SVP & PALEO NEWS

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.

SVP urges select 146 U.S. House Representatives and Senators to appropriate earmarked funds for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Forest Service) and Department of the Interior to enact the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act of 2009. For more information, click HERE.

SVP is pleased that the proposed Utah H.B. 396, which SVP initially opposed on February 22, 2023, has developed into adequate legislation while also taking into account input from SVP membership. For a full version of the new SVP statement, click HERE.

The Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA) was signed into law in the U.S. in 2009. It allows land management agencies to manage, preserve, and protect fossil resources on Federal (public) land using scientific principles and expertise. The regulations or ‘rules’ of the law for the Department of Agriculture Forest Service went into effect in 2015. SVP is pleased to announce that the rules for the Department of the Interior (43 CFR Part 49), which consists of four agencies (Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and Fish and Wildlife Service), officially became installed on August 2, 2022.

SVP played a key role in the development of PRPA from the original bill drafting stage and through the establishment of the rules, providing professional guidance to our federal partners through public comment periods. SVP thanks many of its members, including those in its Government Affairs Committee, as well as its federal partners, for their efforts and support spanning the past 20+ years. SVP looks forward to continuing its partnership with the federal agencies to enhance the management, preservation, and protection as well as education and scientific research of vertebrate fossils from U.S. public lands under PRPA. In the coming months, SVP will be disseminating PRPA-related information via its website.