Federal Law for Mining Rights in the Prescott National Forest
Another MinerDiggins Adventure
What follows is the entire current Federal Law, as passed by Congress, listing the restrictions and rights to mineral claims on the original Prescott National Forest.
United
States Code TITLE 16 CHAPTER 2 SUBCHAPTER I Section 482a
Mining
rights in Prescott National Forest
On and
after January 19, 1933, mining locations made under the United States mining
laws upon lands within the municipal watershed of the city of Prescott, within
the Prescott National Forest in the State of Arizona, specifically described
as the west half southwest quarter section 13; south half section 14; southeast
quarter, and east half southwest quarter section 15; east half, and south
half southwest quarter section 22; all of section 23; west half section 24;
all of sections 26 and 27; north half north half section 34; and north half
north half section 35, township 13 north, range 2 west, Gila and Salt River
Base and meridian, an area of three thousand six hundred acres, more or less,
shall confer on the locator the right to occupy and use so much of the surface
of the land covered by the location as may be reasonably necessary to carry
on prospecting and mining, including the taking of mineral deposits and timber
required by or in the mining operations, and no permit shall be required or
charge made for such use or occupancy: Provided, however, That the cutting
and removal of timber, except where clearing is necessary in connection with
mining operations or to provide space for buildings or structures used in
connection with mining operations, shall be conducted in accordance with the
rules for timber cutting on adjoining national-forest land, and no use of
the surface of the claim or the resources therefrom not reasonably required
for carrying on mining and prospecting shall be allowed except under the national
forest rules and regulations, nor shall the locator prevent or obstruct other
occupancy of the surface or use of surface resources under authority of national-forest
regulations, or permits issued thereunder, if such occupancy or use is not
in conflict with mineral development.
On and
after January 19, 1933, all patents issued under the United States mining
laws affecting lands within the municipal watershed of the city of Prescott,
within the Prescott National Forest, in the State of Arizona, shall convey
title to the mineral deposits within the claim, together with the right to
cut and remove so much of the mature timber therefrom as may be needed in
extracting and removing the mineral deposits, if the timber is cut under sound
principles of forest management as defined by the national-forest rules and
regulations, but each patent shall reserve to the United States all title
in or to the surface of the lands and products thereof, and no use of the
surface of the claim or the resources therefrom not reasonably required for
carrying on mining or prospecting shall be allowed except under the rules
and regulations of the Department of Agriculture.
Valid mining claims within the municipal watershed of the city of Prescott, within the Prescott National Forest in the State of Arizona, existing on January 19, 1933, and thereafter maintained in compliance with the law under which they were initiated and the laws of the State of Arizona, may be perfected under this section, or under the laws under which they were initiated, as the claimant may desire.