43 C.F.R. Subpart 3506—Exploration Licenses
Title 43 - Public Lands: Interior
An exploration license allows you to explore known, unleased mineral deposits to obtain geologic, environmental and other pertinent data concerning such deposits.
Title 43: Public Lands: Interior
PART 3500—LEASING OF SOLID MINERALS OTHER THAN COAL AND OIL SHALE
Subpart 3506—Exploration Licenses
General Information
§ 3506.10 What is an exploration license?
Applying for and Obtaining Exploration Licenses
§ 3506.11 What must I do to obtain an exploration license?
(a) To apply, submit an exploration plan as described at §3505.45 of this part, along with your request for an exploration license. No specific form is required. When BLM approves the exploration plan, we will attach the approved plan to, and make it a part of, the license. You must also publish a BLM-approved notice of exploration, inviting others to participate in exploration under the license on a pro-rata cost-sharing basis.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, BLM will process your exploration license application in accordance with the regulations at part 2920 of this chapter.
§ 3506.12 Who prepares and publishes the notice of exploration?
BLM will prepare a notice of exploration using your information and post the notice and your exploration plan in the BLM office for 30 days. You must publish the notice of exploration once a week for three consecutive weeks in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the area in which the lands are located.
§ 3506.13 What information must I provide to BLM to include in the notice of exploration?
You must include:
(a) Your name and address;
(b) A description of the lands;
(c) The address of the BLM office where your exploration plan will be available for inspection; and
(d) An invitation to the public to participate in the exploration under the license.
§ 3506.14 May others participate in the exploration program?
(a) If any person wants to participate in the exploration program, you and BLM must receive written notice from that person within 30 days after the later of the final newspaper publication or the end of the BLM 30-day posting period.
(b) A person who wants to participate in the exploration program must state in their notice:
(1) They are willing to share in the cost of the exploration on a pro-rata basis; and
(2) Any modifications to the exploration program that BLM should consider.
[64 FR 53536, Oct. 1, 1999; 65 FR 11476, Mar. 3, 2000]
§ 3506.15 What will BLM do in response to my exploration license application?
(a) BLM will determine whether to issue the exploration license. If we decide to issue the license, we will name the participants and the acreage covered. We also will establish hole spacing requirements and include any stipulations needed to protect the environment.
(b) If there are inconsistencies between proposed exploration plans, the approved license will resolve them.
Terms; Modifications
§ 3506.20 After my license is issued, may I modify my license or exploration plan?
BLM may approve modifications of your exploration plan upon your request. We may also permit you to remove lands from your exploration license at any time. However, once we issue your exploration license, you may not add lands to the area of your exploration license.
§ 3506.25 Once I have a license, what are my responsibilities?
You must share with BLM all data you obtain during exploration. We will consider the data confidential and will not make the data public until either:
(a) The areas involved are leased; or
(b) BLM determines that it must release the data in response to a FOIA request.
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