Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA) Passes!!!

WOOOHOOO!!

The Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA) attached to the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 passed today at 2:04 EDT by a vote of 285 to 140! (Democrats - yea: 285, nay: 4, not voting: 3; Republicans: yea: 38, nay: 140, 1 not voting)

A special session on the history of fossil legislation at the 8th Conference on Fossil Resources in St. George will be held during that meeting.

Other blogging on the bill passing here. Now many regulations are going to be worked on so keep an eye out for the comment period. We need to make sure our comments are heard as these things begin to take shape.

Congrats to everyone for all of their hard work on this bill!!

Happy PRPA Day!

© ReBecca K. Hunt-Foster

4 comments:

Tony Edger said...

Worth celebrating for many reasons. At least one of which is the end of the debate over it.

ReBecca Hunt-Foster said...

For sure!! I am glad it is done (other than the signing).

Unknown said...

Forgive my ignorance, but what happens to fossils on public land, that are not of scientific interest? Will they be lost? Is there a mechanism to license or allow private individuals access?

Just wondering. I love science, but i love freedom and individualism too. It would be a sad day if fossil hunting was only for phd academics.

ReBecca Hunt-Foster said...

No worries Jason. You never know unless you ask. Common invertebrate fossil are open to collection on BLM/Forest Service land with out a permit, if they are for personal use. All vertebrate have always been illegal to collect from federal lands without a permit. And the great thing is you do not have to have a Ph.D. to get a permit. Just justify why you want to collect them. Fossil hunting is for everyone, you just have to follow the rules.