The Federal Land Policy Management Act (FLPMA) was created in October, 1976 to guide the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and outline their authority on public lands. Because of this act, the BLM is responsible for managing the public lands under their jurisdiction for multiple uses, which include recreational needs, environmental concerns, resource development, and others. FLPMA also sets out specific criteria and guidelines for the BLM to follow when overseeing land sales, exchanges, grazing rights, and wilderness designation.
The FLPMA, also known as the BLM Organic Act, gives oversight of mining activities to the Secretary of the Interior and authorizes the BLM to regulate mining in such a way that adverse effects on the environment would be minimized. In conjunction with other laws, it also requires the BLM to clean up abandoned mines where public safety and environmental damage are a problem.
Federal Land Policy and Management Act - BLM
http://www.blm.gov/flpma [1]
Links:
[1] http://www.blm.gov/flpma