Cooperative Agreements with Federal Agencies Suzanne Cowan Described an agreement between the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science and the Bureau of Land Management. The majority of the museum's 120,000 specimens are from federal lands. Biological specimens from federal lands are regulated by federal laws.
Paleontological collections require permits.
Paleontology is the focus but some biology information is included. Primer to Endangered Species Law is a book published by the Smithsonian Institution which is helpful source of information. A special permit is needed to hold some of these specimens. When lending objects, museums must be aware of customs, etc. For instance, genetic tissues held up in customs can spoil the tissue.