Army Corps property…. what is allowed?

[SlateBelter]

I’ve encountered an interesting situation. Army Corps of engineer property that is managed by the state of NC, and there’s a little gold all over the place. I HAVE NOT dug any holes or removed any material, because I have no interest in getting in trouble. However, the NC agency that administers the property has a rule that explicitly states “a maximum of one cubic foot of soil maybe be removed per person, per day”. That’s a bizarre statement to me, but it seems to open the option of taking concentrates home…

The tricky thing is that it’s still federally owned land. I’ve dug around online a lot but I can’t find definitive answers on what is actually allowed in terms of panning and removing soil from a property like this from the Army Corps perspective. Anybody have half a clue about a situation like this?

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

Can you tell us about the NC agency that administers the property ?

 

[russau]

Get it in writing and carry it with you when your out there !

 

[ToddsPoint]

I live near a Corps of Engineers lake. Metal detecting is only allowed at the swimming beaches. Rules have changed here over the yrs depending on who was in charge. Generally, you can’t remove anything from Corps property. Many people look for Indian artifacts along the shore. It’s against the rules but I’ve only seen it enforced when someone is caught digging. With recent gov cutbacks I rarely see Fed rangers anymore.

 

[k0bgalan]

To take a contrary view... Here is a chunk of land essentially owned by the citizens of the US. While I do understand that certain areas must remain protected from all manner of negativity, a blank piece of land not actually being used shouldn't have overt restrictions. This should be especially true of Bureau of Land Management areas in the middle of nowhere! For example, you can hike across, camp on in most cases, and hunt on BLM land. Yet, pick up an arrow head and you're liable for a stiff fine, and in some cases, jail time. The question remains, whose land is it?

 

[russau]

To take a contrary view... Here is a chunk of land essentially owned by the citizens of the US. While I do understand that certain areas must remain protected from all manner of negativity, a blank piece of land not actually being used shouldn't have overt restrictions. This should be especially true of Bureau of Land Management areas in the middle of nowhere! For example, you can hike across, camp on in most cases, and hunt on BLM land. Yet, pick up an arrow head and you're liable for a stiff fine, and in some cases, jail time. The question remains, whose land is it?

Yes I have the same feelings about this BUT what happens if a lot of people show up and just start digging up that area ? I lnpw it'll never happen ,But what if and they end up NOT filling any holes !? This could get messy !

 

[robertk]

While I do understand that certain areas must remain protected from all manner of negativity, a blank piece of land not actually being used shouldn't have overt restrictions.

What you or I think about has no bearing on what the law and regulators think about it. Just because something "shouldn't be illegal" doesn't mean you won't go to jail for it.

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

What you or I think about has no bearing on what the law and regulators think about it. Just because something "shouldn't be illegal" doesn't mean you won't go to jail for it.

I, for one, will not be going to jail for it