Title 43 — Public LandsRelease 119-73
§158 Mineral resources on withdrawn lands; disposition and exploration
Title 43 › Chapter CHAPTER 6— - WITHDRAWAL FROM SETTLEMENT, LOCATION, SALE, OR ENTRY › § 158
Summary
Public lands set aside for the Defense Department (except lands set aside as naval petroleum, oil shale, or coal reserves) have their minerals, including oil and gas, controlled by the Interior Secretary. Mining or exploration is allowed only under public mining and leasing laws, unless the Defense Secretary, after consulting Interior, finds it would conflict with military use.
Full Legal Text
Title 43, §158
Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
All withdrawals or reservations of public lands for the use of any agency of the Department of Defense, except lands withdrawn or reserved specifically as naval petroleum, naval oil shale, or naval coal reserves, heretofore or hereafter made by the United States, shall be deemed to be subject to the condition that all minerals, including oil and gas, in the lands so withdrawn or reserved are under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior and there shall be no disposition of, or exploration for, any minerals in such lands except under the applicable public land mining and mineral leasing laws: Provided, That no disposition of, or exploration for, any minerals in such lands shall be made where the Secretary of Defense, after consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, determines that such disposition or exploration is inconsistent with the military use of the lands so withdrawn or reserved.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
43 U.S.C. § 158
Title 43 — Public Lands
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73