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MEMORANDUM
TO: All Florida Park Service Units
FROM: Mark W. Glisson, Chief
Bureau of Natural and Cultural Resources
April 6, 1993
SUBJECT:
Procedures on the Use of Metal Detectors
As you should know by this time, the Department has revised the subject
procedures transmitted to you on March 10, 1993. Attached are the revised
procedures which will be incorporated-in the Operations Procedures Manual.
Also attached is a press release that will be disseminated to media by the
Department's office of Communications and that you may also want to distribute
to local media and interest groups. Though the procedures allow the use of metal
detectors, the special limitations concerning the restricted use zone and the
designation of archaeological sites which are off-limit for metal detector use
should be communicated and interpreted. We should also encourage the public to
turn in lost objects they find.
As with the earlier policy, we should cautiously implement these
procedures over the next 30 to 60 days to ensure that the public is aware of the
limited area where metal detecting is permitted.
If you should have questions on these procedures, please contact Steve
Martin. Thank you for excellent cooperation on this matter.
MWG/smw
Attachments
cc:
Don Duden, Acting Executive Director, DNR
Nevin Smith, Deputy Assistant Executive Director, OLR
Fran Mainella, Director, DRP
Joe Knoll, Assistant Director, DRP
John Baust, Chief, Bureau of Operational Services, DRP
Jim Miller, Chief, Bureau of Archaeological Research, DHR
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Bureau of Natural and Cultural Resources (904) 487-1559
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STATE PARKS METAL DETECTOR POLICY REVISED
TALLAHASSEE, FL,APRIL 5, 1993 -- The Florida Park Service has revised
its April 1, 1993 prohibition on recreational use of metal detectors
in state parks to allow limited use in beach parks between the
seaward toe of the dune and the ordinary water line.
While the revised policy does allow metal detectors in most
parks along saltwater beaches, some areas may be set aside as
designated archaeological sites where detectors are still prohibited
except for archaeological research projects authorized by the park
and the Department of State, Division of Historical Resources.
Park management staff say the decision to approve metal detector
use in a restricted zone along the beach is based on the core mission
of the State park system and a strong expression of support for metal
detector use by the public. The park system strives to protect
resources and provide outdoor recreational opportunities for the
public, which staff say requires careful balancing.
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"We have reviewed the matter to determine if there is some measure
of compromise we could build into the policy," says Mark Glisson,
Chief of the Bureau of Natural and Cultural Resources.
"By allowing metal detector use in the high energy shoreline of the
beach, which is constantly being turned over by wave action, we are
providing the public a reasonable recreational opportunity and
minimizing the potential loss of historic resources,- Glisson said.
The park service's revised procedures presumes cooperation by the
public in reporting historic artifacts they find, and turning in
lost personal items so they may be recovered by the rightful
owners. The approval to use metal detectors is based largely on the
public's willingness to cooperate, say park service management.
Persons wanting more information on the park service's metal
detector procedures should contact a local state park or the
central office in Tallahassee at (904) 487-1559,,
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Department of Natural Resources
Division of Recreation and Parks
RESTRICTIVE USE OF METAL DETECTORS IN PARKS
New language for the Division of Recreation and Parks, Operations Procedures
Manual is shown with underline symbols below.
CHAPTER VIII GENERAL PROCEDURES
7.
LOST AND FOUND ITEMS
Each park shall have a designated secure location for storage of lost and found
items. when possible, this area will be located in, or convenient to, the ranger
station or park office. Procedures for disposition of personal property found in
public places can be found in DNR Administrative Directive 550.
Metal detectors may be used to recover personal items that are specifically
identified by their owner as being lost in a specific area of a nark. The owner
of lost property or his representative should contact the park manager who will
arrange time for the search to be conducted in the presence of a park staff
member. During these searches, only the item sought may be kept by the owner or
his representative.
CHAPTER XV RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
11.
COLLECTING
Natural and cultural objects on park lands are protected and may not be removed
without written authorization. Refer to the Research/Collections Policy for
guidelines and procedures. Permits must be obtained from the Division and the
Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, for archaeological
research projects and may be required from other state or federal agencies, as
well.
Use of metal detectors, magnetometers, or other metal detecting devices is
prohibited on all state park managed lands including sovereign submerged lands
under lease by state Parks except for the following: (a) coastal parks, in a
zone between the water line and toe of the dune, as determined by the park
manager, except at archaeological sites within the zone designated by the
Department of State, Division of Historical Resources (DHR) or the park manager;
(b) archaeological research Projects authorized by DHR; and, (c) as provided for
in Chapter VIII, General Procedures, Paragraph 7., for the recovery of lost
personal items. Any hole dug associated with the use of a metal detector must be
refilled to the contour of pre-dig conditions using the excavated material. Any
excavations within designated archaeological sites require a permit from DHR and
approval from the Division. Objects found or recovered under the terms of a
permit issued by DHR, are property of the State of Florida, with title vested by
statute in DHR. Such objects are normally curated by the DHR and can be made
available by loan to the Division upon req
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