---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 470aaa–7"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "470aaa–7"
heading: "Rewards and forfeiture"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/470aaa-7"
units:
  - "Chapter 1C — Paleontological Resources Preservation"
---

# §470aaa–7. Rewards and forfeiture

- (a) **Rewards—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/470aaa.md?p=5) may pay from penalties collected under section [470aaa–5](/usc/16/470aaa–5.md) or [470aaa–6](/usc/16/470aaa–6.md) of this title or from appropriated funds—
  - (1) consistent with amounts established in regulations by the [Secretary](/usc/16/470aaa.md?p=5); or
  - (2) if no such regulation exists, an amount up to ½ of the penalties, to any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) who furnishes information which leads to the finding of a civil [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11), or the conviction of criminal [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11), with respect to which the penalty was paid. If several [persons](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) provided the information, the amount shall be divided among the [persons](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b). No officer or employee of the United States or of any [State](/usc/16/470aaa.md?p=6) 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](/usc/16/470aaa.md?p=4) with respect to which a [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) under section [470aaa–5](/usc/16/470aaa–5.md) or [470aaa–6](/usc/16/470aaa–6.md) of this title occurred and which are in the possession of any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b), shall be subject to civil forfeiture, or upon conviction, to criminal forfeiture.
- (c) **Transfer of seized resources—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/470aaa.md?p=5) may transfer administration of seized [paleontological resources](/usc/16/470aaa.md?p=4) to Federal or non-Federal educational institutions to be used for scientific or educational purposes.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–11, title VI, § 6308, Mar. 30, 2009, 123 Stat. 1176.)