§ 23-2-901 Short title
§ 23-2-902 Definitions
§ 23-2-903 Vandalism of cave unlawful
§ 23-2-904 Disturbance of cave life unlawful
§ 23-2-905 Pollution of and burning harmful substances in cave unlawful
§ 23-2-906 Sale of speleothems and speleogens unlawful
§ 23-2-907 Conditions of owner liability
§ 23-2-908 Penalty

Terms Used In Montana Code > Title 23 > Chapter 2 > Part 9 - Cave Conservation Act

  • Cave: means any geologically formed void or cavity beneath the surface of the earth or within a cliff or ledge, including but not limited to natural subsurface water and drainage systems, whether or not a natural entrance is present. See Montana Code 23-2-902
  • Cave life: means any life form that occurs in, uses, visits, or inhabits a cave. See Montana Code 23-2-902
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Gate: means a structure or device located to limit or prohibit access or entry to a cave. See Montana Code 23-2-902
  • Knowingly: means only a knowledge that the facts exist which bring the act or omission within the provisions of this code. See Montana Code 1-1-204
  • Material: means all or part of any archaeological, cultural, paleontological, biological, or historical item or artifact found in a cave, including but not limited to any petroglyph, pictograph, pottery, basketwork, fossil, human remains, or animal remains. See Montana Code 23-2-902
  • Owner: means any person or public or private agency that has the right to possession of a cave. See Montana Code 23-2-902
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Person: means an individual, partnership, firm, association, trust, corporation, or other legal entity. See Montana Code 23-2-902
  • Speleogen: means the surrounding natural earth or bedrock in which a cave is formed, including but not limited to clastic sediments, walls, floors, ceiling, and other related structural and geological features. See Montana Code 23-2-902
  • Speleothem: means a natural mineral formation or deposit occurring in a cave, including but not limited to formations known as stalagmite, stalactite, helectite, shield, anthodite, gypsum flower and needle, angel's hair, soda straw, drapery, bacon, cave pearl, popcorn, rimstone dam, column, palette, and flowstone. See Montana Code 23-2-902