Us Code § 520 - Regulations as to mineral resources
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 520 — Regulations as to mineral resources, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 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.
About This Section
16 U.S.C. § 520 is part of Title 16 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
This section may be cited in legal writing as 16 U.S.C. § 520. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.
How to Read This Statute
Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.
Using This Page
This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.