§4306 Prohibited acts and criminal penalties

Summary

Without the Secretary’s permission, it is illegal to damage, change, remove, or enter a significant cave on Federal land to do those things, or to stop animals or plants from moving in or out. It is also illegal to have, eat, sell, trade, or offer cave resources when you know or should know they came from such a cave, or to hire or ask others to do these acts. People who legally had cave resources before November 18, 1988 are not covered. For a first violation, the penalty is up to 1 year in jail, or a fine under title 18, or both. For a second or later violation, the penalty is up to 3 years in jail, or a fine under title 18, or both.