---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 539a"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "539a"
heading: "Mining and mineral leasing on certain national forest lands"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/539a"
units:
  - "Chapter 2 — National Forests"
  - "Subchapter I — Establishment and Administration"
---

# §539a. Mining and mineral leasing on certain national forest lands


Subject to valid existing rights, the minerals in [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) within the Copper River [addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) to the Chugach [National Forest](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3), are hereby withdrawn from location, entry, and patent under the United States mining laws. With respect to such [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), under such reasonable regulations as he deems appropriate, may permit the removal of non­leasable minerals from the lands in the manner prescribed by Reorganization Plan Numbered 3 of 1946 and [section 520 of this title](/usc/16/520.md), and the removal of leasable minerals from such lands in accordance with the mineral leasing laws, if the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) finds that such disposition would not have significant adverse effects on the administration of the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A). All receipts derived from disposal of nonleasable minerals under this section shall be paid into the same [funds](/usc/16/1421h.md?p=2) or accounts in the Treasury of the United States and shall be distributed in the same manner as provided for receipts from [national forests](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3).


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–487, title V, § 502, Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2399.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Reorganization Plan Numbered 3 of 1946, referred to in text, is Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1946, July 16, 1946, 11 F.R. 7875, 60 Stat. 1097, which is set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.