National Fossil Day, October 12, 2011

IB 2011-085
Information Bulletin

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov

 

August 18, 2011

 

In Reply Refer To:

8270 (240) P

 

EMS TRANSMISSION 08/19/2011

Information Bulletin No. 2011-085

 

To:                   All BLM Employees

From:              Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning

Subject:           National Fossil Day, October 12, 2011

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is once again celebrating National Fossil Day (NFD) during Earth Science Week, October 9-15, 2011.  This year, the American Geological Institute’s (AGI) Earth Science Week theme is “Our Ever-Changing Earth” that encourages the public to explore the natural world and learn more about the geosciences. This theme will also engage young people and the public in learning more about the natural processes that shape our planet over time. See http://www.earthsciweek.org/ for more information.

The NFD was established by the National Park Service (NPS) in response to the Omnibus Public Land Management Act, Paleontological Resources Preservation Subtitle (16 U.S.C. 470aaa) that requires the Federal land managing agencies to create programs that increase the public's awareness of the significance of paleontological resources. The NFD is part of the BLM's Heritage Education strategy to promote public education about the importance of paleontological resources in order to foster a greater appreciation of their scientific and educational values.

BLM National Fossil Day Website:  The BLM’s Division of Cultural, Paleontological Resources and Tribal Consultation (WO-240) will use the BLM paleontology web page to post information and links about NFD events at: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/CRM/paleontology.html.

National Fossil Day Resources and Activities:  Field Offices are encouraged to participate in the NFD by:

  • Coordinating paleontological interpretive events that may be already planned to be held on or around October 12, 2011.
  • Inviting your regional paleontologist, paleontology coordinator, or paleontologist partners to speak about paleontological resources in your resource area at a brown bag luncheon (see http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/CRM/paleontology/fossil_contacts.html).
  • Giving presentations at local schools about paleontological resources, a paleontological Area of Critical Environmental Concern, or national monument on public lands.
  • Conducting field trips to nearby interpreted BLM paleontological localities such as Red Gulch Track Site or Garden Park Fossil Area.
  • Coordinating NFD activities with your local partner museums, such as visiting paleontological collections that have come from BLM public lands.

Events already being planned in conjunction with NFD include:

  • Utah: The Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry will be celebrating NFD on August 29, 2011, the last day of the 2011 season. It will be a fee-free day for the general public.
  • New Mexico: Field trips to the Bisti-De-Na-Zin Wilderness hosted by the Farmington Field Office that highlight the paleontological research and resources of the wilderness will be held during Earth Science Week.
  • New Mexico: The Prehistoric Trackways National Monument will be visiting a local elementary school to give a presentation on paleontological resources at the monument.

In addition, the AGI is co-sponsoring an art and photography contest with its NFD partners, "Fossils in my Backyard."  Rules and more information can be found at http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/nationalfossilday/art_contest.cfm.

The BLM's Printed Materials Distribution Section (PMDS) has the following paleontological education materials available in support of your activities: 
PS-003 (Old No. P-393), black and white 17" x 22" coloring poster from the 150th Anniversary of the Department of the Interior: Dinosaurs, America's Public Land Legacy for Children of All Ages.

  1. P-406, Fossils on America's Public Lands: A brochure on fossil collecting on public lands (a new version will be available for the NFD with updated information and distributed to some of the local offices).

These additional brochures are out of stock at the PMDS, but may be available in your local office or public room:

  1. P-435A, They Walked Here Long Ago: A brochure on dinosaur tracks and their protection and preservation. This brochure is being updated and should be available next year for National Fossil Day 2012.
  2. EE-1011, Set in Stone: Reprint and poster of about fossil resources found on public lands.
  3. EE-3002, Discovering Dinosaurs Video Tape (check PMDS): about a fossil excavation in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and paleontological research.

As NFD approaches, please keep checking the BLM WO NFD web page for additional information on available materials and updated event information.  Keep updated about all the NFD events at the NPS NFD web page at http://nature.nps.gov/geology/nationalfossilday/index.cfm. The web page highlights planned activities, contains ideas for holding events and activities, and links to partner web pages. The NFD logos are also available digitally for banners, artwork, and presentations.

To have your event included on the BLM NFD web page or if you have any questions, please contact Lucia Kuizon, National Paleontologist, BLM WO-240, at 202-912-7253, or lkuizon@blm.gov.

 

Signed by:                                                                   Authenticated by:

Edwin L. Roberson                                                     Robert M. Williams

Assistant Director                                                       Division of IRM Governance,WO-560

Renewable Resources and Planning

 

Fiscal Year

2011