Mineral Resources Program Major Authorizing Legislation

43 U.S.C. 31 et seq., the USGS Organic Act includes instructions that the USGS is to classify the public lands and examine the geological structure, mineral resources, and products within and outside the national domain.

16 U.S.C. 1131, the Wilderness Act of 1964 and numerous subsequent related Acts require the USGS to assess the mineral resources of each area proposed as wilderness or established as wilderness.

16 U.S.C. 3141 et seq., The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980, section 1010 of the Act requires that the Secretary of the Interior assess the oil, gas, and other mineral potential, and expand the minerals database, for all public lands in Alaska. These responsibilities have been delegated to the USGS and assigned to MRP.

30 U.S.C. 1601 et seq., The Mining and Minerals Policy Act of 1970 and The National Materials and Mineral Policy, Research and Development Act of 1980 reemphasize the responsibility of the USGS to assess the mineral resources of the Nation.

16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq., Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Act of 1974, as amended by the National Forest Management Act of 1976. USGS is a party to an interagency agreement with Forest Service to assess the mineral resources of National Forests.

50 U.S.C. 98, The Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act of 1946 as amended by its Revision Act of 1979. Section 8 of the Act supports the Survey's programs for assessment of domestic minerals, especially for strategic and critical minerals, to complement the Federal mineral stockpile program.