Mineral Materials Disposal; Sales; Free Use

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is amending its mineral materials regulations by adding or amending provisions on inspection of operations, production verification, contract renewal, procedures for cancellation, bonding, and appeals. The final rule also addresses the rights of purchasers and permittees versus subsequent users of the same land. BLM is amending the regulations in part because notices of intended sale of mineral materials have inspired speculative entries conflicting with the proposed sale, and because BLM has encountered difficulties in verifying production. These amendments are necessary to prevent entries and uses begun after a planned sale has been announced from interfering with the sale. The final rule also reorganizes and simplifies the regulations on mineral materials disposal, and makes a conforming amendment in BLM's regulations on Surface Management of mining claims.