6. Permission to Collect

Permission is required for all seed collected for the Seeds of Success program.

6a. Collecting on BLM Lands

Collecting seeds on public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management is categorically excluded in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).  Department of the Interior (DOI) 516 Manual is the official guidance for determining the level of NEPA required.  BLM's CX list is incorporated into the DOI NEPA manual at 516 DM 6, Appendix 5, Section 5.4 (effective 5/19/92).  In the Forestry program section of the BLM Categorical Exclusion list there are five categorical exclusions.  The fifth exclusion applies to seed collection as follows: (5) Disposal of small amounts of miscellaneous vegetation products outside established harvest areas, such as Christmas trees, wildings, floral products (ferns, boughs, etc.), cones, seeds, and personal use firewood. 

BLM may give permission to other volunteer groups to collect for the Seeds of Success program on BLM managed lands.  To comply with DOI privacy standards, individuals acting in a personal capacity may not be listed as a collector on the data form.  Team leads should be listed when no other collector names are available.

6b. Collecting on Non-BLM Lands

Collection may take place on private lands or lands managed by another federal agency (e.g. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service, and Department of Defense) or state, county or municipal agencies, as long as landowner permission is provided.  Document landowner permission on the field data form associated with the seed collection.  Keep written documentation of permission to collect in your office’s files when collections are made on lands other than those managed by BLM.