Fossil Protection Act

[anatomy@acl.nyit.edu]

For those of you in the USA, and all others who might be interested,
here is the text of two resolutions passed unanimously by the
Association of Science Museum Directors (ASMD) at their annual meeting
on 5 May, 1996. The ASMD comprises the Directors of more than 50 of
the top Science Museums in the USA.

The two resolutions follow (did I mention that they were passed 
unanimously?):

Association of Museum Directors

RESOLUTION CONCERNING H.R. 2943
THE FOSSIL PROTECTION ACT OF 1996

RESOLUTION:

Whereas, the Association of Science Museum Directors supports the 
protection of public paleontological resources, and

Whereas, the bill proposed by Representatives Johnson and Skeen, known
as H.R. 2943, the Fossil Protection Act of 1996, provides for the
commercialization of public fossil resources, and

Whereas, the bill does not reflect either public opinion or a
preservation philosophy,

Therefore, be it resolved that the Association of Science Museum
Directors, representing over fifty major institutional repositories of
our nation's natural heritage, stands in strong opposition to
H.R. 2943, and

Be it further resolved that the Association pledges to work with other
scientific and educational organizations in promoting responsible
legislation for the protection of paleontological resources from
public lands.

Association of Science Museum Directors

RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC 
PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES, AND OUR NATIONAL HERITAGE

RESOLUTION:

Whereas, paleontological resources are a part of our natural and
cultural heritage, and

Whereas, paleontological resources provide unique scientific and
educational opportunities in our public institutions, and

Whereas, paleontological resources are essentially non-renewable
resources that are scientifically significant and contribute to the
knowledge and understanding of our natural heritage, and

Whereas, paleontological resources from public lands belong to the
American people and no individual has the right to dispose of them for
personal gain, and

Whereas, public institutions have assumed the responsibility as
stewards of our paleontological resources by preserving fossils in the
public trust,

Therefore, be it resolved that every effort should be taken to protect
and preserve our paleontological resources from public lands, and

Be it further resolved that our public paleontological resources from
public lands must be protected from the threat of private sale or
trade, and

Be it further resolved that public paleontological resources should
find proper disposition in a public museum or institution where they
will be properly conserved, cared for, made available for scientific
research and education, and used as a significant learning resource
for the greater public benefit.

Both Resolutions passed unanimously at the Annual Meeting of the ASMD
May 5, 1996, Science Museum of Minnesota, Saint Paul Betsy M. Bennett,
President


There you have it, folks: another indication that H.R. 2943 needs to
be refined somewhat before it will prove acceptable to the Museum
community.


Des Maxwell
New York College of Osteopathic Medicine