[meteorite-list] Ongoing Legislation and Regulations Possible Effecting Meteorite Collecting

[Paul H.]

Dear Friends,

According to Dick Pankey of the American Federation
of Mineralogical Societies, there are several current issues
in terms of legislation and regulations that couldl affect 
meteorite collectors as noted on pages 25-26 of the May 
2010 Backbenders Gazette at:

http://www.hgms.org/BBG/May10.pdf

In California there are a couple of issues that could effect
meteorite-hunters. The first is the California Desert Conservation 
Act. This legislation proposes several new National Monuments, 
Wilderness areas, and more that total some two million acres.
Not only will it effect  meteorite hunters, this legislation will either 
restrict of prohibit collecting of rocks, minerals, and fossils from 
prime collecting areas. Comments about this legislation can be 
found in "Public Lands Advisory Council South California Desert 
Conservation and Recreation Act of 2010" in the CFMS Newsletter, 
Vol. XLVI, No. 02, February 2010, at:

http://www.cfmsinc.org/newsletter/news2010/002feb10/newsfeb10.htm

In addition, the BLM office in Hollister, California is developing 
a new management plan for the Clear Creek Management Area. 
This will directly effect the rules and regulations governing 
what can be hunted for and collected from this area in the way 
of rocks, fossils, and meteorites.

Go see “Forest Service Will Host Sessions On Development Of 
The New Planning Rule” at

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/news/2010/newplanningrule.shtml

In general, all Forest Service Districts have started the process
of revising the regulations, called "Planning Rules", that govern 
the preparation of their "Forest Plans". These regulations will 
directly determine how the National Forest Service develops, 
amends, and revises their "Land Use Plans". All of the National
Forest Lands will be affected by the revisions of these regulations
in terms of what can be collected and who can collect it from 
Forest Service lands. 

Overview of Rulemaking Process

http://fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72DTUE8TAwjQL8h2VAQAMtzFUw!!/?ss=119987&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&cid=STELPRDB5109567&navid=091000000000000&position=Feature*&ttype=detailfull&pname=Planning%20Rule-%20Home

Collaboration & Public Involvement

http://fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gjAwhwtDDw9_AI8zPwhQoY6BdkOyoCAPkATlA!/?ss=119987&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&cid=null&navid=131000000000000&pnavid=null&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&ttype=main&pname=Planning%20Rule-%20Collaboration%20&%20Public%20Involvement

Other legislation affecting access and collecting in western 
United States is noted in "Legislative Actions Affecting Rockhounds 
across the West" in the CFMS Newsletter, Vol. XLV, No. 12,
December 2009 at:

http://www.cfmsinc.org/newsletter/news2009/012dec09/newsdec09.htm

They include the creation of wilderness areas in Colorado (Hidden 
Gems Wilderness); Utah (America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act S. 799 
& HR 1925); California, Oregon, Montana, and elsewhere.

Finally, there is the "Hard Rock Mining and Reclamation Act of 
2009". This bill was introduced into House and Senate last July
and affects the Land Claims process. Some PDF files of this 
legislation.

http://energy.senate.gov/public/_files/Summaryshortapril12009.pdf

http://energy.senate.gov/public/_files/MiningbillAprilI2009asintroducedEND09484_xml.pdf

Yours,

Paul H.