Georgius Agricola wrote in De Re Metallica in 1556 that a prudent a miner should not work in a region ruled by a tyrant-a person inimical to mining. In 1926, Associate Chief Sherman of the United States Forest Service in a speech stated, "It is the policy of the Forest Service to encourage the development of the mineral resources within the boundaries of the National Forests ... a man who fails to cultivate a friendly, helpful, cooperative spirit in his relations with those who are endeavoring to develop the mineral wealth of our mountains has no place in the Forest Service." Both statements are as true today as they were in 1556 and 1926. The challenge to the Forest Service and the mineral industry today is to maintain that cooperation in a world that has changed significantly since Agricola and Sherman. The United States Forest Service manages 77,000,000 hectares of land-mostly in the Western United States-an area equal in size to New South Wales. The vast majority-75 million hectares are National Forests, and 1.6 million hectares are National Grasslands._x000D_
National Wilderness Areas account for 13 million hectares or rough- ly 17 per cent of the National Forest System. National Forest System lands (NFS) are some of the most visible, scenic and controversial lands in the country. They are also some of the most valuable for their mineral potential and production. The value of mineral produced exceeds US$4 billion per year._x000D_
There are over 1200 producing mines, 15,000 oil and gas leases, and some of the largest lead, copper, silver, gold, platinum, molyb- denum, and coal deposits in the hemisphere. Every year the Forest Service approves nearly 5,000 mineral operations on the NFS. Much of the NFS (75 per cent) is open to location of mining claims pursuant to the 1872 Mining Law. And an equal amount of land is legally available for oil and gas leasing.