---
kind: "range"
citation: "16 U.S.C. §§ 604–606"
title: "16"
from: "604"
to: "606"
count: 3
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/604..606"
---

# §604. Cutting timber on certain mineral lands; permits to corporations; railroad corporations


All citizens of the United States and other [persons](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b), bona fide residents of the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) of Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho, or Montana, and all other mineral districts of the United States, are authorized and permitted to fell and remove, for building, agricultural, mining, or other domestic purposes, any timber or other trees growing or being on the [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7), said lands being mineral, and not subject to entry under existing laws of the United States, except for mineral entry, in said [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) or districts of which such citizens or [persons](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) may be at the time bona fide residents, subject to such rules and regulations as the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior may prescribe for the protection of the timber and of the undergrowth growing upon such lands, and for other purposes. It shall be lawful for the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior to grant permits in accordance with the provisions of this section, to corporations incorporated under a Federal law of the United States or incorporated under the laws of a [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2) or Territory of the United States, other than the [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2) in which the privilege is requested. Such permits to confer the same rights and benefits upon such corporations as are conferred upon corporations incorporated in the [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2) in which the privilege is to be exercised, but all such corporations shall first have complied with the laws of that [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2) so as to entitle them to do business therein. The provisions of this section and sections [605](/usc/16/605.md) and [606](/usc/16/606.md) of this title shall not extend to railroad corporations.


# §605. Unlawful cutting on mineral lands; notice to Secretary


It shall be the duty of such officer as the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior may designate in whose district any mineral land may be situated to ascertain from time to time whether any timber is being cut or used upon any such lands, except for the purposes authorized by [section 604 of this title](/usc/16/604.md), within such land district; and, if so, he shall immediately notify the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior of that fact; and all necessary expenses incurred in making such proper examinations shall be paid for and allowed such officer in making up his next quarterly account.


# §606. Offense for unlawful cutting on mineral lands; punishment


Any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) or [persons](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) who shall violate the provisions of sections [604](/usc/16/604.md) and [605](/usc/16/605.md) of this title, or any rules and regulations in pursuance thereof made by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall be fined in any sum not exceeding $500, and to which may be added imprisonment for any term not exceeding six months.