I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2520
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire by donation certain 
property in Alabama to provide for the protection and preservation of 
certain rare paleontological resources on that property, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 19, 2003
Mr. ADERHOLT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Resources 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire by 
donation certain property in Alabama to provide for the 
protection and preservation of certain rare paleontolog-
ical resources on that property, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. UNION CHAPEL FOSSIL FOOTPRINT SITE PRES-
ERVATION ACT. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘Union Chapel Fossil Footprint Site Preservation Act’’. 
(b) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following:
(1) Fossils have scientific and educational value 
and it is in the national interest to preserve and pro-
tect sites of paleontological significance. 
(2) 
The 
Union 
Chapel 
Mine 
is 
a 
paleontologically significant site that has been the 
focus of an extensive collaborative effort over the 
past 2 1/2 years by amateur collectors and profes-
sional paleontologists from the Geological Survey of 
Alabama, the University of Alabama, Emory Univer-
sity, the University of Florida, and the University of 
South Alabama. 
(3) The site is significant because it has yielded 
an unusually large quantity of rare pre-dinosaur fos-
sil trackways dating from the early Pennsylvanian 
Period (approximately 310 million years ago, about 
100 million years before the first dinosaurs). 
(4) Material obtained from spoil piles at the 
site includes over 1,300 vertebrate and invertebrate 
tracks, some new to science, as well as a wide array 
of fossil plants. The trackways are due mainly to 
primitive amphibians, horseshoe crabs, and other ar-
thropods. These tracks now comprise the largest col-
lection of specimens documenting the existence of 
these animals in north central Alabama during the 
Coal Age.
(5) An extensive photographic database of over 
1,800 digital images has been compiled using mate-
rial from the site. 
(6) At least 4 presentations at scientific meet-
ings have been delivered relating to findings at the 
site and a monograph and 2 manuscripts for publi-
cation in scientific journals are being prepared. 
(7) It is estimated by geologists working at the 
Union Chapel Mine that far more fossil material ex-
ists within the remaining spoil piles at the site and 
that undisturbed tracks and other trace fossils with-
in the adjoining high wall may constitute an unpar-
alleled resource for scientific exploration of this an-
cient ecosystem. 
(8) The Union Chapel Mine has now been rec-
ognized by international experts in the field as the 
most important Coal Age footprint site in the world. 
(c) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act include the 
following: 
(1) To authorize the Secretary to acquire by do-
nation from the New Acton Coal Mining Company, 
Inc., the Union Chapel Paleozoic Footprint Preserve 
to preserve and develop it for further paleontological 
research.
(2) To grant an exemption from the require-
ments of the Surface Mining Control and Reclama-
tion Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.), for fur-
ther reclamation of the site to the owner of the 
Union Chapel Mine, the New Acton Coal Mining 
Company, Inc. of Cordova, Alabama. 
(3) To authorize the complete restoration of 
funds held in escrow pending further reclamation of 
the Union Chapel Mine by the Director of the Sur-
face Coal Mining Commission of the State of Ala-
bama to the New Acton Coal Mining Company, Inc. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION TO ACQUIRE THE UNION CHAP-
EL PALEOZOIC FOOTPRINT PRESERVE.—If offered by a 
willing owner, the Secretary shall accept, by donation only, 
the 35 acres of land (and all related facilities and other 
appurtenances thereon) generally depicted on the map en-
titled ‘‘Union Chapel Mine’’, ASMC permit number 3778, 
for permanent preservation of that property. 
(e) APPLICATION OF CERTAIN LAW.—The require-
ments of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act 
of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.), shall not apply to the 
New Acton Coal Mining Company, Inc. regarding further 
reclamation of the Union Chapel Paleozoic Footprint Pre-
serve.