Oklahoma § 70-3314

§ 70-3314.

Oklahoma Biological Survey.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

A. There is hereby created the Biological Survey Office of the

State of Oklahoma, which shall be under the direction and

supervision of the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma.

B. The director of the Oklahoma Biological Survey shall be

appointed by the Board. The salary of the director shall be

determined by the Board.

C. The Oklahoma Biological Survey shall:

1. acquire, archive, process and disseminate information on

biological resources and natural areas that is or could be of value

to policy and decision makers in the state;

2. act as a representative of the state in biological matters,

exclusive of wildlife matters under the authority of the Wildlife

Conservation Commission and exclusive of matters pertaining to

agriculture, both within and outside the state when necessary or

appropriate, or when requested to do so by proper authority, which

shall include among others the legislative or executive branches of

state government;

3. conduct research, investigations, and interpretive programs

pertaining to natural areas and biological resources, including but

not limited to distributions of animal and plant forms within the

state and their relationships to one another and their environment

except as those matters pertain to agriculture;

4. maintain an inventory of natural and scientific areas, an

inventory of natural ecosystems and their components, and an

inventory of habitats of rare and endangered species of plants and

animals;

5. maintain as part of an herbarium, a plant collection that is

representative of but not restricted to the flora and plant

communities of Oklahoma, which among other benefits will support

research and investigative programs;

6. participate in the Oklahoma Natural Heritage Program,

including development of and responsibility for the Oklahoma Natural

Heritage Inventory of the state's habitats and species, which among

other benefits will provide a centralized and continually updated

inventory of the biological diversity of Oklahoma that will contain

accurate and timely information for environmental planning, resource

management, protection of significant natural areas, endangered

species review, and biological research and education; and

7. as authorized by the Board of Regents of the University of

Oklahoma, contract with private entities or state agencies to assist

in the training of students and the citizenry with respect to

biological resources and their importance to Oklahoma.

D. The establishment of the Biological Survey Office shall in

no way preclude or limit research and educational activities

concerning biological resources and natural areas by universities,

colleges, or other governmental entities.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

E. The director is authorized to certify copies as being

authentic reproductions of biological resource records held in the

state.

F. The director of the Oklahoma Biological Survey shall present

a report each year to the Board of Regents of the University of

Oklahoma showing the progress and condition of the Oklahoma

Biological Survey and any other information that the Board may deem

necessary.

Added by Laws 1987, c. 170, § 1, operative July 1, 1987.