30 U.S.C. § 49a : US Code - Section 49A: Mining laws of United States extended to Alaska; exploration and mining for precious metals; regulations; conflict of laws; permits; dumping tailings; pumping from sea; reservation of roadway; title to land below line of high tide or high-water mark; transfer of title to future State

Search 30 U.S.C. § 49a : US Code - Section 49A: Mining laws of United States extended to Alaska; exploration and mining for precious metals; regulations; conflict of laws; permits; dumping tailings; pumping from sea; reservation of roadway; title to land below line of high tide or high-water mark; transfer of title to future State

The laws of the United States relating to mining claims, mineral
locations, and rights incident thereto are extended to the
Territory of Alaska: Provided, That, subject only to the laws
enacted by Congress for the protection and preservation of the
navigable waters of the United States, and to the laws for the
protection of fish and game, and subject also to such general rules
and regulations as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe for
the preservation of order and the prevention of injury to the fish
and game, all land below the line of ordinary high tide on tidal
waters and all land below the line of ordinary high-water mark on
nontidal water navigable in fact, within the jurisdiction of the
United States, shall be subject to exploration and mining for gold
and other precious metals, and in the Chilkat River, and its
tributaries, within two and three-tenths miles of United States
survey numbered 991 for all metals, by citizens of the United
States, or persons who have legally declared their intentions to
become such, under such reasonable rules and regulations as the
miners in organized mining districts may have heretofore made or
may hereafter make governing the temporary possession thereof for
exploration and mining purposes until otherwise provided by law:
Provided further, That the rules and regulations established by the
miners shall not be in conflict with the mining laws of the United
States; and no exclusive permit shall be granted by the Secretary
of the Interior authorizing any person or persons, corporation, or
company to excavate or mine under any of said waters, and if such
exclusive permit has been granted it is revoked and declared null
and void. The rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary of
the Interior under this section shall not, however, deprive miners
on the beach of the right given to dump tailings into or pump from
the sea opposite their claims, except where such dumping would
actually obstruct navigation or impair the fish and game, and the
reservation of a roadway sixty feet wide under section 687a-2 (!1)
of title 43, shall not apply to mineral lands or town sites. No
person shall acquire by virtue of this section any title to any
land below the line of ordinary high tide or the line of ordinary
high-water mark, as the case may be, of the waters described in
this section. Any rights or privileges acquired hereunder with
respect to mining operations in land, title to which is transferred
to a future State upon its admission to the Union and which is
situated within its boundaries, shall be terminable by such State,
and the said mining operations shall be subject to the laws of such
State.