N.Y. Public Lands Law § 81: Minerals subject to state ownership; exploration of mines on state lands

§ 81. Minerals subject to state ownership; exploration of mines on

state lands. 1. The following minerals are the property of the people

of the state of New York in their right of sovereignty:

(a) All deposits of gold and silver in or upon private lands and lands

belonging to the state heretofore or hereafter discovered within this

state.

(b) All deposits of minerals and fossils heretofore or hereafter

discovered in or upon any lands belonging to the people of the state of

New York.

2. The commissioner of general services may, upon written application

by any citizen of the United States, issue to such applicant a permit,

consent, or lease of such duration as the commissioner may deem

advisable, upon such terms and conditions as the commissioner shall

determine, to enter upon state lands, for the purpose of exploring for

mines and minerals or for the purpose of breaking up such lands and

working any mine or extracting any mineral in such lands.

In the case of state lands other than unappropriated state lands, the

state department, agency, commission or institution having jurisdiction

over such lands shall receive notice from the commissioner of any

application to explore, break-up or mine, and shall have a period of not

less than thirty days to report thereon in writing to the commissioner,

and no permit, consent or lease shall be issued until such report has

been received or the thirty day period has expired, and shall not be

effective until approved by the governor.