SVP & PALEO NEWS

On October 3, 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service released a document describing their final proposed resource management plans for the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. SVP reviewed the final proposed plans and sent a protest letter to BLM and USFS on October 17, 2024. SVP’s protest letter, which also includes the comment letter SVP submitted in June 2024 at the end, can be found HERE.

The recent election for the Vice President, Secretary, and Member-at-Large positions on the Executive Committee (the governing body of the Society) has concluded, and we can announce that Kristi Curry-Rogers (Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota) has been elected as Vice President; Darin Croft (Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio) has been elected as Secretary; and Anne Weil (Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma) has been elected as Member-at-Large. Congratulations to all three and we look forward to working with you on the Executive Committee!

Further information: All officer terms begin at the Annual Meeting, which is customary for Society roles. Members-at-Large serve a three-year term and advise the President regarding the activities, policies and procedures of the Society and vote on decisions of the Executive Committee. All Executive Committee members except the President and the Past-President act as liaisons with other Society committees. Darin will take over from Samantha Hopkins and act as liaison to the Membership and Nominating committees. Anne will take over from Karen Chin and act as liaison to “Annual Meeting” committees: Annual Auction, Awards, Host and Program committees.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service released a document describing its proposed resource management plans for the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, and SVP responded. For SVP’s submitted comment letter, click HERE.

On February 21, 2024, SVP commented on the possible destruction of paleontological resources on U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) “Community Pit #1” near Las Cruces, New Mexico. On March 26, 2024, SVP received a response letter from BLM, and on April 17, 2024, SVP sent another letter to BLM seeking further clarification. For SVP’s latest inquiry letter, click HERE.

SVP commented on the possible destruction of paleontological resources on U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) “Community Pit #1” near Las Cruces, New Mexico, through its remediation efforts to make the site safe.  Specifically, SVP requested BLM to provide a status update on the project and how BLM is protecting the scientifically important fossils while making the area safe for the public. For SVP’s submitted inquiry letter, click HERE.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s Rock Springs Field Office in Wyoming released a document describing its proposed resource management plans for the public land in southwestern Wyoming, and SVP responded. For SVP’s submitted comment letter, click HERE.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released a document describing its proposed resource management plans for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and SVP responded. For SVP’s submitted comment letter, click HERE.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released a document for public comment titled “Utah State Office Evaluation of March and December 2018 Oil and Gas Lease Sales Environmental Assessment”, and SVP responded. For SVP’s submitted comment letter, click HERE.

The recent election for the two Member-at-Large positions on the Executive Committee (the governing body of the Society) has concluded. We received 529 votes (approximately 35% of the membership) and we can announce that Paul Koch (University of California, Santa Cruz) has been elected as Member-at-Large; and Lindsay Zanno (North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences/North Carolina State University) has been elected as Member-at-Large (ethics). Congratulations to both and we look forward to working with you on the Executive Committee!

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published a set of proposed ‘Conservation and Landscape Health’ rules for public comment (RIN 1004-AE92): https://www.regulations.gov/document/BLM-2023-0001-0001. Because some fundamental components of the proposed rules appear to be inconsistent with the U.S. Paleontological Resources Preservation Act of 2009 as well as BLM’s traditional philosophy as written, SVP requested BLM for clarification, along with some requests if the rules were to be implemented. For SVP’s submitted comment letter, click HERE.