Re: SVP Press Release

[TJVlamis@aol.com]

The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology distributed the Press Release below at 
the meeting last week. I'm sure many of you will be happy to see the 
introduction of legislation which protects vertebrate fossils on federal lands 
so paleo research can continue to advance, while  allowing amateur collectors 
to continue collecting those fossils which they can legally collect from 
federal lands today.

Contact:    Mike Woodbume 909-787-5028, Pat Leiggi 406-994-3983, Ted J, Vlamis
316-688-8661

Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Hails Fossil Preservation Bill


The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology expressed its strong support for H. R. 
2974, the
Paleontological Resources Preservation Act, which was introduced on Tuesday by 
Congressman
James P. McGovern and a bipartisan group of fellow House members.

" We?re pleased to see legislation which recognizes that vertebrate fossils 
from public lands are an educational and scientific resource for our generation 
and those yet to come. This bill will ensure that these fossils will not be 
removed from the public domain, but preserved for the enjoyment and education 
of all Americans for all time," said SVP President Richard Stucky.

The Paleontological Resources Preservation Act codifies the existing practice 
of requiring that vertebrate fossils and other rare and scientifically 
significant fossils be collected only by qualified researchers who obtain a 
permit, and agree to deposit the fossils in public institutions which will 
ensure their future availability to researchers and the public. It incorporates 
the recommendations contained in a report to Congress issued last year by the 
Secretary of the Interior after receiving input from federal land management 
agencies, the Smithsonian Institution, the United States Geological Survey, the 
paleontological community and the general public.

This report found that most vertebrate fossils are rare, some invertebrate and 
plant fossils are rare, penalties for fossil theft should be strengthened, 
effective stewardship? requires accurate information, federal fossil 
collections should be preserved and available for research and public 
education, and federal fossil management should emphasize opportunities for 
public involvement. It also found that there is a very serious problem with 
illegal collecting and theft of fossils from public lands.

Stucky added that he was happy to see that the interests of the wider 
paleontological community were recognized as the Paleontological Resources 
Preservation Act puts no new restrictions on amateur collecting.

" It's great to see that this bill reflects the shared consensus of the federal 
land management agencies, the paleontological community, and the general 
public," he said. Stucky concluded by stating, " This bill will ensure that 
future generations will be able to learn from the fossil record, the only 
resource in the world by which we can learn about the history of past life"

-30-