Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73
§460aaa–5 Minerals
Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER CXII— - GRAND ISLAND NATIONAL RECREATION AREA › § 460aaa–5
Summary
National recreation area lands are kept off-limits to new mining claims and to mineral and geothermal leases, but any existing valid rights stay in effect. The Secretary cannot allow mineral development, except authorized use of common materials (stone, gravel) for construction and maintenance of roads and facilities.
Full Legal Text
Title 16, §460aaa–5
Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Subject to valid existing rights, the lands within the national recreation area are hereby withdrawn from location, entry, and patent under the United States mining laws and from disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral leasing including all laws pertaining to geothermal leasing. Also subject to valid existing rights, the Secretary shall not allow any mineral development on federally owned land within the national recreation area, except that common varieties of mineral materials, such as stone, and gravel, may be utilized only as authorized by the Secretary to the extent necessary for construction and maintenance of roads and facilities within the national recreation area.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 460aaa–5
Title 16 — Conservation
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73