Paleobotanical Legislation United States

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Folks,

	I thought there may be some folks who are not on the paleobotanical
list that might be interested in this post that Bruce Tiffney sent to
the paleobotany list.  If you aren't, of course dlelete without reading
any more.

James F. Mahaffy

Forwarded message:
> Date:         Mon, 20 Nov 1995 13:32:47 PST
> Sender: Paleobotanical Section list <PALEOBOT@caligari.Dartmouth.EDU>
> From: "Bruce H. Tiffney" <tiffney@MAGIC.GEOL.UCSB.EDU>
> Subject:      Paleobotanical Legislation
> To: Multiple recipients of list PALEOBOT <PALEOBOT@caligari.Dartmouth.EDU>
> 
> Dear Fellow Paleobotanists:
> 
>         As a result of being a subscriber to the Vertebrate Paleontology
> list, I have become aware of pending federal legislation which will affect
> paleobotanical collecting on Federal Land. In a nutshell, the vertebrate
> paleontologists have long found themselves in competition with commercial
> collectors, and have sought Federal legislation to protect vertebrate
> resources on on Federal land. Several bills to this end have failed in
> Congress for various reasons, but have been focussed only on vertebrates.
> 
>         The most recent one is now pending (Fossil Protection Act of 1995,
> Draft Discussion Version (Sponsored Congressman Tim Johnson, - South
> Dakota). It is distinguished from preceding bills in that it offers to
> cover **ALL** fossil remains, not simply vertebrates. It requires a federal
> permit to collect fossils on any federal land. It has many provisions, but
> perhaps the one for reconnaissance gives you the best idea of what is in
> store. I quote from the most recent version of the bill that I have seen:
> 
> "Reconnaissance:  Collecting fossils from the surface for one day or
> less at any one locality is not subject to advance notice to a Federal
> Land Manager or the issuance of a permit.  Such collecting ordinarily
> results in negligible disturbance of the earth that--
>      1) involves picking up loose specimens on weathered rock
> surfaces:
>      2) does *not* involve the use of simple hand tools (such as
> hammers, chisels, pry bars, and rakes), power tools, explosives, or
> mechanized equipment;"
> 
>         Please reflect on how much reconnaissance a paleobotanist could
> normally do without a hammer. This serves as an example of the logic of the
> bill - it  treats vertebrate paleontology (with its relatively
> erosion-resistant bone) as the model for all paleontology.
> 
>         Regardless of whether you think that plant fossils require federal
> protection on federal land (I do not), for the sake of paleobotanists being
> able to direct their profession, I recommend you write your senator and
> congressperson and voice your opinion on this bill**. I point out that I
> have had intimations from vertebrate paleontologists that they favor
> protective legislation for all fossils, so if paleobotanists do not speak
> up, the decision may lie with another portion of the paleontological
> community.
> 
> Remember - if ANY of your fossils come from Federal land (National Forest,
> BLM, etc.) then this bill will require your compliance and you will need a
> permit to carry a hammer in the field.
> 
> **I can forward a copy of the August version of the bill (the latest in my
> possession) upon request.
> 
> Bruce Tiffney

-- 
:
James F. Mahaffy                   e-mail: mahaffy@dordt.edu
Biology Department                 phone: 712 722-6279
Dordt College                      FAX 712 722-1198
Sioux Center, Iowa 51250