16 U.S.C. § 460jjj–2 — Minerals and mining

(a) Limitation on patent issuance - (1) No one can get a mining patent for land in the recreation area after May 30, 1991, no matter what other law says. (2) If someone believes this rule took away a property right they had, they can sue the United States in the Court of Federal Claims within 1 year after October 12, 1993, even if a normal deadline would have already passed. That court can decide the case under section 1491 of title 28. (b) Withdrawal - Except for valid existing rights, after October 12, 1993, land in the recreation area is off-limits to new mining claims and to mineral leasing, geothermal leasing, and mineral-material sales. (c) Reclamation - No mining that disturbs the surface - including disturbance from land sinking - is allowed unless it follows the Secretary's rules, including rules to restore the land to close to its original look and water condition. (d) Mining claim validity review - Within 3 years of October 12, 1993, the Secretary of Agriculture must examine all unpatented mining claims in the area, including any with a pending patent application. If the Secretary of Agriculture finds grounds to challenge a claim, the Secretary of the Interior must decide right away whether the claim is valid. An invalid claim must be promptly declared void. (e) Public purposes - The Secretary may use mineral materials found in the area for public purposes, such as building or maintaining roads, trails, and facilities.