Paleontological Resources Preservation Act

A bill to provide for the protection of paleontological resources on Federal lands, and for other purposes.

2/15/2007--Reported to Senate without amendment. (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Paleontological Resources Preservation Act -
(Sec. 3) Directs the the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, as appropriate, 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.
(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary to establish a program to increase public awareness about such resources.
(Sec. 5) Prohibits a person from collecting a paleontological resource from federal land without a permit issued under this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to allow casual collecting of a reasonable amount of common invertebrate and plant paleontological resources for non-commercial personal uses without a permit on certain federal lands. Recognizes as valid permits issued before enactment of this Act. Sets forth criteria by which the Secretary may issue permits for paleontological resources. Requires that any paleontological resource and associated records collected under a permit be deposited in an approved repository. Allows the Secretary to modify, suspend, or revoke a permit under specified circumstances, including if there is a violation of a term or a condition of a permit. Declares that a permit shall be revoked if any person working under the authority of the permit is convicted of a criminal offense under this Act or assessed a civil penalty under this Act.
(Sec. 6) States that the Secretary may enter into agreements with non-federal repositories regarding the curation of paleontological resources, data, and records.
(Sec. 7) Prohibits:
(1) evacuating, removing, or altering a paleontological resource located on federal lands, except in accordance with this Act;
(2) exchanging or receiving a paleontological resource, or selling or purchasing a paleontological resource, if the person knew or should have known such resource was illegally removed from federal lands; or
(3) 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.
(Sec. 8) Sets forth requirements for the assessment of civil penalties by the Secretary 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 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.
(Sec. 9) Allows the Secretary to pay a reward from penalties collected under this Act to any person who furnishes information leading to the finding of a civil violation, or the conviction of criminal violation, with respect to which the penalty was paid. Subjects to civil or, as appropriate, criminal forfeiture all paleontological resources with respect to which a violation occurred and all vehicles and equipment that were used in connection with the violation. Allows the Secretary to transfer administration of seized paleontological resources to educational institutions for scientific or educational purposes.
(Sec. 10) 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.
(Sec. 11) Directs the Secretary to issue such regulations as are appropriate to carry out this Act.
(Sec. 13) Authorizes appropriations.


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Sponsor

• Sen. Daniel Akaka [D, HI]
• and 6 Co-Sponsors
  • Sen. Jim Bunning [R, KY]
  • Sen. Richard Durbin [D, IL]
  • Sen. Dianne Feinstein [D, CA]
  • Sen. Daniel Inouye [D, HI]
  • Sen. Pat Roberts [R, KS]
  • Sen. Ron Wyden [D, OR]
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Committees

• Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to S.320

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by Senate		Voted on by House		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
January 17, 2007

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All Bill Actions

• Added to calendar on Feb 15, 2007: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 43..
• Feb 15, 2007: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman without amendment. With written report No. 110-18.
• Jan 31, 2007: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
• Jan 31, 2007: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Date of scheduled consideration. SD-366. 11:30 a.m.
• Jan 17, 2007: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
• Jan 17, 2007: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S691-692)
• Introduced on Jan 17, 2007.
• Jan 17, 2007: Introductory remarks on measure. (CR S691-692)

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Related Bills:

• H.R.554

Related Issue Areas:

• Public lands
• Administrative remedies
• Archives
• Civil liberties
• 36 more
• Consumers
• Criminal justice
• Cultural property
• Department of Agriculture
• Department of the Interior
• Destruction of property
• Environmental protection
• Executive departments
• Fines (Penalties)
• Forfeiture
• Fossils
• Fraud
• Freedom of information
• Government information
• Government property
• Government publicity
• Historic sites
• History
• Humanities
• Informers
• Judicial review
• Labeling
• Land use
• Larceny
• Law
• Licenses
• Museums
• Natural resources
• Nature conservation
• Official secrets
• Paleontology
• Planning
• Public records
• Recidivists
• Research natural areas
• Science policy

Data from the Congressional Research Service

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Blog Coverage

October 23, 2007 Ancient bat flew without echolocation

The latest bill on this (S. 320) is now before the US Senate, although a House version of the bill has been stuck in committee since April. Officials from the American Museum of Natural History are negotiating to purchase the original ...

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September 27, 2007 TRIAL OF HOUSE OF REPS SPEAKER, HONOURABLE PATRICIA OLUBUNMI ETTEH

Mercedes Benz car S.320 (Black) by M/S Bras Ventures Ltd in the total sum ofN49,600000;. Furnishing of the Hon. Speaker's Residence to M/S Victogenuel Nig. Ltd in the sum of N71,895000,00 and. Furnishing of the official residence of the ...

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September 26, 2007 NASS FORUM: STAR REPORT: House of Reps Ad-Hoc Committee Report to ...

Mercedes Benz car S.320 (Black) by M/s Bras Ventures Ltd in the total sum of N49,600000;. d.Furnishing of the Hon. Speakers Residence to M/S Victogenuel Nig. Ltd in the sum of N71,895000.00; and. e. Furnishing of the official residence ...

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