Paleontology

Eocene Environmental Group Is Skilled at Surveying, Excavating & Monitoring for Fossils in Compliance with State & Federal Laws.

An Eocene employee wearing a hard hat and a bright colored vest shovels soil into a sifter

As projects reach the excavation stage, areas known for potential fossils should be surveyed to identify and preserve any fossils before development takes place. Our team of paleontologists and researchers combines technology with knowledge to provide an array of services.

Working with both small- and large-scale excavations, these services include:

Surveying for fossil resources within rights-of-way (ROW)s.
Paleontological construction monitoring.
Recording fossil localities.
Writing reports.
Coordinating with agencies and clients.

We work to make sure that paleontological resources are protected in compliance with the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA) and also follow the impact mitigation guidelines set by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology.

How Our Paleontological Services Work

Prior to conducting field investigations, we use several resources to determine paleontological sensitivity and fossil potential of geologic units that projects are underlain by. Our reviews include the Potential Fossil Yield Classification (PFYC) which ranks geologic units based on their likelihood to contain scientifically significant fossils.

During ground disturbing construction activities, a paleontological monitor must be at each location that is specified as needing monitoring. This is usually in areas of high potential fossil yield. Without paleontological monitoring, fossils might be destroyed during construction and valuable scientific information could be lost.

Reports We Produce

Some of the common reports we develop include:

Pre-field reviews.
Paleontology desktop reviews.
Paleontology survey reports.
Daily paleontology monitoring reports.
End of project monitoring reports.

Paleontological Resources Preservation Act Compliance & Agency Coordination

We work to make sure paleontological resources are protected in compliance with the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act. Our paleontologists are practiced at identifying fossils to taxon and element, assessing their scientific significance, recording site geology and sedimentology, and developing mitigation measures to protect paleontological resources.

We have experience coordinating with agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Forest Service, Department of Transportation, and state agencies to ensure that projects do not have adverse impacts to paleontological resources.

Project Experience

We have experience working on a wide range of projects, including but not limited to:

Natural gas pipelines.
Transmission lines.
Water projects and land exchanges.

Paleontological resources discovered through these projects provide significant information that would not have been recovered otherwise.

Learn More About Eocene Environmental Group’s Work

Want to learn more about how our team of paleontologists can help with your project?