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Mineral Lands and Regulations in General (30 USC Ch. 2)

Country/Territory
United States of America
Document type
Legislation
Date
2020
Source
FAO, FAOLEX
Subject
Livestock, Energy, Environment gen., Land & soil, Mineral resources, Sea, Water, Waste & hazardous substances, General
Keyword
Intellectual property rights/patents Energy conservation/energy production Recycling/reuse Sustainable use Public land Ownership Property rights Transfer Vested rights/existing rights Business/industry/corporations Drainage/land reclamation Soil pollution/quality Right of use Inheritance Tax/levy Procedural matters Dispute settlement Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings Agricultural land Servitude Access right Farming Agricultural development Liability/compensation Protection of environment Minerals Exploration Mining Research Oil Natural gas Coal Royalties/fees Authorization/permit Coastal zone management Waste disposal Waste management Water rights Water users' associations Surface water
Geographical area
Americas, Arctic, East Pacific, North America, North Atlantic
Abstract

This chapter provides for mineral lands. Specifically, it provides that, in all cases lands valuable for minerals shall be reserved from sale, except as otherwise expressly directed by law. The Congress declares that it is the continuing policy of the Federal Government in the national interest to foster and encourage private enterprise in (1) the development of economically sound and stable domestic mining, minerals, metal and mineral reclamation industries, (2) the orderly and economic development of domestic mineral resources, reserves, and reclamation of metals and minerals to help assure satisfaction of industrial, security and environmental needs, (3) mining, mineral, and metallurgical research, including the use and recycling of scrap to promote the wise and efficient use of our natural and reclaimable mineral resources, and (4) the study and development of methods for the disposal, control, and reclamation of mineral waste products, and the reclamation of mined land, so as to lessen any adverse impact of mineral extraction and processing upon the physical environment that may result from mining or mineral activities. For the purpose of this section "minerals" shall include all minerals and mineral fuels including oil, gas, coal, oil shale and uranium. It shall be the responsibility of the Secretary of the Interior to carry out this policy when exercising his authority under such programs as may be authorized by law other than this section. Except as otherwise provided, all valuable mineral deposits in lands belonging to the United States, both surveyed and unsurveyed, shall be free and open to exploration and purchase, and the lands in which they are found to occupation and purchase, by citizens of the United States and those who have declared their intention to become such, under regulations prescribed by law, and according to the local customs or rules of miners in the several mining districts, so far as the same are applicable and not inconsistent with the laws of the United States.

Full text
English
Website
uscode.house.gov