Legal Definitions - public domain lands

Public domain lands refer to any land or interest in land that is owned by the United States and managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). These lands were originally ceded to the federal government by the states and make up a significant portion of the country's landmass.

Today, most public domain lands are located in the Western States, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. These lands are subject to strict regulations and restrictions on their use, including limits on the amount of land that can be owned or controlled by individuals or corporations.

For example, under 43 CFR § 3101.2-1, no person or entity can own or control more than 246,080 acres of Federal oil and gas leases in any one state at any one time, with a maximum of 200,000 acres held under option.

The BLM may dispose of public domain lands if it is determined that doing so would serve the national interest. However, this process is subject to strict land use planning procedures established by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act.

Overall, public domain lands are an important part of the country's natural resources and are managed carefully to ensure their preservation and responsible use.