[meteorite-list] Secret BLM maps battle of the Smithsonian

[Chris Peterson]

It's more complicated than this. The guidelines we follow at the Denver 
Museum of Nature and Science when hunting for meteorites are like this:

1. All rocks, meteorites, artifacts, etc found on public land belong to the 
government. There is no individual right to take anything, but different 
land administration agencies can choose to allow collection, usually with 
specific guidelines.

2. In the case of public lands, who you seek permission from depends on the 
administering agency. Meteorites on BLM land are not automatically claimed 
by the Smithsonian, but meteorites on National Forest or National Park land 
are. If searching on BLM land (which is Dept of the Interior) you can seek 
permission from the local BLM office, which generally has a lot of 
discretion. When seeking on National Forest or National Park land, you can 
again seek permission from the local administrator (not from the 
Smithsonian), but they usually have little discretion. The Museum can 
usually get permission; private parties usually not. If you are searching on 
state lands, you have to get permission from the state administrator, and 
they usually have no policy at all, and everything will depend on who you 
talk to and what kind of day they are having.

Chris

*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Dunklee" <steve.dunklee at yahoo.com>
To: <raremeteorites at yahoo.com>; <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Friday, November 05, 2010 9:36 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Secret BLM maps battle of the Smithsonian


> Might we talk to the currator of meteorites at the Smithsonian to have 
> them issue permits for the collection of meteorites on BLM land? With the 
> required 20 gram sample going to the smithsonian. They cant tell you no 
> you cant look for them if you are collecting them for the Government. 
> Might be able to use a similar ploy in Austrailia. The smithsonian might 
> even be able to make a few bucks charging $25 a year for the permits to 
> collect thier property. Since i think it is in an act of congress that 
> meteorites on federal land belong to the smithsonian. It would be out of 
> BLM hands to stop you with a scientific collection permit from the 
> smithsonian. Cheers Steve