-CITE-

30 USC CHAPTER 17 - EXPLORATION PROGRAM FOR DISCOVERY OF

MINERALS 01/06/03

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TITLE 30 - MINERAL LANDS AND MINING

CHAPTER 17 - EXPLORATION PROGRAM FOR DISCOVERY OF MINERALS

-HEAD-

CHAPTER 17 - EXPLORATION PROGRAM FOR DISCOVERY OF MINERALS

-MISC1-

Sec.

641. Establishment and maintenance of program for

exploration; financial assistance.

642. Exploration contracts.

(a) Terms and conditions; interest rates.

(b) Deposit of royalty payments.

(c) Certification of exploration projects; payment

of royalties; time limitation on payment;

royalty agreements.

(d) Production.

(e) Rules and regulations; adjustment of contracts.

(f) Availability of funds.

643. "Exploration" defined.

644. Advice and assistance by Government departments and

agencies; expenditure of funds.

645. Repealed.

646. Authorization of appropriations.

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30 USC Sec. 641 01/06/03

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TITLE 30 - MINERAL LANDS AND MINING

CHAPTER 17 - EXPLORATION PROGRAM FOR DISCOVERY OF MINERALS

-HEAD-

Sec. 641. Establishment and maintenance of program for exploration;

financial assistance

-STATUTE-

The Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized and directed,

in order to provide for discovery of additional domestic mineral

reserves, to establish and maintain a program for exploration by

private industry within the United States, its Territories and

possessions for such minerals, excluding organic fuels, as he shall

from time to time designate, and to provide Federal financial

assistance on a participating basis for that purpose.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 85-701, Sec. 1, Aug. 21, 1958, 72 Stat. 700.)

-MISC1-

CONGRESSIONAL DECLARATION OF POLICY

The recital clause of Pub. L. 85-701, which preceded section 1,

provided: "That it is declared to be the policy of the Congress to

stimulate exploration for minerals within the United States, its

Territories and possessions."

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30 USC Sec. 642 01/06/03

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TITLE 30 - MINERAL LANDS AND MINING

CHAPTER 17 - EXPLORATION PROGRAM FOR DISCOVERY OF MINERALS

-HEAD-

Sec. 642. Exploration contracts

-STATUTE-

(a) Terms and conditions; interest rates

In order to carry out the purposes of this chapter, and subject

to the provisions of this section, the Secretary is authorized to

enter into exploration contracts with individuals, partnerships,

corporations, or other legal entities which shall provide for such

Federal financial participation as he deems in the national

interest. Such contracts shall contain terms and conditions as the

Secretary deems necessary and appropriate, including terms and

conditions for the repayment of the Federal funds made available

under any contract together with interest thereon, as a royalty on

the value of the production from the area described in the

contract. Interest shall be calculated from the date of the loan.

Such interest shall be at rates which (1) are not less than the

rates of interest which the Secretary of the Treasury shall

determine the Department of the Interior would have to pay if it

borrowed such funds from the Treasury of the United States, taking

into consideration current average yields on outstanding marketable

obligations of the United States with maturities comparable to the

terms of the particular contracts involved and (2) plus 2 per

centum per annum in lieu of recovering the cost of administering

the particular contracts.

(b) Deposit of royalty payments

Royalty payments received under subsection (a) of this section

shall be covered into the miscellaneous receipts of the Treasury.

(c) Certification of exploration projects; payment of royalties;

time limitation on payment; royalty agreements

When in the opinion of the Secretary an analysis and evaluation

of the results of the exploration project disclose that mineral

production from the area covered by the contract may be possible he

shall so certify within the time specified in the contract. Upon

certification, payment of royalties shall be a charge against

production for the full period specified in the contract or until

the obligation has been discharged, but in no event shall such

royalty payments continue for a period of more than twenty-five

years from the date of contract. When the Secretary determines not

to certify he shall promptly notify the contractor. When the

Secretary deems it necessary and in the public interest, he may

enter into royalty agreements to provide for royalty payments in

the same manner as though the project had been certified.

(d) Production

No provision of this chapter, nor any rule or regulation which

may be issued by the Secretary shall be construed to require any

production from the area described in the contract.

(e) Rules and regulations; adjustment of contracts

The Secretary shall establish and promulgate such rules and

regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this

chapter: Provided, however, That he may modify and adjust the terms

and conditions of any contract to reduce the amount and term of any

royalty payment when he shall determine that such action is

necessary and in the public interest: Provided further, That no

such single contract shall authorize Government participation in

excess of $250,000.

(f) Availability of funds

No funds shall be made available under this chapter unless the

applicant shall furnish evidence that funds from commercial sources

are unavailable on reasonable terms.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 85-701, Sec. 2, Aug. 21, 1958, 72 Stat. 700.)

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30 USC Sec. 643 01/06/03

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TITLE 30 - MINERAL LANDS AND MINING

CHAPTER 17 - EXPLORATION PROGRAM FOR DISCOVERY OF MINERALS

-HEAD-

Sec. 643. "Exploration" defined

-STATUTE-

As used in this chapter, the term "exploration" means the search

for new or unexplored deposits of minerals, including related

development work, within the United States, its Territories and

possessions, whether conducted from the surface or underground,

using recognized and sound procedures including standard

geophysical and geochemical methods for obtaining mineralogical and

geological information.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 85-701, Sec. 3, Aug. 21, 1958, 72 Stat. 701.)

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30 USC Sec. 644 01/06/03

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TITLE 30 - MINERAL LANDS AND MINING

CHAPTER 17 - EXPLORATION PROGRAM FOR DISCOVERY OF MINERALS

-HEAD-

Sec. 644. Advice and assistance by Government departments and

agencies; expenditure of funds

-STATUTE-

Departments and agencies of the Government are authorized to

advise and assist the Secretary of the Interior, upon his request,

in carrying out the provisions of this chapter and may expend their

funds for such purposes, with or without reimbursement, in

accordance with such agreements as may be necessary.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 85-701, Sec. 4, Aug. 21, 1958, 72 Stat. 701.)

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30 USC Sec. 645 01/06/03

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TITLE 30 - MINERAL LANDS AND MINING

CHAPTER 17 - EXPLORATION PROGRAM FOR DISCOVERY OF MINERALS

-HEAD-

Sec. 645. Repealed. Pub. L. 93-608, Sec. 1(13), Jan. 2, 1975, 88

Stat. 1969

-MISC1-

Section, Pub. L. 85-701, Sec. 5, Aug. 21, 1958, 72 Stat. 701;

Pub. L. 89-348, Sec. 2(5), Nov. 8, 1965, 79 Stat. 1312, required

Secretary of the Interior to report to Congress on operations of

programs authorized pursuant to this chapter.

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30 USC Sec. 646 01/06/03

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TITLE 30 - MINERAL LANDS AND MINING

CHAPTER 17 - EXPLORATION PROGRAM FOR DISCOVERY OF MINERALS

-HEAD-

Sec. 646. Authorization of appropriations

-STATUTE-

There are hereby authorized to be appropriated, from any funds in

the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may be

necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 85-701, Sec. 6, Aug. 21, 1958, 72 Stat. 701.)

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