PUBLIC LAW 96-487—DEC. 2, 1980
94 STAT. 2397
with the land use plan for the area, the Secretary may classify lands within national conservation areas as suitable for locatable mineral exploration and development and open such lands to entry, location, and patent under the United States mining laws (30 U.S.C. 22-54). (c) Subject to valid existing rights, all mining claims located within any such unit shall be subject to such reasonable regulations as the Secretary may prescribe to assure that mining will, to the maximum extent practicable, be consistent with protection of the scenic, scientific, cultural, and other resources of the area and any patent issued after the date of enactment of this Act shall convey title only to the minerals together with the right to use the surface of lands for mining purposes subject to such reasonable regulations as the Secretary may prescribe as aforesaid. ESTABLISHMENT OF WHITE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
SEC. 403. There is hereby established the White Mountains National Recreation Area containing approximately one million acres of public lands, as generally depicted on the map entitled "White Mountains National Recreation Area—proposed", and dated October 1978. Subject to valid existing rights, the Secretary shall administer the area in accordance with the provisions of section 1312 and other applicable provisions of this Act, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, and other applicable law. In planning for the recreational use and management of this area, the Secretary shall work closely with the State of Alaska.
16 USC
460mm-2.
Post, p. 2483. 43 USC 1701 note.
RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF UNPERFECTED MINING CLAIMS
SEC. 404. (a) The term "unperfected mining claim" as used in this section, means a mining claim which is located on lands within the boundaries of the White Mountains National Recreation Area or Steese National Conservation Area established pursuant to this title with respect to which a valid mineral discovery within the meaning of the mining laws of the United States, was not made as of the date of the withdrawal of such area from further appropriation under the mining laws of the United States. (b) MORATORIUM ON CONTEST PROCEEDINGS.—Any holder of an unperfected mining claim seeking to protect such claim pursuant to this section must have maintained and must continue to maintain such claim in compliance with applicable Federal and State laws, and where applicable, must have obtained and complied with any mining access permit requirements imposed by the Department of the Interior during the 1979 mining season. Prior to September 30, 1982, no unperfected mining claim which has been maintained in accordance with this subsection shall be contested by the United States for failure to have made a valid mineral discovery within the meaning of the mining laws of the United States: Provided, That such claim shall be diligently prosecuted during this moratorium on contest proceedings as a condition for the moratorium. Any mining operation undertaken pursuant to this subsection, including but not limited to exploration, development, and extraction, shall be subject to such reasonable regulations as the Secretary may prescribe to assure that such operations will, to the maximum extent practicable, be consistent with protection of the scenic, scientific, cultural, and other resources of the Steese National Conservation Area or the White Mountains National Recreation Area or any affected conservation system units established or expanded by this Act.
"Unperfected mining claim.' 16 USC 460 mm-3.
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