[Rockhounds] PRPA now public law

[Jay Bates]

"Nothing in the Omnibus bill changes the regs on pet wood. S. 684 
(including S. 682 amendment) deals with the collection of vertebrate 
fossils on public lands. The amendment by Sen Coburn saves our bacon 
from being fried for picking up other, insignificant fossil material. 
Pet wood is still 25 lbs per day, plus one piece, not to exceed 250 lbs 
per year, FROM PUBLIC LANDS."  It was not friendly public servants that 
got the language of the law changed to maintain the status quo, but 
pressure brought to bear by rock-hounding groups and an amendment by 
Senator Coburn. 


Kris Rowe wrote:
> Tim, thanks for making this post that makes the purpose, intent & word of
> the PRPA crystal clear. In the past, I've been one of those who've obviously
> been misinformed on this issue, and looked as it as simply another Federal
> power grab, designed to exclude rockhounds from collecting on public lands.
>
> It's heartening to see that, rather than restricting the obviously large
> impact that amateurs have had on paleontology, the professionals & educators
> are actively working to make that impact sustainable. The nightmare scenario
> of fossils eroding out of their protecting formations only to be left upon
> the surface and lost forever to the elements, will hopefully never become
> reality.
> In addition, thanks for posting the link to the SVP, since the flip side of
> that nightmare is that collectors will be made totally ineffective, not by
> the statute itself, but by an uncaring and disinterested bureaucracy that
> simply shrugs its shoulders and says "It's not my job" when informed of a
> potential find.
>
> I'm hopeful that this might signal a friendlier attitude toward
> conservationist collectors, both commercial and amateur. We all know of and
> have visited deposits that have been savaged, and then closed after  misuse
> and abuse, most often by non-rockhounds. We've also seen how an uncaring and
> territorial bureaucracy has closed an area, rather than seeking out private
> partners, societies & clubs to assist in maintaining and insuring proper
> conservation.
>
> Thankfully, in many areas, the "uncaring" bureaucrat has given way to
> proactive public servants who understand that conservationist policies,
> rather than ex-clusive "environmentalism", are the best way to insure that
> the public learns to care about sustainability. As a "pebble-pup," I was
> trained by my mother to respect the land and its inhabitants, and to treat
> it as I wish to be treated.
>
> I commend the BLM, Park Service, Geological Survey and other thoughtful
> public servants for their pro earth science stance. Such areas as Crystal
> Park, The Oregon Sunstone area, Chunky Gal and Garnet Hill are just a few
> examples of this great attitude, and insure that we rockhounds are allowed
> to develop the same conservationist attitudes.
>
> Again, thanks!
>                           Kris
>
> On Tue, Mar 31, 2009 at 7:15 AM, Tim <nospam at orerockon.com> wrote:
>
>   
>> Forgive me if this is a repeat post, but I didn't see it come back to me.
>>
>>
>> From: SVP Headquarters [mailto:svp at vertpaleo.mmsend.com] On Behalf Of SVP
>> Headquarters
>> Subject: SVP: PRPA now public law
>>
>>
>>     
>
>
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