Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries
Abstract
The U.S. Forest Service has published the final version of regulations on the surface use of National Forest lands under the amended mining laws of 1872. These regulations became effective September 1, 1974. Although the Mining Law of 1872 is still largely intact, the new regulations place some requirements in the path of prospectors and miners operating within the boundaries of the National Forests. The Mining Law of 1872 generally gives the prospector and miner the right to enter upon the public domain, and to search for, develop, and extract a wide variety of mineral resources. The Forest Service, charged with the protection and disposition of the vegetative resources and general management of wildlife and other surface resources, has become increasingly concerned with the activities of prospectors and miners. The present regulations are aimed at better control of access roads to the mine, prospect holes, open pits, mill effluent, solid waste disposal, control of erosion and landslides, and the eventual reclamation of the site following completion of the operation. In the 49 numbered paragraphs that follow are answers to many of the questions the Forest Service anticipates will be asked by persons wanting to know about the regulations it now administers. Copies of these regulations may be obtained from the U.S. Forest Service, Portland, Oregon 97208, or from any District Ranger Station
