The Mineral Rights on State Land in Connecticut
Mineral rights are held by a land owner. Only the land owner may extract or use mineral and other natural resources on the surface of his land or beneath the surface. Thus, the State of Connecticut owns the mineral rights on state lands.
-
Owner of Land has Rights
-
While the owner of the land has exclusive rights to extract and use the minerals on his land, he may always license or even sell those rights while still maintaining the right to use the surface of the land.
Connecticut Laws and Regulations
-
The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection regulates public lands in the State of Connecticut. The relevant statutes and regulations can be found at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection website (see Resources).
-
Limited Collection on State Lands
-
The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection allows mineral collection on state lands in very limited circumstances. A limited number of sites are available for mineral collection, but only for educational purposes. Those seeking to collect state minerals for educational endeavors must first seek a permit from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Management.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit coal image by robert mobley from Fotolia.com