[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4913 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4913

    To provide for the protection and preservation of certain rare 
   paleontological resources on the former Union Chapel Mine site in 
                    Alabama, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 22, 2004

 Mr. Aderholt introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To provide for the protection and preservation of certain rare 
   paleontological resources on the former Union Chapel Mine site in 
                    Alabama, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. UNION CHAPEL FOSSIL FOOTPRINT SITE PRESERVATION ACT.

    (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Union Chapel 
Fossil Footprint Site Preservation Act''.
    (b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) Fossils have scientific and educational value and it is 
        in the national interest to preserve and protect sites of 
        paleontological significance.
            (2) The former Union Chapel Mine site is a 
        paleontologically significant site that has been the focus of 
        an extensive collaborative effort over the past 2\1/2\ years by 
        amateur collectors and professional paleontologists from the 
        Geological Survey of Alabama, the University of Alabama, Emory 
        University, the University of Florida, and the University of 
        South Alabama.
            (3) The former Union Chapel Mine site is significant 
        because it has yielded an unusually large quantity of rare pre-
        dinosaur fossil trackways dating from the early Pennsylvanian 
        Period (approximately 310 million years ago, about 100 million 
        years before the first dinosaurs).
            (4) Material obtained from spoil piles at the former Union 
        Chapel Mine site includes over 1,300 vertebrate and 
        invertebrate tracks, some new to science, as well as a wide 
        array of fossil plants. The trackways are due mainly to 
        primitive amphibians, horseshoe crabs, and other arthropods. 
        These tracks now comprise the largest collection of specimens 
        documenting the existence of these animals in north central 
        Alabama during the Coal Age.
            (5) An extensive photographic database of over 1,800 
        digital images has been compiled using material from the former 
        Union Chapel Mine site.
            (6) At least 4 presentations at scientific meetings have 
        been delivered relating to findings at the site and a monograph 
        and 2 manuscripts for publication in scientific journals are 
        being prepared.
            (7) It is estimated by geologists working at the former 
        Union Chapel Mine site that far more fossil material exists 
        within the remaining spoil piles at the site and that 
        undisturbed tracks and other trace fossils within the adjoining 
        high wall may constitute an unparalleled resource for 
        scientific exploration of this ancient ecosystem.
            (8) The former Union Chapel Mine site has now been 
        recognized by international experts in the field as the most 
        important Coal Age footprint site in the world.
    (c) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are the following:
            (1) To grant a permanent exemption from the requirements of 
        the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 
        U.S.C. 1201 et seq.), for further reclamation of the site to 
        the owner of the former Union Chapel Mine site.
            (2) To authorize the complete restoration of funds held in 
        escrow regarding the former Union Chapel Mine site to the New 
        Acton Coal Mining Company, Inc.
    (d) Application of Certain Law.--The requirements of the Surface 
Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.), 
shall not apply to the owner of the former Union Chapel Mine site 
regarding further reclamation of that site.
    (e) Return of Funds in Escrow.--All funds held in escrow on the 
date of the enactment of this Act pending further reclamation of the 
former Union Chapel Mine site by the Director of the Surface Coal 
Mining Commission of the State of Alabama may be returned to the New 
Acton Coal Mining Company, Inc.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior $500,000 for the 
following:
            (1) To preserve and protect the paleontological resources 
        located within the exterior boundaries of the former Union 
        Chapel Mine site.
            (2) To provide opportunities for scientific research in a 
        manner compatible with paragraph (1).
            (3) To provide the public with opportunities for 
        educational activities in a manner compatible with paragraph 
        (1).
    (g) Former Union Chapel Mine Site.--For the purposes of this 
section, the term ``former Union Chapel Mine site'' means the 35 acres 
of land (and all related facilities and other appurtenances thereon) 
generally depicted on the map entitled ``Union Chapel Mine'', ASMC 
permit number 3778, for permanent preservation of that property.
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