Title 30, Mineral Lands and MiningRelease 119-110

§1466 Civil Forfeitures

Title 30 › CHAPTER 26 — DEEP SEABED HARD MINERAL RESOURCES › SUBCHAPTER III — ENFORCEMENT AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › § 1466

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The law says the U.S. can take any ship (including its gear, supplies, and cargo) that was used in connection with certain forbidden acts, and any hard mineral resources taken, processed, or kept because of those acts. All or part of the ship and any such minerals can be seized through a civil court case. The usual rules about seizing, selling, and handling ships or cargo for customs violations apply here unless they conflict with this law. A U.S. district court can order these forfeitures when the Attorney General asks. If the court rules for the government, the Attorney General can take any forfeited property not already seized. A person who claims the property can stop a seizure by giving a bond (a financial promise) or other security. The bond must promise to bring the property to court in good condition or to pay its value if ordered. If the bond is broken, the court can collect from the person and anyone who signed as co‑signer. If hard minerals are found on a seized ship, the law starts with the assumption they were taken or kept illegally, but that presumption can be challenged.

Full Legal Text

Title 30, §1466

Mineral Lands and Mining, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

Any vessel subject to the provisions of section 1464 and 1465 of this title, including its gear, furniture, appurtenances, stores, and cargo, which is used, in any manner, in connection with or as a result of the commission of any act prohibited by section 1461 of this title and any hard mineral resource which is recovered, processed, or retained, in any manner, in connection with or as a result of the commission of any such act, shall be subject to forfeiture to the United States. All or part of such vessel, and all such hard mineral resources, may be forfeited to the United States pursuant to a civil proceeding under this section. All provisions of law relating to the seizure, judicial forfeiture, and condemnation of a vessel or cargo for violation of the customs laws, and the disposition of the vessel, cargo, or proceeds from the sale thereof and the remission or mitigation of such forfeitures shall apply to seizures and forfeitures incurred or alleged to have been incurred under the provisions of this section insofar as such provisions of law are applicable and not inconsistent with this chapter.

(b)Jurisdiction of courts

Any district court of the United States which has jurisdiction under section 1467 of this title shall have jurisdiction, upon application by the Attorney General on behalf of the United States, to order any forfeiture authorized under subsection (a) and any action provided for under subsection (d).

(c)Judgment

If a judgment is entered for the United States in a civil forfeiture proceeding under this section, the Attorney General may seize any property or other interest declared forfeited to the United States which has not previously been seized pursuant to this chapter or for which security has not previously been obtained under subsection (d).

(d)Procedure

Any officer authorized to serve any process in rem which is issued by a court having jurisdiction under section 1467 of this title shall stay the execution of such process, or discharge any property seized pursuant to such process, upon the receipt of a satisfactory bond or other security from any person subject to section 1461 of this title claiming such property. Such bond or other security shall be conditioned upon such person (1) delivering such property to the appropriate court upon order thereof, without any impairment of its value; or (2) paying the monetary value of such property pursuant to any order of such court. Judgment shall be recoverable on such bond or other security against both the principal and any sureties in the event that any condition thereof is breached, as determined by such court.

(e)Rebuttable presumption

For purposes of this section, it shall be a rebuttable presumption that all hard mineral resources found on board a vessel subject to the provisions of section 1464 and 1465 of this title which is seized in connection with an act prohibited by section 1461 of this title were recovered, processed, or retained in violation of this chapter.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

30 U.S.C. § 1466

Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110