43 CFR § 3809.415 - How do I prevent unnecessary or undue degradation while conducting operations on public lands?
---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t43/s3809.415"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "43 CFR § 3809.415 - How do I prevent unnecessary or undue degradation while conducting operations on public lands?"
title_number: 43
title_name: "Public Lands: Interior"
section_number: "3809.415"
section_name: "How do I prevent unnecessary or undue degradation while conducting operations on public lands?"
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: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
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"
---
# 3809.415 How do I prevent unnecessary or undue degradation while conducting operations on public lands?
You prevent unnecessary or undue degradation while conducting operations on public lands by—
(a) Complying with § 3809.420, as applicable; the terms and conditions of your notice or approved plan of operations; and other Federal and State laws related to environmental protection and protection of cultural resources;
(b) Assuring that your operations are “reasonably incident” to prospecting, mining, or processing operations and uses as defined in § 3715.0-5 of this title; and
(c) Attaining the stated level of protection or reclamation required by specific laws in areas such as the California Desert Conservation Area, Wild and Scenic Rivers, BLM-administered portions of the National Wilderness System, and BLM-administered National Monuments and National Conservation Areas.
[65 FR 70112, Nov. 21, 2000, as amended at 66 FR 54861, Oct. 30, 2001]