
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 16USC410aaa-49]

 
                         TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
 
   CHAPTER 1--NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES
 
      SUBCHAPTER LIX-Y--CALIFORNIA DESERT LANDS PARKS AND PRESERVE
 
                    Part C--Mojave National Preserve
 
Sec. 410aaa-49. Study as to validity of mining claims

    (a) The Secretary shall not approve any plan of operation prior to 
determining the validity of the unpatented mining claims, mill sites, 
and tunnel sites affected by such plan within the preserve and shall 
submit to Congress recommendations as to whether any valid or patented 
claims should be acquired by the United States, including the estimated 
acquisition costs of such claims, and a discussion of the environmental 
consequences of the extraction of minerals from these lands.
    (b)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary 
shall permit the holder or holders of mining claims identified on the 
records of the Bureau of Land Management as Volco <greek-i>A CAMC 
105446, Volco <greek-i>B CAMC 105447, Volco 1 CAMC 80155, Volco 2 CAMC 
80156, Volco 3 CAMC 170259, Volco 4 CAMC 170260, Volco 5 CAMC 78405, 
Volco 6 CAMC 78404, and Volco 7 CAMC 78403, Volco Placer 78332, to 
continue exploration and development activities on such claims for a 
period of two years after October 31, 1994, subject to the same 
regulations as applied to such activities on such claims on the day 
before October 31, 1994.
    (2) At the end of the period specified in paragraph (1), or sooner 
if so requested by the holder or holders of the claims specified in such 
paragraph, the Secretary shall determine whether there has been a 
discovery of valuable minerals on such claims and whether, if such 
discovery had been made on or before July 1, 1994, such claims would 
have been valid as of such date under the mining laws of the United 
States in effect on such date.
    (3) If the Secretary, pursuant to paragraph (2), makes an 
affirmative determination concerning the claims specified in paragraph 
(1), the holder or holders of such claims shall be permitted to continue 
to operate such claims subject only to such regulations as applied on 
July 1, 1994 to the exercise of valid existing rights on patented mining 
claims within a unit of the National Park System.

(Pub. L. 103-433, title V, Sec. 509, Oct. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 4491.)

                       References in Text

    The mining laws of the United States, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), 
are classified generally to Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining.
