Title 25IndiansRelease 119-73not60

§3007 Penalty

Title 25 › Chapter 32— NATIVE AMERICAN GRAVES PROTECTION AND REPATRIATION › § 3007

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior can fine any museum that does not follow the rules in this chapter. The fine is set under rules the Secretary makes and is decided after a record and a chance for an agency hearing. Each separate violation can be treated as its own offense. The amount must consider the item's archaeological, historical, or commercial value, the economic and noneconomic harm to a harmed party, and how many violations occurred. If a museum does not pay a final penalty that was not appealed or that was upheld on appeal, the Attorney General can sue in a U.S. district court to collect it. In that lawsuit, the penalty’s validity and amount cannot be reviewed. At hearings, the Secretary can issue subpoenas for witnesses and documents, and summoned witnesses get the same fees and travel pay as in U.S. courts.

Full Legal Text

Title 25, §3007

Indians — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Any museum that fails to comply with the requirements of this chapter may be assessed a civil penalty by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to procedures established by the Secretary through regulation. A penalty assessed under this subsection shall be determined on the record after opportunity for an agency hearing. Each violation under this subsection shall be a separate offense.
(b)The amount of a penalty assessed under subsection (a) shall be determined under regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter, taking into account, in addition to other factors—
(1)the archaeological, historical, or commercial value of the item involved;
(2)the damages suffered, both economic and noneconomic, by an aggrieved party,11 So in original. The comma probably should be a semicolon. and
(3)the number of violations that have occurred.
(c)If any museum fails to pay an assessment of a civil penalty pursuant to a final order of the Secretary that has been issued under subsection (a) and not appealed or after a final judgment has been rendered on appeal of such order, the Attorney General may institute a civil action in an appropriate district court of the United States to collect the penalty. In such action, the validity and amount of such penalty shall not be subject to review.
(d)In hearings held pursuant to subsection (a), subpoenas may be issued for the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of relevant papers, books, and documents. Witnesses so summoned shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid to witnesses in the courts of the United States.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 101–601, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3048, known as the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 3001 of this title and Tables.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

25 U.S.C. § 3007

Title 25Indians

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60