§520. Regulations as to mineral resources

The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized, under general regulations to be prescribed by him, to permit the prospecting, development, and utilization of the mineral resources of the lands acquired under the Act of March first, nineteen hundred and eleven, known as the Weeks law, upon such terms and for specified periods or otherwise, as he may deem to be for the best interests of the United States; and all moneys received on account of charges, if any, made under this Act shall be disposed of as is provided by existing law for the disposition of receipts from national forests.

(Mar. 4, 1917, ch. 179, 39 Stat. 1150 ; 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3, §402, eff. July 16, 1946, 11 F.R. 7876, 60 Stat. 1099; Pub. L. 86–509, §1(l), June 11, 1960, 74 Stat. 205 .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Act of March first, nineteen hundred and eleven, referred to in text, is act Mar. 1, 1911, ch. 186, 36 Stat. 961 , popularly known as the Weeks Law, which enacted former sections 513 and 514 and sections 515 to 519, 521, 552, and 563 of this title and amended sections 480 and 500 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 552 of this title and Tables.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

Functions of Secretary of Agriculture with respect to uses of mineral deposits under this section transferred to Secretary of the Interior by section 402 of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1946, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, which provided that mineral development on such lands shall be authorized by Secretary of the Interior only when he is advised by Secretary of Agriculture that such development will not interfere with purposes for which land was acquired and only in accordance with such conditions as may be specified by Secretary of Agriculture in order to protect such purposes.

For provisions concerning crediting and distribution of revenues and access to title records, see text of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1946.

Functions of Secretary of the Interior under section 402 of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1946, with respect to use and disposal from lands under jurisdiction of Secretary of Agriculture of those mineral materials which Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to dispose of from other lands under his jurisdiction under sections 601 to 604 and 611 to 615 of Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining, transferred to Secretary of Agriculture, see Pub. L. 86–509, June 11, 1960, 74 Stat. 205 , set out as a note under section 2201 of Title 7, Agriculture.