Murphey Et Al. 2019 Best Practices in Mitigation Paleontology
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PROCEEDINGS of the San Diego Society of Natural History Founded 1874 Number 47 1 May 2019 BEST PRACTICES IN MITIGATION PALEONTOLOGY By Paul C. Murphey Paleo Solutions, 2785 Speer Boulevard, Suite 1, Denver, CO 80211, U.S.A.; [email protected]; Department of Paleontology, San Diego Natural History Museum, 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101, U.S.A.; [email protected] Department of Earth Sciences, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, CO 80201, U.S.A. Georgia E. Knauss SWCA Environmental Consultants, 1892 S. Sheridan Avenue, Sheridan, WY 82801 U.S.A.; [email protected] Lanny H. Fisk PaleoResource Consultants, 550 High Street, Suite 108, Auburn, CA 95603, U.S.A. (deceased) Thomas A. Deméré Department of Paleontology, San Diego Natural History Museum, 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101, U.S.A.; [email protected] Robert E. Reynolds Department of Paleontology, San Diego Natural History Museum, 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101, U.S.A.; [email protected] For correspondence, write to: Paul C. Murphey, Paleo Solutions, 4614 Lonespur Ct. Oceanside, CA 92056 Email: [email protected] [email protected] bpmp-19-01-fm Page 2 PDF Created: 2019-4-12: 9:20:AM 2 Paul C. Murphey, Georgia E. Knauss, Lanny H. Fisk, Thomas A. Deméré, and Robert E. Reynolds TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract . 4 Introduction . 4 History and Scientific Contributions . 5 History of Mitigation Paleontology in the United States . 5 Methods Best Practice Categories . 7 1. Qualifications. 7 Confusion between Resource Disciplines . 7 Professional Geologists as Mitigation Paleontologists. 8 Mitigation Paleontologist Categories . 8 Paleontological Principal Investigator. 8 Paleontological Field Supervisor . 8 Field Paleontologist. 9 Laboratory Paleontologist. 9 2. Land Ownership and Permitting. 9 Permits and Access Permission. 10 Authorized Fossil Collection . 10 Permitting Paleontological Resource Work—Agency Review. 10 3. Analysis of Existing Data . 10 Geologic Map Review. 11 Literature Search . 11 Paleontological Records Search . 13 Aerial Image Review . 14 Consultation with Local Technical Experts. 14 Project Theoretical Framework . 14 Data Synthesis. 15 4. Field Data Collection . 15 Data Capture. 15 The Importance of Negative Data. 17 Scientific Importance Criteria for Paleontological Resources. 17 Data Confidentiality. 17 Types of Field Data. 17 5. Field Surveys. 19 Terminology . 19 Prefield Preparation. 20 Safety. 20 Field Survey Methods . 20 6. Construction Monitoring . 22 Monitoring Methods. 22 Documentation . 23 Fossil Discoveries . 24 bpmp-19-01-fm Page 3 PDF Created: 2019-4-12: 9:20:AM BEST PRACTICES IN MITIGATION PALEONTOLOGY 3 7. Fossil Specimen Recovery: From Collection to Precuration . 24 Phase 1: Preliminary Mitigation Evaluation. Is the Locality Worth Exploring?. 24 Phase 2: Locality Exploration. Is the Fossil Worth Collecting?. 24 Phase 3: Fossil Recovery . 26 Phase 4: From the Field to the Curation Facility . 27 Phase 5: Laboratory Work . 28 8. Data Management and Reporting. 28 Data Management . 28 Reporting. 30 Mitigation Recommendations. 32 9. Curation Facilities. 34 10. Business Ethics and Scientific Rigor. 35 Project Scoping and Implementation. 35 Project Personnel . 36 External Pressure. 37 Conclusions . 37 Acknowledgements. 37.