---
kind: "section"
citation: "30 U.S.C. § 3"
title: "30"
title_heading: "Mineral Lands and Mining"
number: "3"
heading: "Duties of United States Bureau of Mines"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/30/3"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — United States Bureau of Mines"
---

# §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](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-2) 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 sections [1](/usc/30/1.md), 3, and [5](/usc/30/5.md) to [7](/usc/30/7.md) of this title.


## Source credit

(May 16, 1910, ch. 240, § 2, 36 Stat. 370; Feb. 25, 1913, ch. 72, § 2, 37 Stat. 681; Ex. Ord. No. 4239, June 4, 1925; Ex. Ord. No. 6611, Feb. 22, 1934; Pub. L. 102–285, § 10(b), May 18, 1992, 106 Stat. 172.)

## Notes

### 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 Pub. L. 102–285, set out as a note under section 1 of this title. For provisions relating to closure and transfer of functions of the United States Bureau of Mines, see Transfer of Functions note set out under section 1 of this title.