PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 655.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jul 12, 2002
Paleontological Resources Preservation Act - Directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture (the "Secretaries") to: (1) manage and protect paleontological resources on Federal land using scientific principles and expertise; (2) develop plans for inventorying, monitoring, and deriving the scientific and educational use of such resources; and (3) establish a program to increase public awareness about the significance of paleontological resources and the need to preserve and provide access to them.Prohibits a person from collecting a paleontological resource from Federal land without a permit. Authorizes the Secretaries to allow casual collecting of abundant invertebrate and plant paleontological resources for scientific, educational, and recreational uses without a permit where not inconsistent with laws governing management of such lands and this Act. Sets forth permit issuance criteria and requirements, and recognizes as valid permits issued before enactment of this Act. Requires any paleontological resource and associated data and records collected under a permit to be deposited in an approved repository.Prohibits: (1) excavating, removing, or altering a paleontological resource located on Federal lands except in compliance with this Act; (2) exchanging or receiving such a resource that was obtained from Federal lands in violation of Federal law; (3) selling or purchasing a paleontological resource that was obtained from Federal lands; or (4) making or submitting false records, accounts, or identification of any such resources.Sets forth requirements for the assessment of civil penalties by the Secretaries for violations of any prohibitions contained in regulations or permits issued under this Act. Requires any recovered amounts to be available to such a manager for use: (1) to protect or restore the paleontological resources and sites or to acquire sites with equivalent resources and to protect, monitor, and study the resources and sites; (2) to provide educational materials to the public about paleontological resources and sites; and (3) as a reward.Requires that information on the nature and specific location of a paleontological resource that requires a permit under this Act or other Federal law be withheld from the public, including under the Freedom of Information Act, except under specified conditions.
People & committees
Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI] · D–HI
Legislative record
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Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 655.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with amendments. Without written report.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with amendments. Without written report.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 107-794.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6709-6711)
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6708-6709)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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