Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-110

§470gg Enforcement

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

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Anyone who gives information that leads to finding a civil violation or to a criminal conviction can get a reward. The Treasury must pay from the fines collected an amount equal to half of the penalty or fine, but no more than $500. If several people gave the information, the money is divided among them. Government officers or employees who give information as part of their job cannot get the reward. Archaeological items, and any vehicles or equipment used in the violation, can be forfeited to the United States if the person is convicted, is assessed a civil penalty, or a court finds the items were involved. If the violated resources were dug up or removed from Indian lands, all penalties collected must be paid to the Indian or tribe involved and all forfeited items must be transferred to that Indian or tribe.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §470gg

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Rewards

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)Forfeitures

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)Disposition of penalties collected and items forfeited in cases involving archaeological resources excavated or removed from Indian lands

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

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110