43 CFR § 3809.10 - How does BLM classify operations?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t43/s3809.10"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "43 CFR § 3809.10 - How does BLM classify operations?"
title_number: 43
title_name: "Public Lands: Interior"
section_number: "3809.10"
section_name: "How does BLM classify operations?"
chapter_name: "BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR"
subchapter_number: "C"
subchapter_name: "MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000)"
part_number: "3800"
part_name: "MINING CLAIMS UNDER THE GENERAL MINING LAWS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "16 U.S.C. 3101  30 U.S.C. 22-42, 181  301-306, 351-359, and 601  31 U.S.C. 9701; 40 U.S.C. 471  42 U.S.C. 6508; 43 U.S.C. 1701  and Pub. L. No. 97-35, 95 Stat. 357."
regulatory_source: "45 FR 13974, Mar. 3, 1980, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "3800"
---


# 3809.10 How does BLM classify operations?

BLM classifies operations as—

(a) Casual use, for which an operator need not notify BLM. (You must reclaim any casual-use disturbance that you create. If your operations do not qualify as casual use, you must submit a notice or plan of operations, whichever is applicable. See §§ 3809.11 and 3809.21.);

(b) Notice-level operations, for which an operator must submit a notice (except for certain suction-dredging operations covered by § 3809.31(b)); and

(c) Plan-level operations, for which an operator must submit a plan of operations and obtain BLM's approval.