U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
 
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov
August 26, 2010
In Reply Refer To:
8270 (240) P
 
EMS TRANSMISSION 09/02/2010
Information Bulletin No. 2010-108
 
To:                  All Employees
 
From:              Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning
 
Subject:          National Fossil Day, October 13, 2010
 
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is partnering with the National Park Service (NPS), the American Geological Institute (AGI), and other Federal and state agencies, associations, and organizations to hold the first annual National Fossil Day on October 13, 2010, during Earth Science Week (www.earthsciweek.org).  This year, AGI’s Earth Science Week will focus on exploring the natural world and learning more about the geosciences. National Fossil Day will promote public awareness about the importance of paleontological resources as part of our Nation’s heritage in order to foster a greater appreciation of their scientific and educational value.
 
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 National Fossil Day events (see http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/CRM/paleontology.html).
 
National Fossil Day Resources and Activities: As part of the 10th anniversary celebration of the BLM’s National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) and to continue a successful Decade of Discovery activities, the BLM will highlight paleontological resources within the NLCS, particularly at the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM).  Paleontological information on the GSENM web pages will be updated as part of the celebration.
 
Field Offices are encouraged to participate in National Fossil Day by: 
  • Coordinating paleontological interpretive events that may be already planned to be held on or around October 13, 2010.
  • Inviting your regional paleontologist or paleontology coordinator 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. 
Events already being coordinated in conjunction with National Fossil Day include: 
  • Trail maintenance on the Marsh Quarry Trail in the Royal Gorge Field Office the weekend of October 16 and 17, 2010, in cooperation with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado and Garden Park High School, and with support from local hiking groups and the Garden Park Paleontological Society.
  • A field trip to the Bisti-De-Na-Zin Wilderness hosted by the Farmington Field Office on National Fossil Day highlighting the paleontological research and resources of the wilderness to be advertised in the local paper and radio.
  • A luncheon forum on the new Paleontological Resources Preservation Act by the BLM Washington Office, NPS, and the Forest Service at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh, PA. 
As part of the commemoration, the NPS has developed a National Fossil Day web page (http://nature.nps.gov/geology/nationalfossilday/index.cfm) that highlights planned activities, contains ideas for holding events and activities, and links to partner web pages.  
 
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
 

 
Last updated: 09-02-2010