Paleontological Resources Preservation Act

Bill: 108-s-546
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2003-03-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Archives
Arts, Culture, Religion
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commerce
Crime and Law Enforcement
Cultural property
Department of Agriculture
Department of the Interior
Destruction of property
Environmental Protection
Fines (Penalties)
Forfeiture
Fossils
Fraud
Freedom of information
Government Operations and Politics
Government property
Government publicity
Historic sites
History
Informers
Judicial review
Labeling
Land use
Larceny
Law
Licenses
Museums
Nature conservation
Official secrets
Paleontology
Planning
Public records
Recidivists
Research natural areas
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-06
text: Paleontological Resources Preservation Act - Directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture (the Secretaries) to: (1) manage and protect paleontological resources on Federal land using scientific principles and expertise; and (2) develop plans for inventorying, monitoring, and deriving the scientific and educational use of such resources.
Directs the Secretaries to establish a program to increase public awareness about the significance of paleontological resources.
Prohibits a person from collecting a paleontological resource from Federal land without a permit issued under this Act by one of the Secretaries. Authorizes the Secretaries to allow casual collecting of common invertebrate and plant paleontological resources for scientific, educational, and recreational uses, without a permit, on certain Federal lands where not inconsistent with laws governing management of such lands and this Act. Recognizes as valid permits issued before enactment of this Act.
Prohibits: (1) excavating, removing, or altering a paleontological resource located on Federal lands, except in compliance with this Act; (2) exchanging or receiving such a resource, if the person knew or should have known such resource to have been illegally removed from Federal lands; (3) selling or purchasing a paleontological resource, if the person knew or should have known such resource to have been illegally removed from Federal lands; or (4) making or submitting false records, accounts, or identification of any paleontological resource excavated or removed from Federal lands. Imposes criminal penalties for violating this Act.
Sets forth requirements for the assessment of civil penalties by the Secretaries for violations of any prohibitions contained in regulations or permits issued under this Act. Requires any recovered amounts to be available for use: (1) to protect or restore the paleontological resources and sites which were the subject of the action, or to acquire sites with equivalent resources and to protect, monitor, and study the resources and sites; (2) to provide educational materials to the public about paleontological resources and sites; and (3) as a reward.
Requires that information on the nature and specific location of a paleontological resource that requires a permit under this Act or other Federal law be withheld from the public, including under the Freedom of Information Act, except under specified conditions.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: 
Paleontological Resources Preservation Act - (Sec. 3) Directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture (the Secretaries) to: (1) manage and protect paleontological resources on Federal land using scientific principles and expertise; and (2) develop plans for inventorying, monitoring, and deriving the scientific and educational use of such resources.
 
(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretaries to establish a program to increase public awareness about the significance of paleontological resources. 
(Sec. 5) Prohibits a person from collecting a paleontological resource from Federal land without a permit issued under this Act by one of the Secretaries. Authorizes the Secretaries to allow casual collecting of common invertebrate and plant paleontological resources for scientific, educational, and recreational uses, without a permit, on certain Federal lands where not inconsistent with laws governing management of such lands and this Act. Recognizes as valid permits issued before enactment of this Act. 
Sets forth criteria by which the Secretaries may issue permits for paleontological resources. Requires that any paleontological resource and associated records collected under a permit be deposited in an approved repository. 
Allows the Secretaries to modify, suspend, or revoke a permit under specified circumstances, including if there is a violation of a term or a condition of a permit. 
Declares that a permit shall be revoked if any person working under the authority of the permit is convicted of a criminal offense under this Act or assessed a civil penalty under this Act. 
(Sec. 6) States that the Secretaries may enter into agreements with non-Federal repositories regarding the curation of paleontological resources, data, and records. 
(Sec. 7) Prohibits: (1) excavating, removing, or altering a paleontological resource located on Federal lands, except in compliance with this Act; (2) exchanging or receiving such a resource, if the person knew or should have known such resource to have been illegally removed from Federal lands; (3) selling or purchasing a paleontological resource, if the person knew or should have known such resource to have been illegally removed from Federal lands; or (4) making or submitting false records, accounts, or identification of any paleontological resource excavated or removed from Federal lands. Imposes criminal penalties for violating this Act. 
(Sec. 8) Sets forth requirements for the assessment of civil penalties by the Secretaries for violations of any prohibitions contained in regulations or permits issued under this Act. Requires any recovered amounts to be available for use: (1) to protect or restore the paleontological resources and sites which were the subject of the action, or to acquire sites with equivalent resources and to protect, monitor, and study the resources and sites; (2) to provide educational materials to the public about paleontological resources and sites; and (3) as a reward. 
(Sec. 9) Allows the Secretaries to pay from penalties collected under this Act a reward to any person who furnishes information leading to the finding of a civil violation, or the conviction of criminal violation, with respect to which the penalty was paid. Provides for the civil or, as appropriate, the criminal forfeiture of all paleontological resources with respect to which a civil or criminal violation occurred, and of all vehicles and equipment that were used in connection with the violation. Allows the Secretary to transfer administration of seized paleontological resources to educational institutions for scientific or educational purposes. 
(Sec. 10) Requires that information on the nature and specific location of a paleontological resource that requires a permit under this Act or other Federal law be withheld from the public, including under the Freedom of Information Act, except under specified conditions. 
(Sec. 11) Directs the Secretaries to issue such regulations as are appropriate to carry out this Act, while providing opportunities for public notice and comment. 
(Sec. 12) Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to do certain things, including to: (1) modify any activity under the general mining laws, the mineral or geothermal leasing laws, laws providing for minerals materials disposal, or laws providing for the management or regulation of the activities authorized by the aforementioned laws; (2) modify any activity under existing laws and authorities relating to reclamation and multiple uses of Federal lands; or (3) alter or diminish the authority of a Federal agency under any other law to provide protection for paleontological resources on Federal lands in addition to the protection provided under this Act. 
(Sec. 13) Authorizes appropriations.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-24
text: Executive Comment Requested from Interior, USDA.
action_date: 2003-07-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans.
action_date: 2003-07-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health.
action_date: 2003-07-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands.
action_date: 2003-07-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.
action_date: 2003-07-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-07-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-07-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-07-18
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2003-07-18
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S9605-9618; text as passed Senate: CR S9610-9612; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S9608-9610)
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S9605-9618; text as passed Senate: CR S9610-9612; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S9608-9610)
action_date: 2003-07-11
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 201.
action_date: 2003-07-11
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Domenici with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-93.
action_date: 2003-07-11
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Domenici with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-93.
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2003-06-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 108-69.
action_date: 2003-03-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3266-3268)
action_date: 2003-03-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3265-3266)
action_date: 2003-03-06
text: Introduced in Senate