§4306 Prohibited Acts and Criminal Penalties

Summary

You must not, without permission from the Secretary, knowingly damage, change, remove, or harm any "significant cave" on federal land, or stop animals or plants from moving into or out of such a cave. You also must not enter a significant cave planning to do those things. It is illegal to knowingly have, use, sell, trade, or offer for sale any cave resource taken from a significant cave on federal land. It is also illegal to hire, ask, or help someone else to break these rules. Breaking these rules can bring jail time and fines. A first offense can lead to up to 1 year in jail, a fine under title 18, or both. A second or later offense can lead to up to 3 years in jail, a fine under title 18, or both. People who lawfully had cave resources before November 18, 1988 are not covered by these penalties.