--> Inventory of Land Use Restraints Program, by D. A. Ferderer; #90986 (1994).

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Abstract: Inventory of Land Use Restraints Program

David A. Ferderer

Ensuring a continuous and dependable supply of minerals adequate for the industrial and defense requirements of the United States is one of the vital concerns of the nation. In recent years, numerous laws, regulations, and management practices have been implemented to preserve or protect a variety of nonmineral resource values. As a consequence, Federal lands have been formally withdrawn from mineral exploration and development. These actions have led to concern that such restrictions may seriously impair access to our nation's mineral resources.

The Bureau of Mines is assessing the impact of Federal land use decisions in 11 western states and Alaska. Each study is composed of three parts: (1) an inventory of Federal mineral ownership and mineral land availability, (2) an assessment of areas having past mineral production and/or known resources, and (3) a comparison of Federal mineral availability with areas having past mineral production and/or known mineral resources.

The managing agency, mineral-ownership information, applicable formal restrictions and land-use designations are derived from Bureau of Land Management master title plats. Each parcel of Federal land is further classified as available, restricted, or unavailable for mineral exploration and development.

As the program progresses, the cumulative effects of withdrawals and other restrictions will be defined for each state and most Federal lands. These studies will be useful to policy makers, land planners at all levels of government, and industry representatives concerned with domestic mineral supply and the future use of public lands.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90986©1994 AAPG Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado, June 12-15, 1994