[NHCOLL-L:3185] RE: Fwd: Re: inquiring information on Federal guidelines for collecting fossils

[Shirley Albright]

I've forwarded your inquiry to Permit-L.   I'd also like to suggest that
you check out the following leads:
1.  NARG (North American Research Group)
http://www.pacifier.com/~narg/regulations.htm

2.  Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Division of
Geology and Earth Resources

3.  Paleo Portal    http://www.paleoportal.org

4.  Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

A permit may be required from either State or Federal permitting
agencies if State or Federal lands are involved.   Tribal lands require
additional permissions.   Fossils collected on private lands may not
require a permit per se, but there must be a legal transferal of the
fossils to the institution (this may be a Deed of Gift, an official
letter from the landowner or some kind of acknowledgement that
permission was given to the collector/institution to remove the fossils
and place them in a stated repository.   Many collectors play somewhat
loosey goosey with fossils on private lands, but if the legality of
ownership is ever called into question, woe be onto them if proof of
ownership is not available.

In the age of global communication, it's easier and easier to find out
about collecting indiscretions because of digital imaging, the internet,
ebay, collector blogs and thousands of links to individual collector
URLs and university/museum collections.

As far as procedures for fossil preservation go....oh, yes.  Again, the
process depends upon the nature of the fossil itself, the matrix from
which it needs to be extracted, or the proposed use of the fossil.
Also, you haven't made it exactly clear whether you're interested in
preparation methods or conservation methods.   The two aren't mutually
exclusive, but there are methods that are used in preparation that
aren't employed in conservation, and vice versa.   There are literally
thousands of special circumstances and entire books written detailing
some of the most common procedures.   I think a google search on "fossil
preparation" or "fossil conservation" would return the most common,
although I can help you out on that score if you need it.  Also, the
Paleo Portal I believe has extensive links to books and processes that
you will find helpful.


Shirley S. Albright
Assistant Curator, Natural History Collections and Exhibitions,
Collections Database Administrator
New Jersey State Museum
33 W. State St., 3rd floor
PO Box 530
Trenton, NJ  08625-0530
(Office)  609.292.6331
(Fax)     609.292.7636

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu
[mailto:owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Laura Abraczinskas
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 4:00 PM
To: nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu
Cc: zhengj at sao.wa.gov
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:3183] Fwd: Re: inquiring information on Federal
guidelines for collecting fossils

Hi All,
I am forwarding this to the list.  Please reply to "Jennifer Zheng" 
<zhengj at sao.wa.gov>.
Laura

>Envelope-to: abraczi1 at msu.edu
>Subject: Re: inquiring information on Federal guidelines for collecting

>fossils
>Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 12:30:27 -0700
>X-MS-Has-Attach:
>X-MS-TNEF-Correlator:
>Thread-Topic: Re: inquiring information on Federal guidelines for 
>collecting fossils
>thread-index: AcbWoebfvLoZ6gRvQfa1dOuiMjN+xQ==
>From: "Jennifer Zheng" <zhengj at sao.wa.gov>
>To: <abraczi1 at msu.edu>
>X-OriginalArrivalTime: 12 Sep 2006 19:30:30.0544 (UTC) 
>FILETIME=[E8805100:01C6D6A1]
>X-Mlf-Version: 4.6.0.7527
>X-Virus: None found by Clam AV
>
>Hello Laura,
>
>I am not sure if you are the right person for the contact in regards to

>obtaining information on Federal guideline for collecting fossils.  Can

>you please direct me to the right person or place if you are not the
one?
>
>Below are some questions that I need your assistance on:
>
>    * Where can I find the Federal guidelines for collecting fossils in

> the State of Washington?
>    * Where can I find the regulation or rule saying that the person
has 
> to apply for a permit before going out on the sites for the fossil
collection?
>    * Any there procedures on how the museums need to preserve the 
> physical condition of the fossil collections or specimens?
>
>Any additional information that you can provide would be greatly 
>appreciated.  It would be great if you can respond back to me in the
next 
>couple days.
>Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.
>
>Best Regards,
>
>Jennifer
>
>************************************
>Jennifer Zheng
>Assistant State Auditor
>Washington State Auditor's Office
>Tel:  425-739-1801 Ext 117
>Alt. Tel: 206-543-4196
>Fax:  425-739-1800
>************************************
>
>

Laura Abraczinskas
Collections Manager
Vertebrate Natural History Collections
Michigan State University Museum
West Circle Drive
East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1045

517/355-1290 (office)
517/432-2846 (FAX)