Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-110

§470aaa–7 Rewards and Forfeiture

Title 16 › CHAPTER 1C — PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION › § 470aaa–7

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary may pay rewards from penalties collected under sections 470aaa–5 or 470aaa–6 or from appropriated funds to people who give information that leads to a civil finding or a criminal conviction. Payment amounts must follow any rules the Secretary sets. If no rule exists, a reward may be up to 1/2 of the penalties. If several people help, the money is split. Federal, State, or local officers or employees who give information or do work as part of their official jobs cannot be paid. Any paleontological resources tied to a violation of sections 470aaa–5 or 470aaa–6 and held by anyone can be seized and forfeited civilly, or criminally after conviction. The Secretary may give seized resources to federal or nonfederal educational institutions for scientific or educational use.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §470aaa–7

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Rewards

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)Forfeiture

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)Transfer of seized resources

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

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110