[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 50, Volume 7]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 50CFR216.6]

[Page 12-13]
 
                    TITLE 50--WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES
 
  CHAPTER II--NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND 
           ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
 
PART 216_REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE TAKING AND IMPORTING OF MARINE 
 
                         Subpart A_Introduction
 
Sec. 216.6  Forfeiture and return of seized property.

    (a) Whenever any cargo or marine mammal or marine mammal product has 
been seized pursuant to section 107 of the MMPA, the Secretary shall 
expedite any proceedings commenced under these regulations.
    (b) Whenever a civil penalty has been assessed by the Secretary 
under these regulations, any cargo, marine mammal, or marine mammal 
product seized pursuant to section 107 of the MMPA shall be subject to 
forfeiture. If respondent voluntarily forfeits any such seized property 
or the monetary value thereof without court proceedings, the Secretary 
may apply the value thereof, if any, as determined by the Secretary, 
toward payment of the civil penalty.

[[Page 13]]

    (c) Whenever a civil penalty has been assessed under these 
regulations, and whether or not such penalty has been paid, the 
Secretary may request the Attorney General to institute a civil action 
in an appropriate United States District Court to compel forfeiture of 
such seized property or the monetary value thereof to the Secretary for 
disposition by him in such manner as he deems appropriate. If no 
judicial action to compel forfeiture is commenced within 30 days after 
final decision-making assessment of a civil penalty, pursuant to Sec. 
216.60, such seized property shall immediately be returned to the 
respondent.
    (d) If the final decision of the Secretary under these regulations 
is that respondent has committed no violation of the MMPA or of any 
permit or regulations issued thereunder, any marine mammal, marine 
mammal product, or other cargo seized from respondent in connection with 
the proceedings under these regulations, or the bond or other monetary 
value substituted therefor, shall immediately be returned to the 
respondent.
    (e) If the Attorney General commences criminal proceedings pursuant 
to section 105(b) of the MMPA, and such proceedings result in a finding 
that the person accused is not guilty of a criminal violation of the 
MMPA, the Secretary may institute proceedings for the assessment of a 
civil penalty under this part: Provided, That if no such civil penalty 
proceedings have been commenced by the Secretary within 30 days 
following the final disposition of the criminal case, any property 
seized pursuant to section 107 of the MMPA shall be returned to the 
respondent.
    (f) If any seized property is to be returned to the respondent, the 
Regional Director shall issue a letter authorizing such return. This 
letter shall be dispatched to the respondent by registered mail, return 
receipt requested, and shall identify the respondent, the seized 
property, and, if appropriate, the bailee of the seized property. It 
shall also provide that upon presentation of the letter and proper 
identification, the seized property is authorized to be released. All 
charges for storage, care, or handling of the seized property accruing 5 
days or more after the date of the return receipt shall be for the 
account of the respondent: Provided, That if it is the final decision of 
the Secretary under these regulations that the respondent has committed 
the alleged violation, all charges which have accrued for the storage, 
care, or handling of the seized property shall be for the account of the 
respondent.

[39 FR 1852, Jan. 15, 1974. Redesignated at 46 FR 61652, Dec. 18, 1981, 
and amended at 59 FR 50375, Oct. 3, 1994]