I 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4913

To provide for the protection and preservation of certain rare paleontological 

resources on the former Union Chapel Mine site in Alabama, and for 

other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 22, 2004

Mr. ADERHOLT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Resources 

A BILL

To provide for the protection and preservation of certain 

rare paleontological resources on the former Union Chapel Mine site in Alabama, and for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. UNION CHAPEL FOSSIL FOOTPRINT SITE PRES4 ERVATION ACT. 

5 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 

6 ‘‘Union Chapel Fossil Footprint Site Preservation Act’’. 

7 (b) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
2

•HR 4913 IH 

1 (1) Fossils have scientific and educational value 

2 and it is in the national interest to preserve and pro3 tect sites of paleontological significance. 

4 (2) The former Union Chapel Mine site is a 

5 paleontologically significant site that has been the 

6 focus of an extensive collaborative effort over the 

past 21 7 ⁄2 years by amateur collectors and profes8 sional paleontologists from the Geological Survey of 

9 Alabama, the University of Alabama, Emory Univer10 sity, the University of Florida, and the University of 

11 South Alabama. 

12 (3) The former Union Chapel Mine site is sig13 nificant because it has yielded an unusually large 

14 quantity of rare pre-dinosaur fossil trackways dating 

15 from the early Pennsylvanian Period (approximately 

16 310 million years ago, about 100 million years be17 fore the first dinosaurs). 

18 (4) Material obtained from spoil piles at the 

19 former Union Chapel Mine site includes over 1,300 

20 vertebrate and invertebrate tracks, some new to 

21 science, as well as a wide array of fossil plants. The 

22 trackways are due mainly to primitive amphibians, 

23 horseshoe crabs, and other arthropods. These tracks 

24 now comprise the largest collection of specimens doc-
3

•HR 4913 IH 

1 umenting the existence of these animals in north 

2 central Alabama during the Coal Age. 

3 (5) An extensive photographic database of over 

4 1,800 digital images has been compiled using mate5 rial from the former Union Chapel Mine site. 

6 (6) At least 4 presentations at scientific meet7 ings have been delivered relating to findings at the 

8 site and a monograph and 2 manuscripts for publi9 cation in scientific journals are being prepared. 

10 (7) It is estimated by geologists working at the 

11 former Union Chapel Mine site that far more fossil 

12 material exists within the remaining spoil piles at 

13 the site and that undisturbed tracks and other trace 

14 fossils within the adjoining high wall may constitute 

15 an unparalleled resource for scientific exploration of 

16 this ancient ecosystem. 

17 (8) The former Union Chapel Mine site has 

18 now been recognized by international experts in the 

19 field as the most important Coal Age footprint site 

20 in the world. 

21 (c) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are the fol22 lowing: 

23 (1) To grant a permanent exemption from the 

24 requirements of the Surface Mining Control and 

25 Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.), 
4

•HR 4913 IH 

1 for further reclamation of the site to the owner of 

2 the former Union Chapel Mine site. 

3 (2) To authorize the complete restoration of 

4 funds held in escrow regarding the former Union 

5 Chapel Mine site to the New Acton Coal Mining 

6 Company, Inc. 

7 (d) APPLICATION OF CERTAIN LAW.—The require8 ments of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act 

9 of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.), shall not apply to the 

10 owner of the former Union Chapel Mine site regarding 

11 further reclamation of that site. 

12 (e) RETURN OF FUNDS IN ESCROW.—All funds held 

13 in escrow on the date of the enactment of this Act pending 

14 further reclamation of the former Union Chapel Mine site 

15 by the Director of the Surface Coal Mining Commission 

16 of the State of Alabama may be returned to the New 

17 Acton Coal Mining Company, Inc. 

18 (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

19 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Inte20 rior $500,000 for the following: 

21 (1) To preserve and protect the paleontological 

22 resources located within the exterior boundaries of 

23 the former Union Chapel Mine site. 

24 (2) To provide opportunities for scientific re25 search in a manner compatible with paragraph (1). 
5

•HR 4913 IH 

1 (3) To provide the public with opportunities for 

2 educational activities in a manner compatible with 

3 paragraph (1). 

4 (g) FORMER UNION CHAPEL MINE SITE.—For the 

5 purposes of this section, the term ‘‘former Union Chapel 

6 Mine site’’ means the 35 acres of land (and all related 

7 facilities and other appurtenances thereon) generally de8 picted on the map entitled ‘‘Union Chapel Mine’’, ASMC 

9 permit number 3778, for permanent preservation of that 

10 property.

Æ