Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73
§470aaa–7 Rewards and forfeiture
Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 1C— - PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION › § 470aaa–7
Summary
Secretary can pay rewards from penalties or from appropriated funds. Payments must follow the Secretary’s rules or, if none exist, be up to 1/2 of the penalty. People whose tip leads to a civil finding or criminal conviction share the reward; federal, state, and local government employees on duty cannot be paid. Fossils tied to those violations can be seized and given to educational institutions for science or teaching.
Full Legal Text
Title 16, §470aaa–7
Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)The Secretary may pay from penalties collected under section 470aaa–5 or 470aaa–6 of this title or from appropriated funds—
(1)consistent with amounts established in regulations by the Secretary; or
(2)if no such regulation exists, an amount up to ½ of the penalties, to any person who furnishes information which leads to the finding of a civil violation, or the conviction of criminal violation, with respect to which the penalty was paid. If several persons provided the information, the amount shall be divided among the persons. No officer or employee of the United States or of any State or local government who furnishes information or renders service in the performance of his official duties shall be eligible for payment under this subsection.
(b)All paleontological resources with respect to which a violation under section 470aaa–5 or 470aaa–6 of this title occurred and which are in the possession of any person, shall be subject to civil forfeiture, or upon conviction, to criminal forfeiture.
(c)The Secretary may transfer administration of seized paleontological resources to Federal or non-Federal educational institutions to be used for scientific or educational purposes.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 470aaa–7
Title 16 — Conservation
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73