Casual Use
Mining activities that negligibly disturb public lands and do not require a Plan of Operations or Notice.
Detailed Definition
Casual use refers to mining activities on public lands that only negligibly disturb the land and resources. Casual use does not require prior approval from the BLM and no filing or notification is necessary.
Activities that qualify as casual use: - Gold panning - Non-motorized sluicing - Collecting mineral specimens with hand tools - Rock and mineral collecting - Metal detecting (in approved areas)
Activities that do NOT qualify as casual use: - Use of mechanized earth-moving equipment - Use of explosives - Suction dredging (in most states) - Motorized equipment in areas closed to OHV use - Any activity causing more than negligible disturbance
- Notice: For operations causing 5 acres or less of disturbance
- Plan of Operations: For operations causing more than 5 acres of disturbance
Understanding casual use limits is essential for recreational miners and prospectors.