Federal Law
Stock Raising Homestead Act
The act was written in 1916 to encourage settlement of the West by allowing cattle ranchers to homestead 640 acres of land and obtain title. The Federal government kept the mineral rights. The Act provides how minerals can/can't be expoited on Homestead Act land.
The Appeal
Susan J. Kayler, 162 IBLA 245, 246 (2004)
Pleasant Country Ranches, AZ - A group of recreational miners was denied access to private land by the owner so the group applied to the BLM and received a permit to enter and use the land. The case was appealed and the Departent of Interior determined that recreational uses do not fall under the SRHA and overturned the BLM decision.
After the successful appeal, the original case was cited in other decisions that can be found below. Click on the case title to read the decision.
