[meteorite-list] Meteorite Hunting Laws

From: d freeman <dfreeman_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri May 13 18:41:15 2005
Message-ID: <42852CFB.7090608_at_fascination.com>

Dear Adam, List;
I have a proven test case with my Rock Springs meteorite. State of
Wyoming and the Rock Springs District (and other districts in Wyoming)
have communicated with Arizona, and California and Nevada (and other
western states BLM offices) and have blessed me to keep my meteorite
minus the part that went to UCLA/Dr.Ruben for a type specimen to be on
deposit to make the Smithsonian and the scientific community happy.
For those of you that are sneaky low-down desperado's, if you approach
the BLM at the district and at the state levels BEFORE you hunt/find,
and do the proper field recordation, the BLM, I have found, is delighted
that you are creating interest in wise MULTIUSE practices of public lands.
Of course, I am an amazing individual and have had great success because
I attend BLM workshop and public input meetings. The four years of
contacting the BLM district managers and rangers proactively......even
loaning my signed copy of "Rocks From Space" to the ranger and district
office for their benifit/education was kindness repaid doubly.
This is not rumor but from me, the finder of the first public lands
meteorite in Wyoming in 56 years. When I started my odessey, it was
a "file a claim" verdict that came from the state BLM offices in
Cheyenne. So, you may need to do some work, and education to get
everyone on board in your local district offices but thanks of a grand
nature must go to Bob Verish who helped me posture the recreational
meteorite hunting on public lands in the state of Wyoming. What a very
successful venture.
I agree with Adam, the prediction of more US meteorites in the next few
years is very interesting and very well may be prophetic of things to
come (wink-wink, nod-nod).
Sincerely,
Dave Freeman
IMCA #3864
eBay user ID mjwy

Adam Hupe wrote:

>Dear List,
>
>Some are asking why I would bring up such a topic on the List. Frankly, I
>am tired of the rumors spreading in the background and collectors quoting
>the blog site. A lot of these rumors are false and more damaging than the
>truth. The problem with secrecy is that nobody knows what is real and what
>isn't and in this case lives have been affected. If Oman would have made
>its laws public I am sure nobody would have been arrested there but they
>didn't. There may have been permits issued but who knows what they actually
>say? I think it is better to get this kind of stuff out in the open so that
>collectors and hunters know what the laws really are rather then finding
>themselves in trouble.
>
>We have the same problem here in the United States. I talked to a BLM
>official who said it was alright to collect meteorites on federal land just
>as long as you did not exceed a certain weight. I asked what this weight
>was he and could not answer me. Meteorite hunters have been
>beating-around-the-bush for years about the legality of Mojave finds. Some
>hunters still believe the Smithsonian is going to swoop in and take their
>finds so they don't report tem. I am sure there are certain areas in the
>Mojave that are illegal to search. How are we supposed to know unless
>somebody gets into trouble first? I can't find any of these laws online.
>This is dangerous because if laws are not posted a meteorite hunter might
>assume he is within the law taking meteorites when in fact he is committing
>a felony.
>
>I hope somebody here on the List can provide us interested in searching
>United States deserts accurate descriptions of the laws governing meteorite
>finds. I am tired of all the gray area talk. What are the laws?
>
>Best Wishes,
>
>------------------------------------
>Adam Hupe
>The Hupe Collection
>Team LunarRock
>IMCA 2185
>raremeteorites_at_comcast.net
>
>
>
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>
Received on Fri 13 May 2005 06:40:59 PM PDT