A note by Steve Simmons about the Fatali incident

[Geoffrey_1456]

As Dan Smith said in the first answer, quote " In hindsight, he (Mr. Fatali) admits he screwed up. It happens. He has taken responsibility and it is now between him and the Park Service. It was a mistake. A stupid one, but still a mistake". Would someone please advise us what "criminal" charge(s) had been brought to Mr. Fatali, and when he was convicted as a "criminal" by breaking which piece of law? He paid a huge price for his action, and I also paid a price for the liberty of democracy. I will rest the case, and forgive Mr. Arnold.

[Lara Murphy]

Anyone seen my loupe???

Chill out and move on!

cheers

[M.]

Thanks, Dan. I think that the real problem is that Fatali sets himself up as Holier than Thou, with his pretentious print titles and purple writing style. Except in the Movies, Americans don't like smartasses; but we don't like the heavy hand of the Government, either, perhaps even less. This whole thing is getting (has gotten) out of hand.

[Ellis Vener]

I loved this bit from Mr. Portrait Photographer of God's Creations (as Fatali refers to himself):

"Use of fire is "a common professional technique of lighting during night photography," Fatali wrote in his community letter. "

And this response from Friend's Arizona Highways:

" "We were both shocked and sorely disappointed when we heard about the incident," said Holden. "As soon as we were notified, we suspended [Fatali] from leading any workshops for a minimum of one year, we removed his merchandise from our gift shops and we suspended the escort.[Fatali] took strenuous objection to our position." Holden disputes Fatali's claim that firelight is a common practice for photographic illumination, particularly for a photographer who extols the virtues of natural light. "Our photo editor says that is utter nonsense. You don't get more artificial than this," Holden said. "This was clearly misguided, horrible judgment. Here's a guy spending months shooting in protected areas and he doesn't know the rules? That doesn't wash."

[QT Luong]

Here is the Salt Lake Tribune article: http://www.sltrib.com/2001/oct/10202001/utah/141799.htm

[QT Luong]

See also http://www.nps.gov/morningreport/msg01013.html for an update. Here is the text [pre] NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT

To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date: Friday, October 26, 2001

INCIDENTS

00-661 - Arches NP (UT) - Follow-up: Resource Violations

On the morning of September 19, 2000, visitors reported that fires had been set in the area immediately around Delicate Arch. Investigating rangers found that four fires had apparently been lit on the previous night, one of which was still smoldering. Three of the fires, set on bare rock and sand directly underneath and beside Delicate Arch, caused scorching and discoloration of the red sandstone. Efforts by local park staff to restore the fire scars were unsuccessful, in part because of the presence of an oily or waxy substance that stained and penetrated into the rock surface beneath each of the scars. An intensive investigation led to the identification of Michael Fatali, 36, of Springdale, Utah, as the man who had set the fires. On October 19th, Fatali was charged in federal court with several violations of federal law in connection with these fires and others set at Canyonlands NP. Fatali, who apparently used the fires as a photographic technique, is charged with injuring or defacing mineral resources in a national park; unauthorized fire in a national park; lighting or using a fire that damages or burns national park resources; leaving a fire unextinguished on public lands; and aiding and abetting. Each of the seven misdemeanor counts carries a potential maximum prison sentence of six months and a fine of up to $5,000. Investigators believe that Fatali used Duraflame logs to start several of the fires, and that Fatali started similar fires about four years ago at Horsehoof Arch and in a slot canyon known as "The Joint Trail," both in Canyonlands NP. Restoration work on the Arches burns was completed on October 20th. Two of the three fire scars are no longer visible, and the worst of the three fire scars - the one directly beneath the arch - looks much better than before, though still visible. The rehabilitation project was undertaken by Bob Hartzler, NPS architectural conservator from Santa Fe, with assistance from Angelyn Rivera of Bandelier NM. Hartzler has described their efforts as follows: "Our treatments were conservative, consistent with our practice of balancing treatment effectiveness against the impact of the treatments on the monument. Most of the soot staining remaining on the sandstone is firmly adhered in the top millimeter of the stone, and proved to be resistant to treatments with either of the two cleaning preparations we brought. Spot tests with a small range of over-the-counter cleaning products also proved mostly ineffective. Cleaning efforts by the park and a year of weathering and natural erosion have removed most of the primarily surface soiling. We were able to remove all of the melted plastic-like deposits... Mechanical removal of the top layer of the soiled stone would eliminate the remaining soiling, but we believe that treatment is not warranted, and do not recommended it. Some soiling remains, but I believe the appearance of the damaged areas was improved, and the stains will continue to fade." [Karen McKinlay-Jones, ARCH, 10/22] [/pre]