[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 36, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 36CFR228.60]

[Page 161]
 
              TITLE 36--PARKS, FORESTS, AND PUBLIC PROPERTY
 
          CHAPTER II--FOREST SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 228_MINERALS--Table of Contents
 
                 Subpart C_Disposal of Mineral Materials
 
Sec. 228.60  Prospecting permits.

    (a) Right conferred. On acquired National Forest lands, prospecting 
permits may be issued which grant the permittee the exclusive right to 
explore for and to demonstrate the existence of a suitable mineral 
material deposit when existing information is insufficient. After the 
demonstration of a suitable deposit and confirmation of this by the 
authorized officer, the permittee will have a preference right to apply 
for a negotiated sale.
    (b) Limitations. Mineral material may be removed from lands under a 
prospecting permit only to the extent necessary for testing and analysis 
or for the demonstration of the existence of a suitable deposit.
    (c) Environmental analysis. Prospecting permits will be issued only 
after submission by applicant and approval by the authorized officer of 
a detailed operating plan. The authorized officer may require a bond in 
accordance with Sec. 228.51. The authorized officer must ensure 
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq.).
    (d) Acreage and permit limitations. A prospecting permit may not 
cover more than 640 acres. No individual or group may have an interest 
at any one time in more than three prospecting permits on Forest Service 
lands administered by one Forest Supervisor.
    (e) Duration and extension of permits. Prospecting permits may be 
issued for a period not to exceed 24 months, but they may be extended 
once for up to an additional 24 months if necessary to complete 
prospecting. Any application for extension must be submitted no later 
than 30 days before the expiration of the permit. The application for 
extension must provide evidence of diligence and state the reasons why 
additional time is considered necessary to complete prospecting work.
    (f) Refusal to extend permits. The authorized officer may reject 
applications for extension of prospecting permits for the following 
reasons:
    (1) Failure to perform. Failure of the permittee to perform 
prospecting or exploration work without adequate justification may 
result in the denial of an extension; or
    (2) Failure to apply. If an application for extension is not 
submitted within the specified period, the permit may expire without 
notice to the permittee.
    (3) Public interest. If the authorized officer determines that an 
extension may not be in the public interest, the application may be 
rejected.