Paleontological Resources Preservation Act

Bill: 108-hr-2416
Sponsor: Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-3]
Introduced: 2003-06-11 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Archives
Arts, Culture, Religion
Commerce
Crime and Law Enforcement
Cultural property
Department of Agriculture
Department of the Interior
Destruction of property
Environmental Protection
Fines (Penalties)
Forfeiture
Fossils
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Government property
Government publicity
Informers
Judicial review
Labeling
Land use
Larceny
Law
Licenses
Museums
National forests
Nature conservation
Official secrets
Paleontology
Planning
Public records
Recidivists
Research natural areas

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-11
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.
Declares that no permit is required by this Act for the casual collecting of rocks and minerals on National Forest System lands for personal use.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.
action_date: 2003-06-19
text: Subcommittees on Fisheries and Forests held a joint hearing.
action_date: 2003-06-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans.
action_date: 2003-06-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health.
action_date: 2003-06-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands.
action_date: 2003-06-11
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: 2003-06-11
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: 2003-06-11
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: 2003-06-11
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: Introduced in House