BLM Removes Caps on Leasing Federal Lands for Solid Minerals
Published Date: 2/19/2026
Rule
Summary
The Bureau of Land Management is officially removing old rules that limited how much land you can lease for solid minerals (not coal or oil shale). This change affects miners and companies leasing land, letting them lease more land without those old limits. The new rule kicks in on March 23, 2026, making it easier and more flexible to lease mineral-rich land without extra fees or delays.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
No More Statewide Acreage Cap
The Bureau of Land Management removed the statewide acreage limit that capped how much hardrock (solid) mineral land any one company could hold in a single State by rescinding 43 CFR 3503.37(f). The change takes effect on March 23, 2026 and allows a single entity to hold as many permits and leases in a State as needed, subject to other approvals.
Development-Contract Rules Removed
The BLM rescinded 43 CFR subpart 3517 (Secs. 3517.10–3517.16), which had provided exemptions and procedures tied to the old acreage limit. Effective March 23, 2026, companies no longer need to use development contracts or processing and milling arrangements under subpart 3517 to hold additional hardrock permits and leases.
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