Locatable Minerals

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Agriculture Forest Service 36 CFR Part 228 RIN 0596-AD32 ( printed page 8316) AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA). ACTION: Proposed rule; request for public comment. SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (Agency), is proposing to revise its regulations governing occupancy and use of the surface of National Forest System lands in connection with prospecting, exploration, development, mining, processing, and reclamation and reasonably incident uses authorized by U.S. mining laws and the Organic Administration Act of 1897. Regulatory revisions are needed to improve the efficiency and transparency of Forest Service regulation of locatable mineral operations conducted on National Forest System lands under the mining laws, and to minimize, to the fullest extent practicable, adverse impacts on surface resources. In addition, the revisions will support Federal policy to secure reliable and sustainable supplies of strategic and critical minerals in the United States. DATES: Comments must be received in writing by April 21, 2026. ADDRESSES: Please submit comments via one of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov . In the search box, enter 0596-AD32, which is the RIN for this proposed rulemaking. Then, in the search panel on the left side of the screen, under the Document Type heading, click on the “Notice” link to locate this document. You may submit a comment by clicking on the “Commen…