Interior Gives Builders Easier Access to Minerals on Public Land

Construction companies, farmers, and members of the public will be granted expanded access to federal lands to mine for small amounts of building material and other minerals without environmental review under a Bureau of Land Management policy posted Tuesday.

The policy, dated Feb. 5, aims to make it easier and faster for the public to take 150 tons of minerals or less from federal lands in areas outside of pits already designated for that purpose. The small mines will be granted a categorical exclusion from environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act.

Expanding mining, oil ...