Mineral Leasing Act

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The Mineral Leasing Act is a U.S. federal law that governs the leasing and development of publicly owned mineral resources such as oil, gas, coal, and other fuels on federal lands.


Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf United States federal statute
natural resources law
administeredBy Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management for certain onshore-related provisions
United States Department of the Interior
aimsTo ensure fair return to the public for mineral extraction
promote orderly development of federal mineral resources
protect environmental and surface interests in mineral development
appliesTo certain nonmetallic minerals on federal lands
federal lands
onshore coal leasing on federal lands
onshore federal lands
onshore oil and gas leasing on federal lands
public domain lands
country United States
distinguishesFrom hardrock minerals governed by the General Mining Act of 1872
establishes bonus bid system for mineral leases
rental payment requirements for mineral leases
royalty payment requirements for mineral production
system of competitive leasing for certain minerals
governs coal leases on federal lands
development of mineral resources on federal lands
leasing of mineral resources on federal lands
natural gas leases on federal lands
oil leases on federal lands
oil shale leases on federal lands
phosphate leases on federal lands
potassium leases on federal lands
sodium leases on federal lands
sulfur leases on federal lands
includes provisions for cancellation of leases
provisions for drainage and unitization
provisions for surface owner protections
provisions for suspension of operations and production
regulates assignment of mineral leases
lease durations for mineral development
lease sizes for mineral development
renewal of mineral leases
terms and conditions of mineral leases
relatedTo Federal Land Policy and Management Act
General Mining Act of 1872
National Environmental Policy Act
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act
replaced General Mining Act of 1872 for certain minerals on federal lands
requires compliance with lease terms and regulations by lessees
payment of royalties to the federal government
subjectOf federal court decisions on mineral rights
regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations


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