SEC. 122. WITHDRAWAL PETITIONS BY STATES, POLITICAL 
SUBDIVISIONS, AND INDIAN TRIBES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to valid existing rights, 
any State or political subdivision of a State or an Indian 
tribe may submit a petition to the Secretary for the with-
drawal of a specific tract of Federal land from the oper-
ation of the general mining laws, in order to protect spe-
cific values identified in the petition that are important 
to the State or political subdivision or Indian tribe. Such 
values may include the value of a watershed to supply 
drinking water, wildlife habitat value, cultural or historic 
resources, or value for scenic vistas important to the local 
economy, and other similar values. In the case of an In-
dian tribe, the petition may also identify religious or cul-
tural values that are important to the Indian tribe. The 
petition shall contain the information required by section 
204 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976 (43 U.S.C. 1714). 
(b) CONSIDERATION OF PETITION.—The Secretary— 
(1) shall solicit public comment on the petition; 
(2) shall make a final decision on the petition 
within 180 days after receiving it; and 
(3) shall grant the petition subject to valid ex-
isting rights, unless the Secretary makes and pub-
lishes in the Federal Register specific findings why 
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a decision to grant the petition would be against the 
national interest. 
Subtitle C—Environmental Consid-
erations of Mineral Exploration 
and Development 
SEC. 131. GENERAL STANDARD FOR HARDROCK MINING ON 
FEDERAL LAND. 
Notwithstanding section 302(b) of the Federal Land 
Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1732(b)), 
the first section of the Act of June 4, 1897 (chapter 2; 
30 Stat. 36 16 U.S.C. 478), and the National Forest Man-
agement Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.), and in 
accordance with this subtitle and applicable law, unless ex-
pressly stated otherwise in this title, the Secretary— 
(1) shall ensure that mineral activities on any 
Federal land that is subject to a mining claim, mill-
site claim, or tunnel site claim is carefully controlled 
to prevent undue degradation of public lands and re-
sources; and 
(2) shall not grant permission to engage in min-
eral activities if the Secretary, after considering the 
evidence, determines that undue degradation would 
result from such activities. 
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SEC. 132. PERMITS. 
(a) PERMITS REQUIRED.—No person may engage in 
mineral activities on Federal land that may cause a dis-
turbance of surface resources, including land, air, ground 
water and surface water, and fish and wildlife, unless— 
(1) the claim was properly located under the 
general mining laws and maintained in compliance 
with such laws and this title; and 
(2) a permit was issued to such person under 
this subtitle authorizing such activities. 
(b) NEGLIGIBLE DISTURBANCE.—Notwithstanding 
subsection (a)(2), a permit under this subtitle shall not 
be required for mineral activities that are a casual use of 
the Federal land. 
(c) COORDINATION WITH NEPA PROCESS.—The 
Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct 
the permit processes under this title in coordination with 
the timing and other requirements under section 102 of 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4332). 
SEC. 133. EXPLORATION PERMIT. 
(a) AUTHORIZED
EXPLORATION
ACTIVITY.—Any 
claim holder may apply for an exploration permit for any 
mining claim authorizing the claim holder to remove a rea-
sonable amount of the locatable minerals from the claim 
for analysis, study and testing. Such permit shall not au-
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thorize the claim holder to remove any mineral for sale 
nor to conduct any activities other than those required for 
exploration for locatable minerals and reclamation. 
(b) PERMIT APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.—An ap-
plication for an exploration permit under this section shall 
be submitted in a manner satisfactory to the Secretary 
or, for National Forest System lands, the Secretary of Ag-
riculture, and shall contain an exploration plan, a reclama-
tion plan for the proposed exploration, and such docu-
mentation as necessary to ensure compliance with applica-
ble Federal and State environmental laws and regulations. 
(c) RECLAMATION PLAN REQUIREMENTS.—The rec-
lamation plan required to be included in a permit applica-
tion under subsection (b) shall include such provisions as 
may be jointly prescribed by the Secretary and the Sec-
retary of Agriculture. 
(d) PERMIT ISSUANCE OR DENIAL.—The Secretary, 
or for National Forest System lands, the Secretary of Ag-
riculture, shall issue an exploration permit pursuant to an 
application under this section unless such Secretary makes 
any of the following determinations: 
(1) The permit application, the exploration plan 
and reclamation plan are not complete and accurate. 
(2) The applicant has not demonstrated that 
proposed reclamation can be accomplished. 
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(3) The proposed exploration activities and con-
dition of the land after the completion of exploration 
activities and final reclamation would not conform 
with the land use plan applicable to the area subject 
to mineral activities. 
(4) The area subject to the proposed permit is 
included within an area not open to location under 
section 121. 
(5) The applicant has not demonstrated that 
the exploration plan and reclamation plan will be in 
compliance with the requirements of this title and all 
other applicable Federal requirements, and any 
State requirements agreed to by the Secretary of the 
Interior (or Secretary of Agriculture, as appro-
priate). 
(6) The applicant has not demonstrated that 
the requirements of section 136 (relating to financial 
assurance) will be met. 
(7) The applicant is ineligible to receive a per-
mit as determined under section 135. 
(e) TERM OF PERMIT.—An exploration permit shall 
be for a stated term. The term shall be no greater than 
that necessary to accomplish the proposed exploration, 
and in no case for more than 10 years. 
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