2013 US Code
Title 16 - Conservation
Chapter 31 - MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION (§§ 1361 - 1423h)
Subchapter VI - POLAR BEARS (§§ 1423 - 1423h)
Section 1423b - Administration

The Secretary, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, shall do all things necessary and appropriate, including the promulgation of regulations, to implement, enforce, and administer the provisions of the Agreement on behalf of the United States. The Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of State and the Alaska Nanuuq Commission on matters involving the implementation of the Agreement.

The Secretary may utilize by agreement, with or without reimbursement, the personnel, services, and facilities of any other Federal agency, any State agency, or the Alaska Nanuuq Commission for purposes of carrying out this subchapter or the Agreement.

Any person authorized by the Secretary under this subsection to enforce this subchapter or the Agreement shall have the authorities that are enumerated in section 3375(b) of this title.

The Secretary may use authorities granted under subchapter II for enforcement, imposition of penalties, and the seizure of cargo for violations under this subchapter, provided that any polar bear or any part or product of a polar bear taken, imported, exported, possessed, transported, sold, received, acquired, purchased, exchanged, or bartered, or offered for sale, purchase, exchange, or barter in violation of this subchapter, shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture to the United States without any showing that may be required for assessment of a civil penalty or for criminal prosecution under this chapter.

Any gun, trap, net, or other equipment used, and any vessel, aircraft, or other means of transportation used, to aid in the violation or attempted violation of this subchapter shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture under section 1376 of this title.

The Secretary shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to carry out this subchapter and the Agreement.

If necessary to carry out this subchapter and the Agreement, and to improve compliance with any annual taking limit or other restriction on taking adopted by the Commission and implemented by the Secretary in accordance with this subchapter, the Secretary may promulgate regulations that adopt any ordinance or regulation that restricts the taking of polar bears for subsistence purposes if the ordinance or regulation has been promulgated by the Alaska Nanuuq Commission.

(Pub. L. 92–522, title V, §503, as added Pub. L. 109–479, title IX, §902(a), Jan. 12, 2007, 120 Stat. 3662.)