An exploration license allows you to explore known, unleased mineral deposits to obtain geologic, environmental and other pertinent data concerning such deposits.

(a) To apply, submit an exploration plan as described at § 3505.45 of this part, along with your request for an exploration license. No specific form is required. When BLM approves the exploration plan, we will attach the approved plan to, and make it a part of, the license. You must also publish a BLM-approved notice of exploration, inviting others to participate in exploration under the license on a pro-rata cost-sharing basis.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, BLM will process your exploration license application in accordance with the regulations at part 2920 of this chapter.

BLM will prepare a notice of exploration using your information and post the notice and your exploration plan in the BLM office for 30 days. You must publish the notice of exploration once a week for three consecutive weeks in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the area in which the lands are located.

You must include:

(a) Your name and address;

(b) A description of the lands;

(c) The address of the BLM office where your exploration plan will be available for inspection; and

(d) An invitation to the public to participate in the exploration under the license.

(a) If any person wants to participate in the exploration program, you and BLM must receive written notice from that person within 30 days after the later of the final newspaper publication or the end of the BLM 30-day posting period.

(b) A person who wants to participate in the exploration program must state in their notice:

(1) They are willing to share in the cost of the exploration on a pro-rata basis; and

(2) Any modifications to the exploration program that BLM should consider.

(a) BLM will determine whether to issue the exploration license. If we decide to issue the license, we will name the participants and the acreage covered. We also will establish hole spacing requirements and include any stipulations needed to protect the environment.

(b) If there are inconsistencies between proposed exploration plans, the approved license will resolve them.

BLM may approve modifications of your exploration plan upon your request. We may also permit you to remove lands from your exploration license at any time. However, once we issue your exploration license, you may not add lands to the area of your exploration license.

You must share with BLM all data you obtain during exploration. We will consider the data confidential and will not make the data public until either:

(a) The areas involved are leased; or

(b) BLM determines that it must release the data in response to a FOIA request.