Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-102

§460y–5 Applicability of Mining Laws; Prospecting Commenced or Conducted and Mining Claims Located Subsequent to October 21, 1970, as Subject to Regulations; Patents Issued on Mining Claims Located Subsequent to October 21, 1970, as Subject to Regulations; Provisions of Regulations; Rights of Owner of Existing Valid Mining Claim as Unaffected

Title 16 › CHAPTER 1 — NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › SUBCHAPTER LXXXIII — KING RANGE NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA › § 460y–5

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Federal mining laws still apply on federally owned lands in the Area. Prospecting or mining claims begun after October 21, 1970 must follow reasonable rules the Secretary makes to carry out this law. Any patent for a claim located after that date must say so and remain under those rules, which must protect scenic values and prevent pollution of streams and waters. Owners of existing valid mining claims keep their rights; nothing here takes those rights away.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §460y–5

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Subject to valid existing rights, nothing in this subchapter shall affect the applicability of the United States mining laws on the federally owned lands within the Area, except that all prospecting commenced or conducted and all mining claims located after October 21, 1970, shall be subject to such reasonable regulations as the Secretary may prescribe to effectuate the purposes of this subchapter. Any patent issued on any mining claim located after October 21, 1970, shall recite this limitation and continue to be subject to such regulations. All such regulations shall provide, among other things, for such measures as may be reasonable to protect the scenic and esthetic values of the Area against undue impairment and to assure against pollution of the streams and waters within the Area.

(b)Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or restrict rights of the owner or owners of any existing valid mining claim.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 460y–5

Title 16, Conservation

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102