15 CFR § 904.510 - Return of seized property.
---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t15/s904.510"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "15 CFR § 904.510 - Return of seized property."
title_number: 15
title_name: "Commerce and Foreign Trade"
section_number: "904.510"
section_name: "Return of seized property."
chapter_name: "NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE"
subchapter_number: "A"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL REGULATIONS"
part_number: "904"
part_name: "CIVIL PROCEDURES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "16 U.S.C. 1801 16 U.S.C. 1531 16 U.S.C. 1361 16 U.S.C. 3371 16 U.S.C. 1431 16 U.S.C. 6901 16 U.S.C. 773 16 U.S.C. 951 16 U.S.C. 5001 16 U.S.C. 3631 42 U.S.C. 9101 30 U.S.C. 1401 16 U.S.C. 971 16 U.S.C. 781 16 U.S.C. 2431 16 U.S.C. 972 16 U.S.C. 916 16 U.S.C. 1151 16 U.S.C. 3601 16 U.S.C. 1851 note; 15 U.S.C. 330 16 U.S.C. 2461 16 U.S.C. 5101 16 U.S.C. 1371 16 U.S.C. 3601 16 U.S.C. 1822 note, 16 U.S.C. 4001 16 U.S.C. 5501 16 U.S.C. 5601 16 U.S.C. 973 16 U.S.C. 1827a, 16 U.S.C. 7701 16 U.S.C. 7801 16 U.S.C. 1826g, 51 U.S.C. 60101 16 U.S.C. 7001 16 U.S.C. 7401 16 U.S.C. 2401 16 U.S.C. 1826k note, 1857 note, 22 U.S.C. 1980, Pub. L. 116-340, 134 Stat. 5128."
regulatory_source: "71 FR 12448, Mar. 10, 2006, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "904"
---
# 904.510 Return of seized property.
(a) *Return.* In cases where NOAA, in its sole discretion, determines that forfeiture of seized property would not be in the best interest of the U.S. Government, NOAA will make a reasonable attempt to determine the party that the facts of record indicate has a predominant ownership interest in the seized property and, provided such a determination can be made, will arrange for return of the seized property to that party by appropriate means.
(b) *Notice.* NOAA will serve a Notice of the Return of property as provided by § 904.3, to the owner, consignee, or other party the facts of record indicate has an interest in the seized property. The Notice will describe the seized property, state the time, place, and reason for the seizure and return, and will identify the owner or consignee, and if appropriate, the bailee of the seized property. The Notice of the return also will state that the party to whom the property is being returned is responsible for any distribution of the property to any party who holds a valid claim, right, title or interest in receiving the property, in whole or in part. The Notice also will provide that on presentation of the Notice and proper identification, and the signing of a receipt provided by NOAA, the seized property is authorized to be released.