Fossils Protected In Us Land Legislation

摘要

After nearly 20 years, US scientists have won approval for a law that seeks to protect vertebrate fossils found on federal lands.rnThe US Vertebrate Paleontological Resources Preservation Act was included in omnibus land-management legislation signed into law on 30 March by President Barack Obama.rnThe bill means a permit is needed to collect any scientifically significant vertebrate fossil, officials say. But it would allow 'casual collecting' of common fossils. Details of how the law will be applied are yet to be finalized.rnOfficials at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology have pushed for the legislation because of the widespread practice of commercial collecting, where important specimens maybe sold and not recorded in the scientific literature.