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Final Rules for Casual Collecting on BLM and other Federal Lands
DPS Ammonite posted a topic in General Fossil Discussion
A final rule has been published for managing paleontological resources on Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Reclamation lands. Casual collecting of fossils is generally allowed on BLM lands and not allowed on National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service lands. Bureau of Reclamation allows casual collecting of fossils only in specifically set aside areas. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/08/02/2022-16405/paleontological-resources-preservation Start with reading about “casual collecting”, but read the whole thing: “§ 49.810 What is casual collecting? (a) Casual collecting means the collecting without a permit of a reasonable amount of common invertebrate or plant paleontological resources for non-commercial personal use, either by surface collection or the use of non-powered hand tools, resulting in only negligible disturbance to the Earth's surface or paleontological or other resources. (1) Common non-vertebrate paleontological resources means common invertebrate or plant paleontological resources. (2) Reasonable amount means a maximum of 25 pounds of common non-vertebrate paleontological resources per day per person. Where the common non-vertebrate paleontological resources are embedded in rock, the collector, using non-motorized hand tools, may remove a slab or cobble of rock that exceeds 25 pounds in order to preserve the integrity of the embedded specimen. (3) Negligible disturbance means little or no change to the surface of the land and minimal or no effect to natural and other resources. (4) Non-commercial personal use means a use other than for purchase, sale, financial gain, or research. (5) Non-powered hand tools means tools that do not use or are not operated by a motor, engine, or other mechanized power source, and that can be hand-carried by one person. § 49.805 Where is casual collecting allowed? (a) Casual collecting of common invertebrate or plant paleontological resources is allowed on lands administered by BLM, except on BLM-administered land that is closed to casual collecting in accordance with this part, other statutes, executive orders, regulations, proclamations, or land use plans. (b) Casual collecting of common invertebrate or plant paleontological resources is allowed on lands administered by Reclamation only in locations where the bureau has established a special use area for casual collecting using processes defined in 43 CFR part 423, Public Conduct on Bureau of Reclamation Facilities, Lands, and Waterbodies. Casual collecting is prohibited on Reclamation project land that is administered by NPS or FWS.” Here is a government press release: https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-releases-coordinated-approach-better-protect-fossils-federal-lands Keep a copy of the rules when collecting on Federal lands such as BLM, US Forest Service and Bureau of Reclamation lands. Always contact the local agency offices to find specific information and restrictions for fossil collecting on their land. Here are the rules previously published for US Forest Service (USFS) lands: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-II/part-291#291.5 I noticed a few differences between collecting on BLM versus USFS lands. The BLM allows tools such as picks and shovels with long handles while the USFS only allows tools with short handles. “Non-powered hand tools mean small tools that do not use or are not operated by a motor, engine, or other power source. These tools are limited to small tools that can be easily carried by hand such as geologic hammers, trowels, or sieves, but not large tools such as full-sized shovels or pick axes.” USFS rules from: Title 36, Chapter II, Part 291, § 291.5. The BLM allows collecting more than the maximum of 25 pounds of fossils in a day if a slab is larger than 25 pounds to “protect the integrity of the embedded specimen.” The USFS limits fossils to 25 pounds a day with no exceptions. In other words, you don’t have to field prep BLM fossils found in a large slab to reduce the weight to 25 pounds thus reducing possibly damage to the fossils. “Reasonable amount means a maximum per calendar year of one-hundred pounds by weight, not to exceed twenty-five pounds per day.” USFS rules from: Title 36, Chapter II, Part 291, § 291.5. Another comment: fossil collecting on Bureau of Reclamation lands such as Lake Texoma may be restricted unless specifically designation areas are created. Again: read the rules and keep a copy with you while collecting fossils. Always contact the local office for further information.- 2 replies
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Here are a couple of good websites that show the public and private lands to help you collect fossils legally. Please add any of your suggestions. https://caltopo.com/map.html# https://blm-egis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f0da4c7931440a8a80bfe20eddd7550 Here is one that does not show ownership; it shows the satellite plus the elevation contours. https://www.mountainproject.com/map/106959022/oak-flats
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Does anyone know if there is any overlap of BLM land on parts of the Hell Creek Formation in either South Dakota or Montana? Or are there other Mesozoic formations that have BLM overlap in South Dakota, Montana, or Wyoming for that matter? Judith River? Two Medicine? Morrison? Have an upcoming trip through all those states, might be nice to have the ability to collect some non vertebrate fossils along the way.
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