Federal and State Regulations Pertaining to Systematic Collections. I. A Case of Inadvertent Violation of Federal Regulations

Abstract

On 25 April 1975, at the twenty-second annual meeting of the Southwestern Association of Naturalists (SWAN), at the University of Oklahoma Biological Station, President Keith A. Arnold appointed Jerry Choate to investigate current regulations pertaining to collection and transport of scientific specimens in the region of representation (including Mexico) or SWAN. This charge involves both Federal and State laws, several of which are undergoing change and many of which doubtlessly are not familiar to the membership of SWAN. In order that SWAN members might be made aware of these regulations and not unwittingly commit violations, it was decided that SWANEWS should be used as the vehicle by which to disseminate information thereon. The following is the first of several reports which will be published in SWANEWS. It consists of a chronological account of what transpired after a SWAN member inadvertently violated Federal regulations regarding the import of scientific specimens from Mexico. Because the case is still awaiting settlement, it is inappropriate to disclose the persons or institutions involved. Subsequent accounts will summarize various State and Federal regulations and hopefully will describe ways in which the members of SWAN can influences the regulations which govern our activities.