§3232 Recommendations of President to Congress

Summary

The President may send Congress a recommendation, after December 2, 1980, to allow mineral exploration, development, or extraction in a named part of the lands covered by the law. The President must publish a notice in the Federal Register first, and cannot send the recommendation until at least 90 days after that notice. Before sending it, the President must find there is an urgent national need for the mining and that this need is more important than the public uses of the land and the likely environmental harm. Along with the recommendation, the President must give Congress a detailed report explaining the facts and reasons, the conditions that would apply if approved, and, when an environmental impact statement is required under the National Environmental Policy Act, include the statement that law requires (and may include one even if not required). The recommendation only becomes effective if Congress passes a joint resolution approving it within the first 120 calendar days of continuous session after both Houses have received it. Continuity of session ends only by adjournment sine die, and days when either House is out of session for more than three days to a set date are not counted toward the 120 days.