U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT NEWS RELEASE
Montana State Office
Montana State Office
| Contacts: | Brad Purdy, 406-896-5258 | |||
| Greg Liggett, 406-8965162 |
BLM and Rocky Mountain College Celebrate National Fossil Day
In honor of the third annual National Fossil Day, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Rocky Mountain College will present a series of presentations on dinosaurs and other prehistoric species in October and November.
The free presentations are open to the general public and anyone interested in science and paleontology is welcome. All programs begin at 7 p.m. in the Fortin Center Auditorium at Rocky Mountain College.
The first presentation on Tuesday, Oct. 2, will be presented by BLM paleontologist Greg Liggett entitled “Dinosaur hunting: a brief history of paleontology.” The presentation will focus on an overview of the colorful history of science of paleontology, some of the stronger personalities of dinosaurs and a discussion of fossil resources from public lands.
On Tuesday, Oct. 30, the second presentation will also be presented by Liggett entitled “Dinosaurs and other beasties from Montana.” This will review the prehistoric life of our great state and what it teaches us about past climates, environments and ecosystems.
The final presentation will be Wednesday, Nov. 14, by Glenn Storrs, Withrow Farny Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology, Cincinnati Museum Center, entitled “A decade of dinosaurs: the Cincinnati Museum Center Dinosaur Field School.” Storrs has worked in south central Montana for the past dozen years collecting fossils at the Mother’s Day Site. He will present a summary of what has been learned from this site about the lives of long-necked dinosaurs.
National Fossil Day on Oct. 17of this year was created to celebrate the diversity of fossils, promote the understanding that fossils are a non-renewable resource, and highlight the scientific and educational value of fossils on public lands.
The BLM issues more paleontology resource use permits than all other federal agencies combined. Many fossils on display in museums across the country and around the world, including the Smithsonian, came from BLM lands.
The collection of fossils from BLM land is regulated by federal law. There are provisions for individuals to collect reasonable amounts of common invertebrate and plant fossils without a permit. However, a permit is required for all other collecting activities. For clarification visit http://blm.gov/fqkd or contact your local BLM office.
For more information, please contact Greg Liggett at 406-896-5162. To see more BLM Fossil Day events visit http://blm.gov/dqkd.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Montana State Office 5001 Southgate Dr. Billings, MT 59101