1. How will small businesses be affected by this rule?

Small businesses as such will not be affected by this rule. This rule changes the chart in the Mineral Leasing Act regulations that shows the acreage limitations. Congress recently passed a law (P.L. 106-191) saying that a person may lease up to 30,720 acres of Federal sodium leases in a single State, if necessary to facilitate an economic mine. This rule merely changes the chart (at 43 CFR 3503.37) to reflect the new law.

2. How will large mining companies be affected by this rule?

Similar to the explanation above, Congress's legislative action may affect some mining operations, but this rule merely updates the BLM's regulations to reflect the new law.

3. Does this change the Mineral Leasing regulations completed last year?

The BLM has changed only the chart at 43 CFR 3503.37 showing the various acreage limitations. Nothing in this rule affects any other aspect of the 1999 mineral leasing regulations at part 3500.

4. Does this change the recent Mineral Leasing Act amendments?

No, this rule implements the change Congress made to the Mineral Leasing Act in P.L. 106-191. The BLM believes that this change implements both the spirit and the letter of the law.

5. Does this rule apply in all States?

Yes. However, at this time the BLM expects that only sodium mines in Wyoming will be affected by the new law and rule.

6. Does this rule apply to all mineral leases?

No, this only applies to sodium (trona) leases.

7. How does a company meet the economic mine requirement?

If a company shows that it cannot operate an economically successful sodium operation using 5,120 or fewer acres of Federal leases, the BLM can consider applications for additional leases covering up to 30,720 acres.

8. Who is most affected by this rule?

Sodium lessees in Wyoming are most affected by the change in the law as enacted by P.L. 106-191, so these parties will be most interested in this rule.