16 U.S.C. § 470aaa–3 — Collection of paleontological resources

(a) Permit requirement. (1) In general, you cannot collect a paleontological resource from federal land without a permit issued under this chapter, unless this chapter says otherwise. (2) The Secretary must allow casual collecting without a permit on federal land run by the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Forest Service, as long as it follows the laws for managing that land and this chapter. (3) Nothing here affects a valid permit issued before March 30, 2009. (b) Criteria for issuing a permit. The Secretary may issue a permit to collect a paleontological resource if the Secretary finds that: (1) the applicant is qualified to do the permitted work; (2) the work furthers paleontological knowledge or public education; (3) the work fits with any management plan for that federal land; and (4) the proposed collecting methods won't threaten important natural or cultural resources. (c) Permit specifications. A permit must include whatever terms and conditions the Secretary thinks are needed to carry out this chapter's purposes. Every permit must require that: (1) any resource collected under the permit stays the property of the United States; (2) the resource and copies of related records are kept in an approved repository, available for scientific research and public education; and (3) specific location information isn't released by the permit holder or repository without the Secretary's written permission. (d) Modifying, suspending, and revoking permits. (1) The Secretary may modify, suspend, or revoke a permit for resource, safety, or other management reasons, or when a permit term or condition is violated. (2) The permit must be revoked if anyone working under it is convicted under section 470aaa–5 or hit with a civil penalty under section 470aaa–6. (e) Area closures. To protect resources or public safety, the Secretary may restrict access to, or close, areas under the Secretary's authority to fossil collecting.