> > Yeah Right.... Actually they don't belong to the National Museum they are >the > > "custodians". BUT they are rather arrogant since the change over in > administration and not motivated to establish a program. IN fact thye seem > to > > hate the red tape potentials as much as any other bureaucratic organization > > I found a rather interestingly shaped meteorite on Government property and >tried > > for over 15 years to get it recovered. The Smithsonian told me they would > not > > sponsor nor assist however as soon as I had recovered at my own expense, it > I
> would have to send it to them at my own expense. The Department of Defense >does > > not believe the Smithsonian has jurisdiction to material recovered on DOD > lands. Nor do they have a operational plan for when meteorites fall on > their > property. Remember the fireballs over Ft Carson in Colorado and Dugway >Proving > > grounds? > > I tried to get The Univ of Arizona interested in sponsoring as I had no > legal > standing and I was essentially told I was "mistaken on my identity" and they > referred me to the Smithsonian. > > > So then I thought I'd have to just prove them wrong and started action with >the > > Department of Defense Installation where the stone was sitting. I had to >travel > > at my own expense to show range personnel the stone but we could not recover >it > > until they funded and completed an environmental impact statement which was > no > > guarantee it would not be pilfered or that they would even recover the stone. > > If the stone ever shows up I will recognize it as it is delta shaped and > oriented. > > Elton > > PS: NASA Office of Meteors will not discuss it nor return emails or phone > calls--I must assume that they would see coordinating such a public effort > as > yet another unfunded mandate. > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > > From: Steve Dunklee <[email protected]> > > To: [email protected] > > Sent: Fri, November 5, 2010 12:11:38 PM > > Subject: [meteorite-list] Battle of the Smithsonian > > > > Since meteorites that fall on federal land has been designated as being > > the > > >property of the Smithsonian Institute by congress I see no reason why the > >Smithsonian could not issue permits for the collection of rocks fossils >minerals > > >and meteorites on public lands including BLM land. This would bypass and > >supercede the BLM. And the Smithsonian would get in return 20 grams or 10% >of > > >material found. With a scientific collection permit from the Smithsonian. > >Any > > >BLM officer could be arrested by the FBI for interference of a government > >operation. Have fun! Steve Dunklee > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________ > > Visit the Archives at > >http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html > > Meteorite-list mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list > > > ______________________________________________ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list [email protected] http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
