§ 21a. — National mining and minerals policy; "minerals" defined; execution of policy under other authorized programs.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 30USC21a]
TITLE 30--MINERAL LANDS AND MINING
CHAPTER 2--MINERAL LANDS AND REGULATIONS IN GENERAL
Sec. 21a. National mining and minerals policy; ``minerals''
defined; execution of policy under other authorized programs
The Congress declares that it is the continuing policy of the
Federal Government in the national interest to foster and encourage
private enterprise in (1) the development of economically sound and
stable domestic mining, minerals, metal and mineral reclamation
industries, (2) the orderly and economic development of domestic mineral
resources, reserves, and reclamation of metals and minerals to help
assure satisfaction of industrial, security and environmental needs, (3)
mining, mineral, and metallurgical research, including the use and
recycling of scrap to promote the wise and efficient use of our natural
and reclaimable mineral resources, and (4) the study and development of
methods for the disposal, control, and reclamation of mineral waste
products, and the reclamation of mined land, so as to lessen any adverse
impact of mineral extraction and processing upon the physical
environment that may result from mining or mineral activities.
For the purpose of this section ``minerals'' shall include all
minerals and mineral fuels including oil, gas, coal, oil shale and
uranium.
It shall be the responsibility of the Secretary of the Interior to
carry out this policy when exercising his authority under such programs
as may be authorized by law other than this section.
(Pub. L. 91-631, title I, Sec. 101, formerly Sec. 2, Dec. 31, 1970, 84
Stat. 1876; Pub. L. 104-66, title I, Sec. 1081(b), Dec. 21, 1995, 109
Stat. 721; renumbered title I, Sec. 101, Pub. L. 104-325, Sec. 2(1),
(2), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3994.)
Amendments
1995--Pub. L. 104-66 in last par. struck out at end ``For this
purpose the Secretary of the Interior shall include in his annual report
to the Congress a report on the state of the domestic mining, minerals,
and mineral reclamation industries, including a statement of the trend
in utilization and depletion of these resources, together with such
recommendations for legislative programs as may be necessary to
implement the policy of this section.''
Short Title
Section 1 of Pub. L. 91-631 provided: ``That this Act [enacting this
section] may be cited as the `Mining and Minerals Policy Act of 1970'.''
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 1292, 1601, 1605 of this
title; title 43 sections 1701, 1866.
