Guadalupe Mountains An Administrative History

March 17, 1988

A90 (GUMO)
Resource Management and Visitor Protection - 1
Contact: Resource Management Specialist
Interim (3/88)

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

Collecting Permit Procedures

Collecting Permit Guidelines and Regulations
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Life Forms - Rocks - Minerals
Archaeological and Paleontological Remains
Code of Federal Regulations: Title 36, Paragraph 2.5

I. STANDARDS AND PREREQUISITES FOR ISSUANCE CF COLLECTING PERMITS.

A. Collecting Permits are issued only to official representatives of:

1. Reputable scientific or educational institutions
2. State or Federal agencies

. . . for the purpose of:

1. research intended for the advancement of scientific knowledge of park resources, features, processes and life forms.
2. documentation of research or management activities
3. baseline inventories
4. monitoring
5. avoiding unnecessary duplication in future efforts
6. impact analysis
7. interpretive and/or resource management programs
8. museum displays
9. facilitating acquisition of final reports
10. group study
11. providing a vehicle for imposition of other management constraints on the conduct of activities

B. In park areas where enabling legislation does not expressively prohibit the collecting of plants, fish, wildlife, rocks, minerals, and archaeological/paleontological remains, permits may be issued when, at his/her discretion the Superintendent determines:

1. collections will not result in derogation of values purposes, and resources for which the park was established;

2. collections have potential for conserving and perpetuating a species and/or those values, purposes and resources;

3. collection will not result in damage to other natural or cultural resources nor adversely affect environmental or scenic values;

4. specimens are not available outside of the park area;

5. all applicable Federal and State permits have been acquired;

6. collection is necessary to stated scientific or resource management goals of the institution or agency;

7. intended use of specimens and final disposal is in accordance with applicable law and Federal administrative policies;

8. the application is accompanied/supported by an acceptable, written proposal, scope of work or other document describing the purpose and extent of anticipated collections;

9. the application is supported by an approved resource management plan, interpretive plan, General Management Plan, or other written authorization from the superintendent;

10. permits for collection of specimens for group study or museum display purposes meet a further test of being crucial to the institution's goals.

C. Special Collection Permit Conditions:

1. Findings/Results - A minimum of two copies of reports or publications resulting from research specimen collection permits shall be filed with the Superintendent within one year of project completion.

2. Data/Field Notes - Researchers will be required to provide appropriate collection data (including University or Agency accession and catalog numbers) to facilitate the cataloging of specimens (researchers may also be required to complete all or portions of the NPS National Catalog cards). If the researcher is required to complete the National Catalog Cards (with catalog numbers), the cards and appropriate instructions will be provided by the park's curator. Field notes or copies thereof may be required of each researcher. The requirement level (e.g. for all or portions of the field notes) will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

3. Museum Labels - Specimens placed in displays or collections will bear official National Park Service museum labels bearing a Guadalupe Mountains National Park accession/catalog number (accession/catalog number will be assigned to each collector by the park curator prior to initiation of collecting). If NPS museum labels are not available at the start of the collection period, the NPS will provide labels during the project or require the use of spas other type of labels which must be approved by the curator.

4. Repositories - The park will generally approve the disposition of specimens to appropriate repositories. All specimens, however, remain the property of the park and will be placed in the repository "on loan" from the park. The park will require, on a case-by-case basis that all, some or none of the specimens be returned to the park.

5. Curatorial Supplies - Curatorial supplies must be supplied by the researcher. Specimens which are to be returned to the park for inclusion in park collections must be prepared in accordance with NPS standards (e.g. relative to containers and methods of preservation). In some cases, if the preparation of specimens for park collection is significantly different than that used by the researcher, and imposition of park standards would constitute a burden on the researcher, the park may furnish curatorial supplies for the specimens which are to be returned to the park.

6. Public Information - Specimens and any data derived from consumed specimens, will be made available to the public.

7. Additional Stipulations - Any additional conditions as stipulated by the Superintendent to ensure protection of other resources and values and to insure proper management of the park. . . .may be attached to or associated with a collecting permit.

SCOPE: The following statements are beneficial to and should be understood by all collecting permit applicants.

Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 2.5, specifies that the enabling legislation for a park or monument determines whether or not scientific collections may be permitted in that area and the conditions under which a permit may be obtained. Since the Presidential Proclamations and Acts of Congress establishing Guadalupe Mountains National Park neither authorize nor prohibit the taking or manipulation of any life forms, rocks, minerals, or archaeological/paleontological remains,... collection for scientific, management and interpretive purposes may be allowed if the Superintendent, in a written, case-by-case determination, finds such collection is consistent with the constraints noted above. All collections and/or manipulations of any life form, rocks, minerals and/or archaeological or paleontological remains must have m collecting permit and will be governed by the provisions of that collecting permit.

****** Violation of the terms and conditions of a park permit issued in accordance with Federal regulations is prohibited and will result in suspension or revocation of a permit.

D. Endangered Species - Any permit to collect an endangered or threatened species:

1. must be in accordance with the Endangered Species Act and approved Recovery Plan for the species;

2. cannot be issued when specimens are available outside the park;

3. must be for the express purpose of and crucial to enhancing protection/management of the species;

4. must be approved by the Regional Director of the Region in which the park is located.

5. will be legal only if used in conjunction with an equally valid U.S. Fish and Wildlife permit issued by the Regional U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office for the particular species involved.

K. Protocol for Issuance of Collecting Permits.: The following protocol will be observed for issuing collecting permits in Guadalupe Mountains National Park:

1. All applications for collection of life forms, rocks, minerals, and/or archaeological/paleontological remains and the like will first receive an independent review by the Resource Management Specialist.

2. The Resource Management Specialist will prepare a written evaluation form for the Superintendent, recommending approval or denial of the application.

3. All Collecting Permits must be signed by the Superintendent or his/her designee for approval.

4. Copies of all approved Collecting Permits (or applications thereof) will be retained in general files. Copies of Collecting Permits which will result in additions to the park's collections will be provided to the park's curator for inclusion in the accession files.

Karen P. Wade

Appendix A

RESEARCH/COLLECTING PERMIT CERTIFICATION REQUEST FORM

1. Name(s), address(es), telephone #(s), of investigator(s):

2. Affiliation of investigator(s):

Institution:

Address:

Telephone # (include area code):

3. Title of proposed study, research, or project

4. Source of funding:

5. Starting date:

6. Length of study or research (include period (a) you will be in the park as well as approximate date of study or research conclusion):

7. Explain why it is necessary to conduct your research and/or collecting within the park rather than in an area outside park boundaries:

8. What will your research accomplish for Guadalupe Mountains National Park?

9. Describe or explain in detail your purpose, objectives, and the extent and /or scope of your study or research (as an alternative, attach an ADEQUATE proposal and any other supporting document (a) if available).

10. If you intend to collect any specimens, provide detailed information pertaining to the items below:

a. exact type of specimens:

b. number or amount of specimens:

c. collecting methods/techniques:

d. preparation/preservation methods/techniques:

e. disposition of specimens:

11. An Annual Investigators Report is required and due Dec. 31 of each year of your study/research project. Your signature on this questionnaire signifies that you agree to provide this official report.

12. Are you willing to provide at least two copies of all reports or publications resulting from your research to the Superintendent of Guadalupe Mountains National Park?:

13. Please enclose a professional resume of all investigators involved with research, study or project.

14. Please identify any assistance you will require from park staff.

15. Signature of investigator:

Appendix B

CRITERIA CHECKLIST FOR COLLECTING PERMIT APPLICANTS

NOTE: Correct answers ace underlined. If, after review and consideration of any application, an answer is opposite of that indicated as correct, permit should be denied or application re evaluated.

By: __________________________
Resource Management Specialist