Title 30 — Mineral Lands and MiningRelease 119-73
§622 Liability for damage, destruction, or loss of claim
Title 30 › Chapter CHAPTER 16— - MINERAL DEVELOPMENT OF LANDS WITHDRAWN FOR POWER DEVELOPMENT › § 622
Summary
People or companies who search for minerals or build and run mines must take the financial risk themselves. The United States, and people it permits or licenses, do not have to pay for damage, loss, or destruction of mining claims, mill sites, facilities, income, or other investments when the land is used for power development by or under U.S. authority, unless the harm was caused by the government's carelessness.
Full Legal Text
Title 30, §622
Mineral Lands and Mining — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Prospecting and exploration for and the development and utilization of mineral resources authorized in this chapter shall be entered into or continued at the financial risk of the individual party or parties undertaking such work: Provided, That the United States, its permittees and licensees shall not be responsible or held liable or incur any liability for the damage, destruction, or loss of any mining claim, mill site, facility installed or erected, income, or other property or investments resulting from the actual use of such lands or portions thereof for power development at any time where such power development is made by or under the authority of the United States, except where such damage, destruction, or loss results from the negligence of the United States, its permittees and licensees.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
30 U.S.C. § 622
Title 30 — Mineral Lands and Mining
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73