---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 3150"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "3150"
heading: "Alaska mineral resource assessment program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/3150"
units:
  - "Chapter 51 — Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation"
  - "Subchapter III — Federal North Slope Lands Studies, Oil and Gas Leasing Program and Mineral Assessments"
---

# §3150. Alaska mineral resource assessment program

- (a) **Mineral assessments—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall, to the full extent of his authority, assess the oil, gas, and other mineral potential on all [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) in the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Alaska in order to expand the data base with respect to the mineral potential of such lands. The mineral assessment program may include, but shall not be limited to, techniques such as side-looking radar imagery and, on [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) other than such lands within the national [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) system, core and test drilling for geologic information, notwithstanding any restriction on such drilling under the Wilderness Act [[16 U.S.C. 1131](/usc/16/1131.md) et seq.]. For purposes of this Act, core and test drilling means the extraction by drilling of subsurface geologic samples in order to assess the metalliferous or other mineral values of geologic terrain, but shall not be construed as including exploratory drilling of oil and gas test wells. To the maximum extent practicable, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall consult and exchange information with the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Alaska regarding the responsibilities of the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) under this section and similar programs undertaken by the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a). In order to carry out mineral assessments authorized under this or any other law, including but not limited to the National Uranium Resource Evaluation program, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall allow for access by air for assessment activities permitted in this subsection to all [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) involved in such study. He shall consult with the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Energy and heads of other Federal agencies carrying out such programs, to determine such reasonable requirements as may be necessary to protect the resources of such [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), including [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17). Such requirements may provide that access will not occur during nesting, calving, spawning or such other times as [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) in the specific [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) may be especially vulnerable to such activities. The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) is authorized to enter into contracts with public or private entities to carry out all or any portion of the mineral assessment program. This section shall not apply to the lands described in [section 3141 of this title](/usc/16/3141.md).
- (b) **Regulations—** Activities carried out in [conservation system units](/usc/16/3102.md?p=4) under [subsection (a)](#a) shall be subject to regulations promulgated by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1). Such regulations shall ensure that such activities are carried out in an environmentally sound manner—
  - (1) which does not result in lasting environmental impacts which appreciably alter the natural character of the [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) or biological or ecological systems in the [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4); and
  - (2) which is compatible with the purposes for which such [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) are established.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–487, title X, § 1010, Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2456.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Wilderness Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 88–577, Sept. 3, 1964, 78 Stat. 890, which is classified generally to chapter 23 (§ 1131 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1131 of this title and Tables.

This Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 96–487, Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2371, known as the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3101 of this title and Tables.