FLPMA
The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, establishing BLM management standards for public lands.
Detailed Definition
The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) is landmark legislation that established the Bureau of Land Management's authority and mandate to manage public lands for multiple use and sustained yield.
Key provisions affecting mining: - Established land use planning requirements - Required recording of mining claims with BLM - Authorized surface management regulations - Created Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) - Addressed mining claim recordation system
Mining claim requirements under FLPMA: - All claims located after 10/21/1976 must be recorded with BLM - Pre-FLPMA claims required filing by 10/21/1979 - Annual filings required to maintain claims - Failure to file results in conclusive abandonment
Multiple use mandate: FLPMA directs BLM to manage public lands for: - Recreation - Range - Timber - Minerals - Watershed - Wildlife and fish - Natural scenic, scientific, and historical values
Planning requirements: - Resource Management Plans (RMPs) for BLM districts - Environmental review of mining operations - Coordination with state and local governments
FLPMA fundamentally shaped modern public land management including mining administration.
Related Terms
Mining Claim
A parcel of land for which a claimant has asserted a right of possession and the right to develop and extract mineral resources.
BLM
The Bureau of Land Management, the federal agency that administers public lands including mining claim filings and maintenance.
Reclamation
The process of restoring land disturbed by mining operations to meet applicable environmental standards.