Definitions

1. "Large scale excavation permit" is a permit issued by the state geologist that allows large scale excavation or quarrying of paleontological resources (excavations that disturb a surface area of more than eighteen square feet [1.67 square meters] of material). 2. "Minimum excavation and surface collecting permit" is a permit issued by the state geologist that allows the collection of paleontological resources found at the surface or removal of specimens with hand tools without extensive excavation. 3. "Modified minimum excavation and surface collecting permit" is a permit issued by the state geologist to amateur collectors that allows collection only of paleontological resources that have completely weathered out of the rock or sediment. 4. "Paleontological resource" must be defined as in North Dakota Century Code section 54-17.3-01. a. Vertebrate fossils and the localities in which they are found are assumed to be paleontological resources unless they are determined not to be significant by the state geologist (bison remains would generally not be considered significant except when found in cultural context). b. Invertebrate, plant and trace fossils and the localities in which they are found are not considered paleontological resources unless they are determined to be significant by the state geologist (sites of unusually fine preservation and type localities, the places from which the first specimens of new fossil species were described would generally be considered paleontological resources).