[meteorite-list] Fossils and Public Lands (10-23-01)

From: gle_at_bellatlantic.net <gle_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:47:10 2004
Message-ID: <3BED5A9D.DE3312DE_at_bellatlantic.net>

ERIC, You present a chilling scenario- GRANT ELLIOTT

Starbits_at_aol.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 10-Nov-01 2:21:05 AM Pacific Standard Time,
> capricorn89_at_earthlink.net writes:
>
> << <<The proposed legislation would expand the right of amateur collectors to
> collect fossils on certain public lands and for the first time extend that
> right to commercial collectors>>
>
> That part looks good. Seems that the issue is being given careful
> consideration by the various interested groups. Yes? No? >>
>
> Hello Ron
>
> If you read the text of the bill you will see that the text you quoted above
> is incorrect. If you want to collect on federal property you must have a
> permit with the exception of a "casual collector". The casual collector can
> only collect for non-commercial purposes; i.e. he can't sell it or charge
> people to view what he finds. In addition if the item is a vertebrate or
> some nonspecific rare plant or invertebrate then a permit is still needed.
> If a permit is used to collect something then it belongs to the government,
> period, no exceptions, no compensation mentioned or required.
> So if you find a beautiful fossil skeleton you are supposed to leave it
> right there and go to a bureaucrat to file for a permit. After they decide
> if you are qualified to recover it (a specific condition of issuance) they
> will give you a permit and you can go to the expense of recovering it. At
> which time they will say thank you very much it is ours now.
> Alternatively they could decide you are not capable and issue a permit
> to a scientific institution instead and they, with nothing but time on their
> hands and closets full of money, will immediately fly out the door to collect
> it.
> OR - the casual collector will just grab a hammer and chisel and bang it
> out, take it home and put it on eBay. Unless he was caught in the act of
> recovery or said it came from federal property nothing could be done.
> Without compensation for permitted recovery this bill is fatally flawed.
> It will not accomplish what it proposes to do which is save as much
> scientific/educational material as possible.
> One other statement in the bill is that fossils are a nonrenewable
> resource. That is a significant difference from meteorites which are falling
> all the time.
>
> Eric Olson
> http://www.star-bits.com
>
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Received on Sat 10 Nov 2001 11:49:33 AM PST