[NHCOLL-L:3568] NPS specimen ownership

[Anita F. Cholewa]

I've already run into a snag with this NPS policy.
It is my understanding that their "ownership" starts with the year 1983 
when the law (36 CFR 2.5 -if there's a different law reference I'd 
appreciate it) was passed, so that anything (biological specimens 
anyway) collected before that year is not to be considered federal property.
However, I've just received a request from a Park regarding specimens 
that had been collected in the 1970s and even much earlier, that they 
are claiming as their property. 
Can the date of "ownership" be clarified please?

Anita
__________
Anita F. Cholewa, Ph.D.
Curator of the herbarium
Bell Museum of Natural History
University of Minnesota
1445 Gortner Ave
ST PAUL MN 55108-1095