[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 43, Volume 1] [Revised as of October 1, 2002] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 43CFR23.4] [Page 438] TITLE 43--PUBLIC LANDS: INTERIOR PART 23--SURFACE EXPLORATION, MINING AND RECLAMATION OF LANDS--Table of Contents Sec. 23.4 Application for permission to conduct exploration operations. No person shall, in any manner or by any means which will cause the surface of lands to be disturbed, explore, test, or prospect for minerals (other than oil and gas) subject to disposition under the mineral leasing acts without first filing an application for, and obtaining, a permit, lease or contract which authorizes such exploring, testing, or prospecting. [34 FR 852, Jan. 18, 1969, as amended at 48 FR 27016, June 10, 1983]