Paleontological Resources Preservation

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI or Department) is promulgating this regulation under the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act. This regulation provides for the management, preservation, and protection of paleontological resources on lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and ensures that these federally owned resources are available for present and future generations to enjoy as part of America's national heritage. The regulation addresses the management, collection, and curation of paleontological resources from Federal lands using scientific principles and expertise, including collection in accordance with permits; curation in an approved repository; and maintenance of confidentiality of specific locality data. The regulation details the processes related to the civil and criminal penalties for illegal collecting, damaging, otherwise altering or defacing, or selling paleontological resources.