific Region Donna Hirning from the Great May 13 during the 5th Annual Plains Regional Office in Billings, Reclamation Secretarial Advisory Montana, is Reclamation Secretary of Council meeting in Sacramento, the Year for 1996, and Jennifer California. Nominees in both Handy, from the Flaming Gorge categories are selected annually from Field Division of the Upper Colorado the seven Local Secretarial Advisory Region, is the bureau’s Clerical Councils throughout Reclamation Support Staff of the Year for 1996. (Washington, Denver, Boise, Commissioner Martinez presented Sacramento, Billings, Salt Lake City, each winner with a framed, and Boulder City). The overall personalized, lithograph print of his winners are then honored at an artwork entitled Cibolo (buffalo in annual Awards Luncheon sponsored Spanish), which is considered a sign by the Advisory Council host location. of good luck in southwestern Indian Colorado River Issues Top The culture. The Local Secretarial Advisory Councils and the Awards Program Agenda at Mexico City Summit The overall winners were selected were established by the from a group of nominees Administrative Support Career Discussion at this year’s Colorado River summit meeting between U.S. and representing Reclamations’ major Management Program, which Mexican officials centered on the river’s water quality, sedimentation buildup at regional offices. The 1996 regional Reclamation approved in February Morelos Dam, land issues that have arisen between the two countries due to secretaries and clerks of the year are, 1992. The program was written by changes in the alignment of the river channel, and allocation of additional river respectively: Washington—Tammy Reclamation executive secretaries water as a result of the current high flows. Wentland and Aretha Young, and who saw an opportunity to set forth a Ajamu Patterson; Denver—Sharon vision for the professional Commissioner Eluid Martinez traveled to Mexico City for the summit, Hebenstreit and Jennifer Alder; development of secretaries and where he met with Commissioner John Bernal, U.S. Section of the Pacific Northwest Region—Paula support staff who play a key role in International Boundary and Water Commission, Commissioner J. Arturo Hanson and Evelyn Pope; Mid- the success of Reclamation’s mission. Herrera Solis, Mexican Section of the Commission, and Director General Pacific Region—Beth Briley and Guillermo Guerrero Villalobos of the Mexican National Water Commission. Diane Beveridge; Upper Colorado The membership of the Reclamation Region—Carol Sharp and Jennifer Secretarial Advisory Council is made The Mexican Foreign Relations Ministry and the International Boundary and Handy; Lower Colorado Region— up of the seven executive leadership Water Commission of the State Department sponsored the late February Connie Kircher and Shelia secretaries (to the commissioner, meeting. Mexico and U.S. representatives agreed to several important points Arnold; Great Plains Region— director of the Reclamation Service during the meeting. Donna Hirning and Lois Center, and the five regional Garwood. directors) and the seven Local Commissioner Martinez announced his intention to certify to Commissioner Secretarial Advisory Council Bernal that there was a surplus of water in the river system this spring. Under Commissioner Martinez honored chairpersons. The Pacific Northwest the terms of the Treaty of 1944 with Mexico, this action began the process of Reclamation’s 1996 Secretary and Region will host next year’s May delivering an additional allocation of 200,000 acre-feet of water to Mexico for Clerical Support Staff of the Year on meeting. 1997, bringing that country’s total delivery to 1.7 million acre-feet for this year. Both countries agreed to improve their sharing of water quality data, especially salinity level data on the river. They also agreed that Mexico and the U.S. would work to establish a system that can provide better real-time sharing of all water quality data currently available. On the border rectification issue, caused by the natural changes in the river channel alignment, both countries agreed to expand data collection of the border situation, using updated aerial photography, global positioning systems, and geographic information systems, to aid in making any final decisions about changes to the border. They also agreed to evaluate sediment removal options for the large build-up of siltation above Morelos Dam during the 1993 Gila River flooding. While the 1997 high flood releases will likely aid in removing the silt in the short run, long-term solutions need further technical study, which both countries have agreed to pursue. Earth Day in The Land of Enchantment Polk Middle School and Rio Grande Victoria Fox, Albuquerque from Albuquerque’s Polk Middle and Rio Grande High High School Wild Friends gather with schools worked diligently to draft an anti-poaching bill Commissioner Martinez, back row, and The Land of Enchantment is known for its incredible blue which passed the New Mexico legislature and was signed Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, sky, billowy clouds, mystical landscape, and the rivers that into law by Governor Gary Johnson. The bill increased middle row, to show off their T-shirts slice through it. It’s a land steeped in history, culture and civil penalties, fines, and term of imprisonment for repeat and commendations. tradition. A land of wild beauty and rich resources. And a poaching offenders. proud heritage for New Mexico’s Wild Friends who are dedicated to protecting their environment. During Earth Day 97 festivities, 20 Wild Friends donned their new blue and white Reclamation T-shirts and Wild Friends are made up of 400 schoolchildren who are accepted certificates of appreciation and well-deserved sponsored by the Center for Wildlife Law at the University personal recognition from fellow New Mexican of New Mexico. During the 1996-97 school year, students Commissioner Eluid Martinez. 26 Innovations in Government Awards Making Federal Agencies More Accessible What if you couldn’t make a phone call, attend a ADMS is such a well-received, innovative, and meeting, enjoy the outdoors, or on a more basic publicly useful program that on April 30 the Ford level, use a public restroom? These simple actions Foundation and the John F. Kennedy School of are taken for granted every day by most individuals; Government at Harvard University named it as a however, for about 49 million Americans, these are semifinalist for the 1997 Innovations in American life’s daily challenges. Government Awards. The award recognizes programs and policies that represent original, A longstanding issue for federal and state effective, and resourceful government efforts. government is providing Americans with disabilities ADMS was selected from the initial pool of 1,540 access to our nation’s public lands, facilities, and nominees. services. The legislation governing accessibility is confusing, complicated, and routinely In late summer, the field of 99 semifinalists will be misinterpreted, resulting in paperwork nightmares narrowed to 25 finalists. The National Selection that don’t work on the real problem. Committee on Innovations in American Government will then select ten winning programs The premise from which the Accessibility Data in October, each of which will receive a $100,000 Management System, or ADMS, was developed is to award from the Ford Foundation. provide a consolidated and standardized approach to managing accessibility. ADMS has automated a “This nomination is a great honor,” said Karen complex paper process which make the business of Megorden, ADMS program manager. “We have creating accessible opportunities much simpler. worked very hard to develop a uniform management tool for accessibility. Everybody wins The program was initiated in Reclamation’s Pacific with ADMS because it helps citizens with Northwest Region and was later established as the disabilities to locate accessible facilities and automated information management system in services, and it helps facility managers to effectively support of the Department’s civil rights compliance comply with the law.” and enforcement. Currently, ADMS serves seven agencies including Reclamation, Bureau of Land In 1995, Reclamation’s reinvention efforts were Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office recognized by the Innovations in American The ADMS Team includes, from left, Technician Ann of Surface Mining, U.S. Geological Survey, and the Government Awards program. It was one of 15 Gomeza, Program Manager Karen Megorden, Office for Equal Opportunity. The program also finalists that received $100,000, which was used to Accessibility Specialist Alice Norman, and Technical operates as a pilot project with the National Park establish a reinvention lab and host three Coordinator Curtis Kron. BOR Photo by Dave Walsh Service. reinvention conferences throughout the West. BOR-BIA Water Project Helps Montana Town Jeff Lucero, Great Plains Regional Office At the dedication ceremony, Ft. Peck Tribal responsible for treatment plant operation and Chairman Caleb Shields explained how the maintenance. For many years the residents of Frazer, treatment plant would bring an urgently needed Montana, a small town on the Fort Peck Indian improvement to the quality of the community water Reclamation’s search for low-cost technology Reservation, have endured very poor drinking supply which serves 130 homes, a high school, and resulted in the acquisition of two storage tanks water. Most residents borrowed water from their eight businesses. acquired from the Navy Battalion Construction neighbors or hauled drinking water from Center in Gulfport, Mississippi. The 1969 distant reservation communities. That recently The project got underway in 1996 when vintage systems—still new—were intended for changed when Reclamation and the tribe representatives from Reclamation, the Indian use in Vietnam, but were never shipped celebrated the installation of a new water Health Service, and the Fort Peck Tribes met and overseas. Through this cost-saving partnership treatment system. agreed that an interim water treatment system was effort, the Frazer community now has a state- needed to increase the quality of potable water of-the-art interim treatment system. delivered to the community by reducing iron and manganese concentrations from the groundwater “The Frazer community water treatment plant supply to meet the secondary maximum is an excellent example of the responsibility contaminant level. Reclamation takes very seriously of operating within a government-to-government To minimize costs, each entity agreed to a certain relationship with the Ft. Peck Tribes,” said task—Reclamation supplied the treatment Great Plains Regional Director Neil Stessman equipment, the Indian Health Service constructed at the April 10 dedication ceremony. the building to house the equipment, the Bureau of Indian Affairs assisted in equipment transportation The coordination of decisions and work tasks from Denver, Colorado, to Frazer, Montana, and the on the treatment plant were made with tribal Ft. Peck Tribes provided labor and will be representatives in the highest spirit of cooperation. Only through open and direct communications with the tribes was the Ft. Peck Tribal Chairman Caleb Shields, left, and Great Plains Regional Director Neil Stessman, achievement of treating the community water standing in front of the detention tank, dedicate the new water system at Frazer. supply accomplished. Assistant Secretary Beneke, second from right, Ground Water Festival her daughter Laura, and Groundwater Foundation President Susan Seacrest, at right, observe the wetland-groundwater connection Excites Young Minds demonstrated by Reclamation employees Mike Delvaux and Judy O Sullivan. Judy O Sullivan, Great Plains Region The 9th Annual Children’s Groundwater Festival in The March 25 festival, however, was a hit with more Grand Island, Nebraska, focused on student than just the children. “I’ve heard wonderful things leadership and stewardship in protecting about the festival,” said Patricia Beneke, groundwater with the theme, Groundwater is the assistant secretary for Water and Science. “My Fountain of Our Youth. Reclamation’s Nebraska- expectations have been more than met. I’m really Kansas Area Office was one of the four major co- impressed by the excitement and enthusiasm sponsors who helped stage the event. shown by the kids.” The Groundwater Festival also began sending its Students from fourth through sixth grades are Other festival guests included Nebraska’s own signals from its very inception. By spreading targeted for the event, and more than 3,000 Governor Ben Nelson, representatives from the the word on water education it has become a students from 70 schools in 60 Nebraska United Nations Environmental Programme in New catalyst for other festivals around the world. The communities participated this year. “We feel that at York, National Children’s Theater for the Groundwater Foundation estimates that more than that age children are old enough to understand and Environment from Washington, D.C., and the 200 water festivals are now being held in 43 other yet young enough to make a difference in their return of the Smithsonian National Museum of states as well as Mexico, the United Kingdom, and attitudes,” said Susan Seacrest, Groundwater American History. Canada. Foundation president. 27 Bureau of Land Management Utah lawyer, educator, and businessman Sylvia Baca, Interim Director Pat Shea has been nominated to head the Jeff Krauss, Acting Bureau Editor Bureau of Land Management as its next director. SheaShea NamedNamed toto The Horses of Pryor Mountain LeadLead BureauBureau President Clinton has selected Patrick A. Shea of Utah to be the next director of the Bureau of Land Management. Shea, 49, is a prominent Salt Lake City lawyer, educator, and businessman. Ann Boucher, Montana State Office Secretary Babbitt praised the President’s choice They have distinctive blood lines, come in all of Shea, who awaits confirmation by the U.S. colors, and have found their way into the hearts Senate. “Pat Shea’s unique blend of legal and of many. They thrive in the Pryor Mountains until management skills, coupled with his love of their numbers grow too large for the range— America’s outdoors, will serve him well in this very and that is where the disagreements arise. challenging position,” Babbitt said. “I have no doubt that he will work to ensure that our mandate The horses that live on the Pryor Mountain Horse of responsible stewardship is carried out clearly Range about 50 miles south of Billings, Montana, and with vision.” Shea is president of City Creek Canyon Park, a are a well-known and much-loved bunch. Among natural history park in downtown Salt Lake City. He the many people who are intensely interested in Upon his confirmation by the Senate, Shea will is a trustee of the Nature Conservancy’s Utah the well-being of the horses and the Pryor become the 15th director of the BLM, which chapter and serves on the Catholic Community Mountains, however, there are many opinions on celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1996. The Services Board. He also served on the Board of how to manage them. How many is too many for director has policy and administrative responsibility Advisors for the Wharton School of Business’ Global their range? Should some of the horses be culled? for 265 million acres of surface land and 570 Competition Center. Over the past 10 years, Shea Who decides? These are some of the issues that million acres of mineral estate. The Bureau has an has served as chair of the Salt Lake City Airport prompted Linda Coates-Markle, annual budget of more than $1 billion and a Authority, as a director of the University of Utah’s Montana/Dakotas BLM wild horse specialist, to workforce of about 9,000 employees. Natural History Museum, and as a member of the organize the Pryor Mountain Resource Board of Visitors for BYU’s Law School. Management Forum held recently in Billings. Along with practicing law in Salt Lake City and the District of Columbia, Shea is an adjunct professor A native of Salt Lake City, Shea earned his law On the first day of the forum (May 7), researchers of Political Science at Brigham Young University’s degree from Harvard University in 1975, was a presented detailed project results and research law school. In December 1996, he was appointed by Rhodes Scholar from 1970-72, and received a recommendations. Participants consisted of President Clinton to serve on the White House master’s degree from Oxford University in 1972. He agency, organizational, and special interest group Commission on Aviation Safety and Security. Prior earned his bachelor’s degree from Stanford representatives who have indicated active concern to his private law practice, Shea served as general University in 1970. Shea resides in Salt Lake City about management of the Pryor Mountain Wild counsel and assistant secretary for Standard with his wife Debbie, and his two sons, Michael and Horse Range. In the May 8 open session members Communications, Inc., in Salt Lake City from 1985 Paul. of the public heard condensed versions of these to 1993. He also worked in the District of Columbia research efforts, as well as agency concerns and as counsel to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations management recommendations. This session Committee from 1979 to 1980. offered the opportunity for public discussion. The two-day forum offered a unique opportunity Hard Rock Mining Regs In Revision for individuals to network with researchers and agencies involved in wild horse issues. It also provided a rare opportunity for information The BLM held a series of public meetings in May Babbitt. The task force is addressing several exchange and consensus-building for future in connection with its effort to revise regulations issues, including the use of the best available efforts. Coates-Markle was pleased with the that govern hardrock mining activities on BLM- technologies to prevent unnecessary or undue participation and outcome of the forum. The managed public lands. The meetings were held degradation of the public lands; performance discussions will continue at a follow-up meeting in Golden, Colorado; Spokane, Washington; standards for carrying out mining and planned for July to discuss the Pryor Mountain Fairbanks, Alaska; Phoenix, Arizona; Reno, reclamation activities; and ways to improve gather scheduled for this fall. Nevada; Washington, D.C.; Helena, Montana; San coordination between the BLM and state Francisco, California; and Salt Lake City, Utah. regulatory programs. The task force is headed by BLM California Taps State Grants Bob Anderson, the BLM’s deputy assistant The well-attended ‘scoping’ meetings provided director for Minerals, Realty, and Resource Frank Andrews valuable public input to a BLM task force that is Protection. working to update the Bureau’s Section 3809 In this era of tight money and reduced budgets, regulations. The effort aims to ensure better The BLM expects to publish its proposed revised BLM has improvised ways of successful protection for public lands affected by hardrock regulations for public review and comment by cooperative planning. The Green Sticker Program mining activities. April 1998. The Bureau expects to publish final in California, begun in 1971, is an example. The regulations in the Federal Register by March program is a tax imposed by the State of BLM Acting Director Sylvia Baca created the task 1999. California on motorcycles, off-road vehicles, and force in response to a directive from Secretary snowmobiles. A portion of this revenue is set aside each year and can be obtained by applying for a grant through the state’s Resources Agency. Montana State In fiscal year 1996, available grants totaled $6.3 Montana Miner Director Larry million. In fiscal year 1998, this amount could Hamilton presents reach $9 million. a Model Steward Steve Ryan with a plaque in recognition Operations-maintenance grants are the largest Ann Boucher, Montana State Office of Ryan’s selection as and include funds for off-road vehicle an outstanding opportunities, maintaining roads, signage, maps, Can placer mining really be environmentally steward of public information dispersal, and visitor services. friendly? Judging from the success of Steve Ryan, lands. Acquisition grants are available for purchasing a placer miner in the Garnet Resource Area of additional recreational properties. northwestern Montana, the answer is a definite yes. Steve Ryan’s mining methods and obvious care for As a result of the grants, Tim Smith, a Ryan has mined gold on BLM land for three years, the public lands have been held up as an example recreational supervisor, and others in the BLM and through meticulous planning, has caused for small mining operations across the West. California State Office have an outstanding minimal physical disturbance. He has installed Montana State Director Larry Hamilton presented rapport with employees of the Resource Agency in sediment fences to protect surrounding areas and Ryan with an award March 28 in Missoula, naming the State of California. This public relations streams from receiving increased sediment from his him an “outstanding steward of public lands” and creativity has benefited BLM, the State of excavation area, and his ore-washing facility is commending him “for maintaining an exemplary California, and visitors to BLM sites. Most states designed to prevent waste water from entering a environmental record in a placer gold mining provide money for recreational opportunities. nearby stream. Ryan does reclamation work operation.” In addition, Acting Director Sylvia concurrently with mining to keep surface Baca presented Ryan with a Health of the Land disturbance to a minimum, as well as reclaims Award during the Solid Minerals Conference held in 28 areas that were abandoned by previous miners. Reno in June. Computer Science Collegians Visit BLM Steven P. Shafran Right, students from the Computer Science Association of the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff gather in front Some thought the visit would open of the BLM Denver Federal Center Service Building for a doors in the future, while others said photo. Steven P. Shafran, BLM’s Tour Coordinator, is at they learned things that would help far left. Below, Leroy Laney, standing, and Brenda them when then enter the workforce. Bohannnon demonstrate new technology at BLM’s Several felt the experience would be National IRM Learning Center. an important factor in deciding whether to work in the public or Information Resources Management private sector. National Center and Geographic Information Systems Division, the “When I saw some of the technical Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau projects and jobs that they were lining of Reclamation, the National Park up, it let me know that there would be Service, the US Geological Survey, the future employment opportunities,” BLM Colorado State Office, and the applicants positions. In said a participant. “My experience in U.S. Forest Service. addition, the possibility of a Denver was exciting mainly because of summer exchange for the prepared professionals that made Each stop included a tour of the Computer Science faculty was our stay a great adventure,” another information system area, discussed. Overall the remarked. demonstrations of software and students were very grateful systems applications, seminars on for this opportunity and Those were the reactions of members agency operations, discussions of excited about the knowledge of the Computer Science Association professional development, and career they gained and the of the University of Arkansas-Pine opportunities in the agency. In technology they saw and Bluff, whose annual spring trip visited addition, the Denver office of the touched. Interior agencies in Denver, Colorado, Black Chamber of Commerce provided and opportunities of each sector. The from April 14-20. The goal of the trip a tour of the only African-American- visits also established new ties and The partnership between BLM and was to learn about the application of owned television broadcasting strengthened old ones between the Historically Black Colleges and computer technology in the company. agencies and the university—links Universities has been exceptionally workplace, while promoting career that can help in the recruitment of fruitful, providing mutual benefits and professional development. Students and faculty discussed a Pine Bluff graduates. and helping each partner accomplish range of topics with federal a part of its mission and objectives. The host activities were coordinated employees, including students’ Several students were afforded on- by the BLM’s Denver Office of the preparation for careers in the-spot interviews for both student Stephen P. Shafran is a program Special Assistant to the Deputy government, the contrasts between employment and permanent jobs. management analyst with the Office of Director. The 20 students and two the government and private sector BLM’s National Center for Information Special National Projects and staff members visited the BLM’s work environment, and the benefits Resources Management offered two Initiatives in Denver, Colorado. Martin’s Cove Trail Opened The Rawlins District Office in Wyoming of the 19th century settlement of the western officially opened the Martin’s Cove United States. Approximately 500 members of the interpretative trail on May 3. The event Martin’s Handcart Company took shelter in the cove celebrated the fifth annual National after being besieged for several days by an early Trails Day and the Sesquicentennial winter storm in 1856. The Mormon emigrants were (150 years) of the Mormon Pioneer short of provisions and supplies and were suffering Trail. Speakers at the event included from hunger, exhaustion, and hypothermia. Wyoming State Director Alan Pierson, Rawlins District Manager Kurt Kotter, A rescue party from Salt Lake City reached the and John Creer, who represented the company at Horse Creek, a few miles northeast of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Independence Rock, and helped it reach the shelter Saints (LDS). of the rocks. The company spent a week in the cove while it waited out the storm. About 145 members Martin’s Cove, located in the of the company died along the trail or in the cove Participants at the opening ceremony of the Martin’s Sweetwater Rocks of central Wyoming, is enrolled during its journey to the Salt Lake valley. Cove interpretive trail move along the designated on the National Register of Historic Places. The walking trail at the historic site. cove is the site of the worst disaster in the history The trail project is a result of the LDS church’s purchase of the historic Hub and Spoke Ranch, established by Tom Sun in 1872. While Martin’s BLM, Mine Operators Join Forces Cove is on BLM-administered public land, it was bordered on two sides by the Sun’s private land and by the Sweetwater Rocks on the other two sides, BLM firefighters weren’t surprised when last year’s future fires. The goal, as Nevada Mining Association and the public had limited access to the site. The wet spring erupted into a record-breaking fire President Paul Scheidig put it, is “to protect both church purchased the ranch in order to provide season across northern Nevada. ours and yours.” public access to the cove. As a result of the newly acquired access, the BLM expects tens of thousands But at the huge gold mines in the area, the reality The participants have a new understanding of the of people to visit the site in celebration of this of 32 separate fires burning simultaneously on the capabilities and concerns of those “on the other year’s trail sesquicentennial. public lands in the Winnemucca District and side of the fence.” Even more importantly, from now insufficient resources to fight them came as a on, mines will be provided with fire training, radio To lessen impacts to the site, the BLM and LDS complete shock. After all, none of the mines had frequencies will be shared, and mine personnel and church cooperated in the construction of a walking even been in existence the last time there was a bad equipment will be incorporated into the Incident trail to and around Martin’s Cove. The trail begins fire season. Command structure on any fires which occur near near the church’s Martin’s Cove Visitors’ Center, the mines. loops around the margins of the cove, and then Although the mines have resources that even the crosses the Sweetwater River on its way back to the best-equipped fire departments dream about—such Both miners and agency personnel will be aware of center. The length of the trail is about 4.5 miles. as huge bulldozers, 13,000 gallon water trucks, and the shared resources available to them and the Handcarts are available at the center for those employees in full safety garb—they lacked the constraints regarding their use in hazardous wishing to reenact part of the Martin Company’s firefighting training and communication with situations and environmentally sensitive areas. experience on the trail. Several signs which agency incident commanders to put those resources interpret the emigrants hardships are located along to effective use. Concerns about liability and the walking trail. reclamation responsibility combined with a lack of appreciation for the work that exhausted During their remarks, Pierson, Kotter, and Creer firefighters had already performed before the thanked the many volunteers from all over Nevada fires broke out fueled resentment. Wyoming who contributed almost 7,000 hours to the project. BLM employee and cowboy poet Mick While the fires last year caught everybody by Kaser presented a poem about the Martin surprise, that won’t happen again. On May 6, in Company that he’d written for the event. Winnemucca, Nevada, a diverse group of miners, firefighters, and agency personnel gathered to hammer out a unique and unprecedented BLM’s Laura Stitch Honored, Page 2 agreement which ensures cooperation between the BLM firefighters battle some of last year’s record mines, the BLM, and other resource agencies on wildfires in the West. 29 Office of Insular Affairs Allen P. Stayman, Director Navassa, which is about two miles long and one David S. North, Bureau Editor mile wide, lies in the Caribbean Sea near Haiti and is buried under petrified guano. Formerly the site of a U.S. Coast Guard facility, the island is currently uninhabited most of the year. OIAOIA HaHass NNeeww (Un(Unwwaatteerreed)d) TTuurfrf No people, very little land, and no fresh water. That’s a pretty accurate description of Navassa, which lies about thirty miles off the coast of Haiti. The currently uninhabited island is not new to the United States, which has claimed it continuously since 1857. But it is new to the Office of Insular Affairs. Navassa has had a checkered past. In the early days it was a pirates’ hideout, but given the lack of potable water, they did not stay there very long. Haitian fishermen have been known to dry their catch there, and Haiti still lays claim to the islet. The United States acquired Navassa through the operations of 19th Century’s Guano Act, which said that an American entrepreneur wanting to mine solidified bird droppings from an otherwise uninhabited, unclaimed island could do so, and that the U.S. Government would claim islands that were, in fact, mined for this once highly-valued fertilizer. Territories Bill Reported Out of Senate Navassa was so mined, for decades, under the grimmest of The Senate Energy and Natural Resources four atolls in the Marshalls that were affected working conditions; once, the Americans lured into this Committee voted out S.210, an Omnibus by the U.S. nuclear weapons testing program; desolate island carried out the ultimate industrial action— Territories Bill on May 21. The measure would they murdered their bosses. provide for greater access by the Government The retention of the powers of the Governors of Guam to excess U.S. lands on the island, of Guam and the Virgin Islands while on OIA is currently working out the regulations for visiting the and would authorize or make modifications to official travel; island, which is 100 percent controlled by Interior. Several a series of programs of interest to the insular individuals as well as groups have expressed interest in areas. The division of the land grant university in visiting the island. There are no harbors, and no beaches. Micronesia into three institutions, one in With regard to several thousand acres of U.S. each freely associated state (FAS); If you want to land on the island— which no OIA staffer has military lands on Guam that have a wildlife yet done—you have to bring your vessel up to one of the refuge overlay and may become excess in the Giving the territories and the State of Hawaii island’s cliffs and clamber up a rope ladder of unknown future, a 180-day process would be the responsibility for reporting on the impact vintage. There are some ruins of the old mining camp and established whereby Guam and the U.S. Fish of immigrants from the freely associated the now-deactivated Coast Guard lighthouse, but there is no and Wildlife Service would attempt to agree states to the U.S. territories and Hawaii; other place to take shelter. on terms of the transfer to Guam. Extending federal housing eligibility to FAS The draft regulations for visitors are based on those used by If there is agreement, the transfer to Guam citizens on Guam, as long as all U.S. citizens the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for its Pacific islets. The would take place. If there is no agreement, have been served; and underlying notions are dual: the land would be transferred to the federal General Services Administration, awaiting Creating Commissions on the economic 1) OIA wants to make sure that only the physically hardy congressional action. futures of American Samoa and of the U.S. and well-prepared attempt a visit; and Virgin Islands. Other sections of the bill provide for: 2) the agency wants to make sure that the current ecosystem is not damaged by the introduction of exotic plants and The extension by five years of a program wildlife. providing foodstuffs to the residents of the OIA contact is Joseph McDermott at (202) 208-6816. Northern Mariana Islands Labor Immigration Bill Introduced OIAWebSite Congressman George Miller of California, hour increase would be repeated until the the ranking member on the House Resources federal minimum wage was equaled. Internet users can secure a great Committee, has introduced a bill that would Currently, the Northern Marianas legislature deal of information on the United provide additional labor standards and sets the local minimum wage. States insular areas and the freely immigration protections in the associated states by calling up the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana The federal wage (now $4.75 an hour) does Office of Insular Affairs’ new home Islands. not apply in the Northern Marianas because page on the internet. of a special exemption the islanders The measure, which has 25 co-sponsors, calls negotiated in their political status agreement The address is WWW.DOI.GOV/OIA/INDEX.HTML for immediate federal control of immigration with the United States. The islands had been and thus the use of laws and regulations used administered by the United States as a United Currently at this site are the full text of the OIA’s by the Immigration and Naturalization Nations trusteeship before the Northern annual publication A Report on the State of the Service, rather than those of the Marianas electorate opted for a U.S. Islands, complete with tables and reports on various Commonwealth. A second provision would commonwealth status. Nationally, the federal governmental programs; economic and demographic provide that only garments made by minimum wage is scheduled to go to $5.15 an statistics are also included. manufacturers abiding by the new federal hour on September 1 of this year. minimum wage could use the “Made in the The site also includes factsheets on American USA” label. In a related development, the May issue of Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Readers’ Digest, one of the most widely Islands, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and other Under the bill, the minimum wage in the distributed and read publications in the insular areas as well as on the Federated States of islands, (now $2.90 for garments and United States, featured an article on alleged Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, construction, and $3.05 for other industries) labor abuses in the Northern Marianas’ and the Republic of Palau. Other data will be would, on enactment, go to $3.55 an hour. On garment industry. OIA contact is Steve provided later, as the site expands. OIA contact is January 1, 1998, it would increase by 50 cents Sander at (202) 208-4754. Nancy Boone Fanning at (202) 208-6816. an hour, and every six months a 50 cent-an- 30 Information Technology: Interactive Multimedia Mix & Match Media Magic Computers and Your Vision This is the third and final installment in a series on the use Visual discomfort is the most of interactive multimedia for frequent health complaint training, education, and outreach reported by computer users. programs. However, there is no scientific evidence that using a computer The most important factor in accomplishing your intended purpose for an can damage the eyes. interactive multimedia program is how all of the elements—containing all of the information that you want to impart—are put together, laid out, Based on available scientific The top of the interrelated, and presented. That’s the role of program authoring, and that’s evidence, the American monitor should be at, where Interior’s AudioVisual Center can help most. Academy of Ophthalmology or slightly below, eye considers video display level. The distance from the eyes to the An interactive program is not like a movie or a video. People using an interactive terminals to be safe for display screen should be approximately program have to be motivated to peruse it; they have to be engaged in it. It has normal use and to present no 18 to 30 inches. to be informative, of course; but it also has to be interesting; it has to pull hazard to the eye. There is no people in; it has to be easy to navigate—rational, logical, intuitive. convincing experimental or Rest your eyes by occasionally looking epidemiological evidence that away from the display screen to focus on And it has to look good. It can’t simply contain all the information you want to exposure to video display distant objects. Avoid prolonged, have in it; that information has to be arranged attractively and interrelated in terminals results in cataracts concentrated work at the computer. Take ways that users quickly understand or discern and want to pursue. That’s done or any other organic damage to frequent breaks or do alternative work through a combination of authoring and design. the eye. The National Research throughout the day that does not require Council and the American the use of a computer. If you are contemplating an interactive program, there are a few things that will Medical Association came to clarify whether such a program is appropriate for you and, if it is, help speed the same conclusion. Uncorrected, or improperly corrected, the process. The first step, of course, is to define clearly the purpose or vision is a major cause of eyestrain. You objective of the program. It’s best if you can do this in a brief, simple sentence, Using a computer, however, should have regular eye examinations, e.g., “Management programs at certain National Parks clearly show how plant can sometimes cause eyestrain, and be sure to mention that you use a and animal species are protected and preserved throughout the nation.” including such temporary computer. symptoms as burning, itching, The second step is to specify the intended primary audience. For you that may fatigue, aching, dryness, Adjust the monitor for brightness and be the public, for instance, or high school students. Or it could be professionals soreness, watering, redness, contrast to suit your viewing preference. in a selected field, or agency personnel, or any of a number of other groups. But headaches, and blurred vision. Clean the display screen and your you should clearly target a specific audience. eyeglasses (if you wear them) regularly. People who spend four or Third—and this may require consultation with our communication experts— more hours a day at a Avoid glare by placing the display screen determine whether a traditional linear presentation, such as a video, or an computer and people over the at a right angle to windows. Tilting the interactive program would provide the desired information to accomplish your age of forty are more likely to screen slightly downward may also be objective in the most effective manner for your audience. experience these symptoms. helpful. A glare-reduction filter (screen) Here are some generally should be used only as a last resort Once You’ve Decided on Interactive Media recommended suggestions for because it can degrade the quality of the preventing eyestrain: screen image. Then, if you decide that an interactive program is the way to go, some preliminary judgment about the level of interactivity to be involved should be made: How many parts of the program should be inter-connected? How much freedom of exploration through the program do you think is desirable? Pulling the Media Elements Together A general outline of the program’s desired content—the information you want The author must also assure that if a user gets into a presentation topic in a way to make available—is the next step. Then an initial determination should be that might be confusing or unhelpful, he or she has an easy and logical way to made regarding the media elements that should probably be included in the get back quickly to a part of the program that is more understandable or useful. program for maximum impact elements, e.g., text, graphics, photographs, video clips, and narration. With all of that out of the way, a valuable next step is to With authoring of the presentation underway, we do whatever is necessary to find out what media elements may already be available for the program. obtain all of the media elements that will be used in the program. These elements could include any of the media—video, text, graphics, narration, Much of the above can be done with the help of the AudioVisual Center, and we sound bites, sound effects, music, 3D objects, animation—and they may be will work closely with you through the production of your program. With the created by the Center or be obtained from libraries or stock houses. For your information you provide, we will draw up a production schedule and—using program, you may already have information that will speed up this process. your outline and estimation of the desired level of interactivity—provide an outline of the program’s presentation. Together with you, we can then The design of the program, the way it looks on screen, is important, too. determine the preferred method of delivery, e.g., a hard drive in a kiosk or CD- Regardless of the complexity of the program, it should look inviting and ROM discs for wide distribution. With an understanding of the extent and logically laid out to users, and that look should be consistent throughout. This complexity of the program—and the media elements to be included—we will should make navigating through the program more comfortable for users and then select the authoring software to organize the program. should help them know where they are in it. If you have suggestions or requirements for program design, we will incorporate those in the program. Authoring software consists of programs that do basically two things: they interrelate and synchronize media elements for an interactive multimedia Once authoring has properly interrelated all of the elements and incorporated presentation, and they provide ways for users of the presentation to navigate the selected design, a proof of the final program is made to make certain that through it. They let users call up, refer to, or branch out to any of the subjects all the elements are properly included and that the program works as you want or elements of the presentation in a way that seems most natural, helpful, or it to. This proof will ordinarily be a CD-ROM, but it could be some other format. enjoyable for them—or in some other way best for them. Changes that are necessary in the program can still be made. When a proof is Authoring programs are generally text-based, object-based, or time-line-based, approved, the program is transferred to its final delivery format. If that format with most today being object-based. In these programs, icons representing is CD-ROM, a glass master is made and copies struck from that—much as LP objects (elements of the presentation, such as text segments or video clips) are records used to be made. Then, the program is ready for delivery. selected by the author and interrelated in various ways to other icons by simply connecting the icons, using the computer mouse. Through Scene Three, the Center’s contract media producer, we have the capability to make informative and easily navigable interactive multimedia This may sound simple enough, but one secret to success in interactive programs, whether simple or complex. That capability includes not only the two programming is recognizing the ways that users may want to move from one most advanced interactive multimedia authoring programs—Director and topic to another and to make provision for this. And the author must remember Authorware—but personnel whose specialty is authoring interactive multimedia to keep in mind the need to make certain that information is presented in a programs. meaningful way for the targeted audience. These personnel are supported by on-staff and on-call experts in every medium that can be involved in the programs—writing, graphics, 2D animation, 3D modeling, 3D animation, film, video, and sound (narration, effects, and music If you have information that you need to convey and composition and performing). The combination of all of this expertise provides you’re wondering whether an interactive multimedia a great deal of assurance that the interactive multimedia programs will be program is the way to go, contact the Department’s entertaining as well as informative, logical as well as comprehensive, and easy to AudioVisual Center. We’ll work through the question with navigate, even if they are complex. you. Call Liz Shugrue at (303) 236-2001; fax to (303) 31 Legislative Update H.R. 1420 Defines Compatible Public Uses for Wildlife Refuges Janet Tennyson On June 3, the House of Representatives “The sportsmen wanted legislative recognition of their The negotiations involved overwhelmingly approved role in the refuge system,” Secretary Babbitt said in an Congressmen Young far-reaching legislation that, for the first time, (Alaska), John Dingell clearly defines the mission and priority public interview with the Anchorage Daily News. “They’ve (Michigan), Jim Saxton (New uses of the 92-million acre National Wildlife had an enormous one, but they’ve never had a formal Jersey), and George Miller Refuge System, the nation’s only federal lands (California); and specifically dedicated to wildlife conservation. legislative acknowledgment, and they’ve been getting representatives of the H.R. 1420, the National Wildlife Refuge System uneasy as they hear some environmentalists say National Audubon Society, Improvement Act of 1997 passed by a vote of 407 refuges are not a place for hunting and fishing. They Wildlife Management to 1. The measure now goes to the Senate for Institute, International action. were looking for some security.” Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and The bill, sponsored by Congressman Don (Of the 509 units in the National Wildlife Refuge Wildlife Legislative Fund of Young, chairman of the House Committee on America. Resources, was supported by Secretary Babbitt System, 283 allow hunting and 276 allow fishing.) who hailed its “strong and singular conservation “I sincerely hope that this mission” for the refuge system and provisions bipartisan approach to defining compatible wildlife-dependent problem-solving can be a recreation on refuges as legitimate and model for resolving other appropriate public uses. natural resource issues which may otherwise divide us,” The legislation defines compatible wildlife- “Environmentalists wanted formal recognition that the Secretary Babbitt concluded dependent recreation as, “. . . a legitimate and refuges’ raison d’être was the protection of wildlife, in the letter to Congressman appropriate general public use of the [refuge] and that whatever recreation was permitted in the Young. system.” It establishes hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, environmental sanctuaries must be compatible with that primary “This legislation represents education, and interpretation as priority public goal,” said Jim Waltman, a wildlife specialist with the an historic moment for the uses to receive enhanced consideration over Wilderness Society in Washington, D.C. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service others. The legislation states that these uses by reinforcing the National should be facilitated when compatible but does Wildlife Refuge System’s not mandate these activities. long-standing commitment to These uses also were defined as priority public uses wildlife conservation,” said Acting Service THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OFTHE INTERIOR in Executive Order 12996—Management and Director John Rogers. “And this conservation General Public Use of the National Wildlife Refuge mission goes hand-in-hand with the outdoor System—signed by President Clinton in March pursuits refuge visitors enjoy. When we do our 1996. Other key provisions of H.R. 1420 that mirror wildlife conservation job well, plenty of PEOPLE the Executive Order include the refuge system opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation mission statement, and a requirement that the result.” biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health of the refuge system be maintained. The only previous legislation defining the 94-year LAND old refuge system came in 1966 with passage of the The new legislation also includes provisions National Wildlife Refuge System Administration requiring that all new public uses and any renewal Act, which H.R. 1420 amends. This law provided of existing uses comply with a public involvement that all of the individual refuges become the &WATERWATER process spelled out in the bill. It also mandates National Wildlife Refuge System and established a public involvement in the development of refuge compatibility standard for permitting public uses of The monthly news magazine for all employees of the management plans. The plans must identify the individual refuges. Interior Department. purposes of each refuge, data on wildlife populations, archaeological and cultural values, However, the 1966 law lacked a unifying purpose or Frank Quimby, Editor suitable visitor facilities, any problems that affect mission for the refuge system and a specific process Carrie Kemper, Assistant Editor wildlife and actions to remedy them, and by which compatibility determinations should be Lisa Mahan, Production and Graphics opportunities for compatible wildlife-dependent made. H.R. 1420 is designed to address these issues Mark Hall, Production and Graphics recreation. and provide the refuge system with an “Organic Patrice Junius, Associate Editor Act” to govern its management and use into the Tami A. Heilemann, Photography Coordinator H.R. 1420, which has been described as “a rare next century. Patricia M. Rogers, Production Supervision display of bipartisan cooperation on major Teresa Rusnak, Budget Officer environmental legislation,” culminates intense negotiations to develop Editorial Board legislation that would Michael G. Gauldin, Office of the Secretary address the varying David Barna, National Park Service concerns of refuge users Alan Cole, Office of Surface Mining and interest groups, A.B. Wade, Minerals Management Service including hunting and Don Kelly, Geological Survey fishing organizations, in Celia Boddington, Bureau of Land Management management and public Phil Million, Fish and Wildlife Service use of the refuge system. Debee Schwarz, Bureau of Reclamation David S. North, Office of Insular Affairs The bill was introduced in Thomas W. Sweeney, Bureau of Indian Affairs the House on April 23. The Committee on People Land & Water Phone: (202) 208-7291 Resources voted Mail Stop 6013 Fax: (202) 208-5133 unanimously April 30 to 1849 C Street, N.W. Net: [email protected] approve the bill for consideration by the full PEOPLE LAND AND WATER is House. a graphic production of the Department of the Interior’s Service Center. Printed on recycled paper using vegetable-based inks Secretary Babbitt enjoys fishing along a Northern Virginia stream. Photo by Tami Heilemann, ISC