43 CFR § 3508.11 - What lands are available for competitive leasing?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t43/s3508.11"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "43 CFR § 3508.11 - What lands are available for competitive leasing?"
title_number: 43
title_name: "Public Lands: Interior"
section_number: "3508.11"
section_name: "What lands are available for competitive leasing?"
chapter_name: "BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR"
subchapter_number: "C"
subchapter_name: "MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000)"
part_number: "3500"
part_name: "LEASING OF SOLID MINERALS OTHER THAN COAL AND OIL SHALE"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 552; 30 U.S.C. 189, 192c, and 209; 43 U.S.C. 1701  and sec. 402, Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1946 (5 U.S.C. appendix)."
regulatory_source: "64 FR 53536, Oct. 1, 1999, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "3500"
---


# 3508.11 What lands are available for competitive leasing?

BLM may issue a competitive lease on unleased lands where we know that a valuable mineral deposit exists. In such areas, before issuing a lease we may issue you an exploration license, but not a prospecting permit. However, BLM may offer competitive leases for lands where no prospecting or exploratory work is needed to determine the existence or workability of a valuable mineral deposit. In addition, we may offer competitive leases for asphalt on any lands available for asphalt leasing, whether or not we know that a valuable mineral deposit exists.