18 USC § 1851 - Coal depredations

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s1851"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 1851 - Coal depredations"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "1851"
section_name: "Coal depredations"
chapter_number: 91
chapter_name: "PUBLIC LANDS"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "CRIMES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 787; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 601(a)(8), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3498.)"
---


# § 1851. Coal depredations

Whoever mines or removes coal of any character, whether anthracite, bituminous, or lignite, from beds or deposits in lands of, or reserved to the United States, with intent wrongfully to appropriate, sell, or dispose of the same, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

This section shall not interfere with any right or privilege conferred by existing laws of the United States.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 787; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 601(a)(8), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3498.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 103a, 103b (, §§ 1, 2, ).

Section consolidates sections 103a and 103b of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed.

Words “deemed guilty of misdemeanor” were deleted as unnecessary in view of definitive . (See also reviser’s note under .)

Minor changes were made in phraseology.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1996— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000” in first par.