Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73

§470gg Enforcement

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 1B— - ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES PROTECTION › § 470gg

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

If the Federal land manager certifies it, the Treasury must pay a reward from collected penalties and fines. The reward is half of the penalty or fine, but not more than $500. It goes to anyone who gives information that leads to finding a civil violation or to a criminal conviction. If several people helped, they split the money. Federal, state, or local officers and employees who provide the information as part of their jobs cannot get this payment. Archaeological finds, and any vehicles or tools used with those violations, can be forfeited to the United States at the judge’s or agency’s discretion when there is a conviction, a civil penalty, or a court finding they were involved. If the items were dug up or taken from Indian lands, any penalties must be paid to the Indian or tribe involved and the forfeited items must be given to that Indian or tribe.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §470gg

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Upon the certification of the Federal land manager concerned, the Secretary of the Treasury is directed to pay from penalties and fines collected under section 470ee and 470ff of this title an amount equal to one-half of such penalty or fine, but not to exceed $500, 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 such penalty or fine was paid. If several persons provided such information, such amount shall be divided among such 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 archaeological resources with respect to which a violation of subsection (a), (b), or (c) of section 470ee of this title occurred and which are in the possession of any person, and all vehicles and equipment of any person which were used in connection with such violation, may be (in the discretion of the court or administrative law judge, as the case may be) subject to forfeiture to the United States upon—

(1)such person’s conviction of such violation under section 470ee of this title,

(2)assessment of a civil penalty against such person under section 470ff of this title with respect to such violation, or

(3)a determination by any court that such archaeological resources, vehicles, or equipment were involved in such violation.

(c)In cases in which a violation of the prohibition contained in subsection (a), (b), or (c) of section 470ee of this title involve archaeological resources excavated or removed from Indian lands, the Federal land manager or the court, as the case may be, shall provide for the payment to the Indian or Indian tribe involved of all penalties collected pursuant to section 470ff of this title and for the transfer to such Indian or Indian tribe of all items forfeited under this section.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 470gg

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73