CHAPTER 1 —UNITED STATES BUREAU OF MINES
§1. United States Bureau of Mines; establishment; director; experts and other employees
There is hereby established in the Department of the Interior a bureau of mining, metallurgy, and mineral technology, to be designated the United States Bureau of Mines, and there shall be a director of said bureau, who shall be thoroughly equipped for the duties of said office by technical education and experience and who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; and there shall also be in the said bureau such experts and other employees, to be appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, as may be required to carry out the purposes of
(May 16, 1910, ch. 240, §1,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
"United States Bureau of Mines" substituted in text for "Bureau of Mines" pursuant to section 10(b) of
Transfer of Functions
For provisions appropriating funds for the closure of the United States Bureau of Mines and the transfer of its functions, see
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Functions vested in, or delegated to, Secretary of Energy and Department of Energy under or with respect to
Functions of Secretary of the Interior, Department of the Interior, and officers and components of Department of the Interior under
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of the Interior, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Interior, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174,
Bureau of Mines originally created in Department of the Interior. Bureau transferred to Department of Commerce by Ex. Ord. No. 4239, but transferred back to Department of the Interior by Ex. Ord. No. 6611.
§1a. Transfer of activities, employees, records, etc., from Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce to the United States Bureau of Mines
There is hereby transferred from the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, to the Department of the Interior, United States Bureau of Mines, all those activities of the Minerals Division of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce concerned with economic and statistical analyses of mineral commodities, domestic and foreign, together with all employees, records, files, equipment, publications, and funds pertaining thereto, effective immediately.
(May 9, 1935, ch. 101, §1,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
"United States Bureau of Mines" substituted in text for "Bureau of Mines" pursuant to section 10(b) of
§2. Performance of duties in absence of director
On and after July 1, 1916, in the absence of the Director of the United States Bureau of Mines the assistant director of said bureau shall perform the duties of the director during the latter's absence, and in the absence of the Director and of the Assistant Director of the United States Bureau of Mines the Secretary of the Interior may designate some officer of said bureau to perform the duties of the director during his absence.
(July 1, 1916, ch. 209, §1,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
"United States Bureau of Mines" substituted in text for "Bureau of Mines" pursuant to section 10(b) of
§3. Duties of United States Bureau of Mines
It shall be the province and duty of the United States Bureau of Mines, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, to conduct inquiries and scientific and technologic investigations concerning mining, and the preparation, treatment, and utilization of mineral substances with a view to improving health conditions, and increasing safety, efficiency, economic development, and conserving resources through the prevention of waste in the mining, quarrying, metallurgical, and other mineral industries; to inquire into the economic conditions affecting these industries; to investigate explosives and peat; and on behalf of the Government to investigate the mineral fuels and unfinished mineral products belonging to, or for the use of, the United States, with a view to their most efficient mining, preparation, treatment, and use; and to disseminate information concerning these subjects in such manner as will best carry out the purposes of the provisions of
(May 16, 1910, ch. 240, §2,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
"United States Bureau of Mines" substituted in text for "Bureau of Mines" pursuant to section 10(b) of
§4. Investigation of lignite coal and peat
The Secretary of the Interior is authorized and directed to make experiments and investigations, through the United States Bureau of Mines, of lignite coals and peat, to determine the commercial and economic practicability of their utilization in producing fuel oil, gasoline substitutes, ammonia, tar, solid fuels, gas for power, and other purposes. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized and directed subject to applicable regulations under chapters 1 to 11 of title 40 and division C (except sections 3302, 3306(f), 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4104, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41 to sell or otherwise dispose of any property, plant, or machinery purchased or acquired under the provisions of this section, as soon as the experiments and investigations authorized have been concluded, and report the results of such experiments and investigations to Congress.
(Feb. 25, 1919, ch. 23, §§1, 2,
Editorial Notes
Codification
In text, "chapters 1 to 11 of title 40 and division C (except sections 3302, 3306(f), 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4104, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41" substituted for "the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended" on authority of
First sentence of this section is from first clause of section 1 of act Feb. 25, 1919. Second sentence is from section 2 of said act.
Amendments
1951—Act Oct. 31, 1951, inserted reference to applicable regulations of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
"United States Bureau of Mines" substituted in text for "Bureau of Mines" pursuant to section 10(b) of
§4a. Omitted
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section, act June 25, 1926, ch. 674, §1,
§4b. Cooperation with individuals, municipalities, etc.; contracts with owners; agreements as to prices
The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce jointly are hereby authorized, within their discretion, to cooperate under formal agreement with individuals, associations, corporations, States, and municipalities, educational institutions, or other bodies, for the purposes of this section: Provided, That before undertaking drilling operations upon any tract or tracts of land, the mineral deposits of which are not the property of the United States, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce jointly shall enter into a contract or contracts with the owners or lessees, or both, of the mineral rights therein, and the aforesaid contract or contracts shall provide, among other things, that, if deposits of potash minerals or oil shall be discovered in pursuance of operations under said contract or contracts and if and when said mineral deposits shall be mined and sold, the owners or lessees, or both, of said mineral rights shall pay to the Government and its cooperators a royalty of not less than 2½ per centum of the sale value of any potash minerals and oil therefrom, said payments to continue until such time as the total amount derived from said royalty is equal to not more than the cost of the exploration, as may be determined by the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce jointly: Provided further, That all Federal claims for reimbursement under this section shall automatically expire twenty years from the date of approval of the contracts entered into, in accordance with the provisions thereof, unless sooner terminated by agreement between the owners or lessees of the potash mineral rights and oil and the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce jointly: Provided further, That said contract or contracts shall not restrict the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce jointly in the choice of drilling locations within the property or in the conduct of the exploratory operations, so long as such selection or conduct do not interfere unreasonably with the surface of the land or with the improvements thereof, and said contract or contracts shall provide that the United States shall not be liable for damages on account of such reasonable use of the surface as may be necessary in the proper conduct of the work.
(June 25, 1926, ch. 674, §2,
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1927—Act Mar. 3, 1927, amended provisions generally.
§4c. Investigation of sub-bituminous and lignite coal
The United States Bureau of Mines, under the general direction of the Secretary of the Interior, is authorized to conduct investigations, studies, and experiments on its own initiative and in cooperation with individuals, State institutions, laboratories, and other organizations, with a view to (1) the development of a commercially practicable carbonization method of processing sub-bituminous and lignite coal so as to convert such coal into an all-purpose fuel, to provide fertilizers, and obtain such other byproducts thereof as may be commercially valuable; (2) the development of efficient methods, equipment, and devices for burning lignite or char therefrom; and (3) determining and developing methods for more efficient utilization of such sub-bituminous and lignite coal for purposes of generating electric power.
(May 15, 1936, ch. 397, §1,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
"United States Bureau of Mines" substituted in text for "Bureau of Mines" pursuant to section 10(b) of
§4d. Plants, machinery, and equipment
The United States Bureau of Mines is further authorized, under the general direction of the Secretary of the Interior, to erect such plants, construct and purchase such machinery and equipment, and to take such other steps as it may deem necessary and proper to effectuate the purposes of
(May 15, 1936, ch. 397, §2,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
"United States Bureau of Mines" substituted in text for "Bureau of Mines" pursuant to section 10(b) of
§4e. Omitted
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section, act May 15, 1936, ch. 397, §3,
§§4f to 4o. Transferred
Editorial Notes
Codification
Sections 4f to 4o were transferred to sections 451 to 460, respectively, of this title, and subsequently repealed by
§5. Reports of investigations
The Director of the United States Bureau of Mines shall prepare and publish, subject to the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, under the appropriations made from time to time by Congress, reports of inquiries and investigations, with appropriate recommendations of the bureau, concerning the nature, causes, and prevention of accidents, and the improvement of conditions, methods, and equipment, with special reference to health, safety, and prevention of waste in the mining, quarrying, metallurgical, and other mineral industries; the use of explosives and electricity, safety methods and appliances, and rescue and first-aid work in said industries; the causes and prevention of mine fires; and other subjects included under the provisions of
(May 16, 1910, ch. 240, §3,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
"United States Bureau of Mines" substituted in text for "Bureau of Mines" pursuant to section 10(b) of
§6. Personal interest of director and members of Bureau in mines
In conducting inquiries and investigations authorized under
(May 16, 1910, ch. 240, §4,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
"United States Bureau of Mines" substituted in text for "Bureau of Mines" pursuant to section 10(b) of
§7. Fees for tests or investigations
For tests or investigations authorized by the Secretary of the Interior under the provisions of
(May 16, 1910, ch. 240, §5,
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1932—Act June 30, 1932, substituted "Secretary of Commerce" for "Secretary of the Interior" and changed a reasonable fee to be charged to a fee sufficient to compensate for entire cost of services rendered.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
"United States Bureau of Mines" substituted in text for "Bureau of Mines" pursuant to section 10(b) of
Effective Date of 1932 Amendment
Amendment by act June 30, 1932, effective July 1, 1932, see act June 30, 1932, ch. 314, pt. II, title III, §314,
§8. Additional mining experiment stations and mine safety stations authorized
The Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized and directed to establish and maintain in the several important mining regions of the United States and the Territory of Alaska, as Congress may appropriate for the necessary employees and other expenses, under the United States Bureau of Mines and in accordance with the provisions of
(Mar. 3, 1915, ch. 95, §1,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
"United States Bureau of Mines" substituted in text for "Bureau of Mines" pursuant to section 10(b) of
Executive Documents
Admission of Alaska as State
Admission of Alaska into the Union was accomplished Jan. 3, 1959, on issuance of Proc. No. 3269, Jan. 3, 1959, 24 F.R. 81, 73 Stat. c16, as required by sections 1 and 8(c) of
§9. Acceptance of lands from States
The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to accept lands, buildings, or other contributions from the several States offering to cooperate in carrying out the purposes of
(Mar. 3, 1915, ch. 95, §2,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Transfer of Functions
See note set out under
§10. Headquarters of mine rescue cars; site for experimental work; leases and donations
The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to accept any suitable land or lands, buildings, or improvements that may be donated for the headquarters of mine rescue cars and construction of necessary railway sidings and housing for the same, or as the site of an experimental mine and plant for studying explosives, and to enter into leases for periods not exceeding ten years, subject to annual appropriations by Congress.
(June 5, 1920, ch. 235, §1,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Transfer of Functions
See note set out under
§11. Omitted
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section, act May 9, 1938, ch. 187, §1,
§12. Repealed. Oct. 25, 1951, ch. 562, §1(16), 65 Stat. 638
Section, act Aug. 13, 1946, ch. 961,
§13. Research laboratory for utilization of anthracite coal; establishment and maintenance
The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the United States Bureau of Mines, is authorized and directed to establish, equip, and maintain a research laboratory in the anthracite region of Pennsylvania to conduct researches and investigations on the mining, preparation, and utilization of anthracite coal and to develop new scientific, chemical, and technical uses and new and extended markets and outlets for anthracite coal and its products. Such laboratory shall be planned as a center for information and assistance in matters pertaining to conserving resources for national defense; to the more efficient mining, preparation, and utilization of anthracite coal; and pertaining to safety, health, and sanitation in mining operations and other matters relating to problems of the anthracite industry.
(Dec. 18, 1942, ch. 764, §1,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Transfer of Functions
For provisions relating to closure and transfer of functions of the United States Bureau of Mines, see note set out under
Authorization of Appropriations
Act Dec. 18, 1942, ch. 764, §5,
§14. Acquisition of land; cooperation with other agencies
For the purpose of
(Dec. 18, 1942, ch. 764, §2,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Transfer of Functions
For provisions relating to closure and transfer of functions of the United States Bureau of Mines, see note set out under
§15. Repealed. Pub. L. 86–533, §1(17), June 29, 1960, 74 Stat. 248
Section, act Dec. 18, 1942, ch. 764, §3,
§16. Research laboratory for utilization of anthracite coal; establishment of advisory committee; composition; functions; appointment
The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the United States Bureau of Mines, may, in his discretion, create and establish an advisory committee composed of not more than six members to exercise consultative functions, when required by the Secretary, in connection with the administration of
(Dec. 18, 1942, ch. 764, §4,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Transfer of Functions
For provisions relating to closure and transfer of functions of the United States Bureau of Mines, see note set out under
Termination of Advisory Committees
Advisory committees in existence on Jan. 5, 1973, to terminate not later than the expiration of the 2-year period following Jan. 5, 1973, unless, in the case of a committee established by the President or an officer of the Federal Government, such committee is renewed by appropriate action prior to the expiration of such 2-year period, or in the case of a committee established by the Congress, its duration is otherwise provided by law. Advisory committees established after Jan. 5, 1973, to terminate not later than the expiration of the 2-year period beginning on the date of their establishment, unless, in the case of a committee established by the President or an officer of the Federal Government, such committee is renewed by appropriate action prior to the expiration of such 2-year period, or in the case of a committee established by the Congress, its duration is otherwise provided for by law. See