[meteorite-list] New BLM regs: Tempest in a teacup?

From: Pat Brown <scientificlifestyle_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2012 20:48:59 -0700
Message-ID: <BLU171-W122B82ACE5EAF98D69CC44BD870_at_phx.gbl>

Hi Norm and the List,?

Norm, I agree with you that for those of us who are not interested in selling the?
meteorites that we find on BLM land the 'new' rules are not a problem. In fact the?
new rules explicitly grant ownership (with some limits about selling or bartering)?
of the first 9.999 pounds of meteorites to the finder.

The general rule stating that 'the meteorite belongs to the land owner' could easily be?
interpreted?as all meteorites found on all federal lands belong to the US government.?
This 'new' rule says that with some limitations the meteorite belongs to the finder.?

For the?professional hunters who want to profit from their finds, there is a clear route to?
be able to be able to do so. I hate bigger government and more rules in general. However,?
if I were to sell, I would want to know that I could do so without a governmental claim of
ownership. Yes, there is some paperwork and delay.?

Just my 2 cents worth.

Best Regards,?
? ? ? ? ? ?Pat?

Are finds made before the 'new' rule exempt of the selling/bartering requirement?

----------------------------------------
> Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2012 20:17:21 -0700
> From: nlehrman at nvbell.net
> To: Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> Subject: [meteorite-list] New BLM regs: Tempest in a teacup?
>
> All,
>
> I have been following this thread with great confusion, and maybe there IS
> something I don't understand. Meteorite collecting has previously fallen under
> the general rules of rockhounding, and the new changes merely formalize a
> specific policy that is no great change from the past rules. I am quite sure I
> will be hugey chastised for my ignorance. Please correct me if I missed
> something.
>
> The previous rules said 25 pounds and/or one rock. Now it's 10 pounds and no
> provision for the big one with respect to meteorites. How often will that
> actually afect us? Almost never. The use of motorized vehicles off marked
> roads is also a general policy, not just for us. Metal detectors are explicitly
> allowed. Surely a magnet on a stick is also still fine.
>
> Commercial exploitation of BLM ground is subject to a long standing guideline.
> Find a monster? It is only fair that the land-owner (all Americans) should get
> some benefit. This is no change. If you want to harvest building stones or
> ornamental boulders, you pay a fee. We will too. No real change.
>
> I see no great disaster here. Just a formalization of a specific policy, thanks
> (?) to our own loud self-promotion in its various forms. Of course they had to
> get explicit. It is not much more than a clear, specific, restatement of the
> rules we were all subject to before now. Or did no one understand this? Yes,
> they may choose to make their point by prosecuting someone, but I will be amazed
> if this involves changes in the law. Just enforcement of those already extant.
> At worst with fairly minor changes.
>
> Have at it. I am waiting to be reprimanded for my folly. What am I missing?
>
> Best,
> Norm (www.tektitesource.com)
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Received on Sun 30 Sep 2012 11:48:59 PM PDT