I. The commissioner shall make recommendations to the governor and council pursuant to N.H. Rev. Stat. § 4:40 concerning leasing of state owned lands for mining activities.
II. When approved by the governor and council, the commissioner shall issue prospecting permits to persons pursuant to rules adopted under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 12-E:2, VIII(f) to entitle persons to prospect for valuable mineral deposits, excepting common sand and gravel, on state owned lands. Any prospector who discovers a valuable mineral deposit may submit an application for a mining permit.

Terms Used In New Hampshire Revised Statutes 12-E:9

  • governor and council: shall mean the governor with the advice and consent of the council. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:31-a
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • state: when applied to different parts of the United States, may extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories, so called; and the words "United States" shall include said district and territories. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:4

III. The commissioner shall determine the terms of any mining lease, including the amount of acreage, duration of lease, rental cost, royalties, and any conditions concerning extraction of minerals or reclamation of the leased land upon application for such lease by the prospector.
IV. Persons who lease such property for any mining operations shall be required to obtain a mining permit in accordance with this chapter.