The United States Senate has passed the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act, S. 546, sponsored by U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii), to codify a comprehensive national policy for the preservation and management of paleontological resources on Federal lands.

The rising commercial value of fossils has increased the occurrence of theft, vandalism, and illegal trade of paleontological resources from Federal lands. S. 546 addresses these problems by strengthening criminal penalties and civil penalties to protect and restore paleontological resources and sites.

"Paleontological resources are an irreplaceable part of the heritage of the United States," Senator Akaka said. "A unified national policy for Federal lands promotes responsible public stewardship and creates a legacy of scientific knowledge for future generations. I am encouraged by the Senate's swift action on my legislation."

The Paleontological Resources Preservation Act requires the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to develop appropriate interagency management plans to protect paleontological resources and establish a program to increase public awareness about the significance of paleontological resources. The legislation also allows for the casual collecting of common invertebrate and plant paleontological resources on Federal lands controlled or administered by the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Forest Service. The legislation codifies the current permitting system for the collection of vertebrate paleontological resources on Federal lands and allows these resources to be preserved in approved repositories for public education and scientific research. The legislation is supported by professional and amateur collecting groups and museums such as the Western Interior Paleontological Society, Dry Dredgers, Inc., the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, and the American Association of Museums.

The legislation does not include archaeological resources as defined under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act or cultural items as defined by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) under the definition of paleontological resources. Federal lands are defined as lands controlled or administered by the Secretary of the Interior except Indian lands or National Forest System lands controlled or administered by the Secretary of Agriculture.

"Discoveries of fossils significantly contribute to the understanding and interpretation of the history of life on earth," Akaka noted. "We need to fulfill our responsibility as stewards of public lands and protect our nation's natural resources."