The Director referred to is the Director, Bureau of Land Management.
3–2 Mineral Surveyors were originally appointed by the Surveyors General (General Land Office) of the various states where mineral surveys are authorized, and were appointed for that State only. As a general rule these men were practicing consulting mining engineers in an area covering one or more mining districts and seldom went out of their area to execute surveys. As a result, over a period of time, they developed a valuable set of survey records pertaining to claim corners, section corners and mine workings. Claimants found it advantageous to employ a mineral surveyor in his district because of his proximity to the work and his previously acquired knowledge.
With the decline in mining activity due to mineral deposits being exhausted or reaching uneconomical depths, and with the improvement in modes of transportation, mineral surveyors found themselves covering larger areas, and many sought appointments in more than one State. With the formation of the Bureau of Land Management and the establishment of areas or regions, the mineral surveyors’ appointments were extended to the area or region embracing their State and all adjoining states to the area or region, and finally to all states subject to the Federal mining laws.
3–3 Today, mineral surveyors are appointed by the Chief, Division of Cadastral Survey of the Bureau of Land Management at Washington, who acts for the Director. Application may be made to any State Office or directly to the Washington Office. The application should contain a brief resume of the applicant’s experience in land surveying, mining and geology and list the states in which he is registered as a land surveyor, or as a professional engineer if that state permits certain classes of professional engineers to do land surveying. The applicant is cautioned, however, that appointments are made only if a need is demonstrated by one of the State Directors, and he requests that an examination be held at his office to supplement the roll of mineral surveyors. Appointments are presently for a four-year period.
3–4 Mineral surveyors were originally bonded and such bonds were usually for a four-year period. The renewal of these bonds served to keep the roster of mineral surveyors active. Bonds are no longer required, but the mineral surveyor must request renewal of his appointment 60 days before its expiration. Renewal is based on his activity as a mineral surveyor, the quality of his work and the timeliness of filing returns of his surveys. If the record shows that he has not been actively engaged in executing mineral surveys, he may be dropped from the rolls. If he allows his appointment to lapse, he will not be reinstated or reappointed unless he demonstrates his capability to make mineral surveys, and there is a need for additional mineral surveyors.
3–5 A mineral surveyor’s appointment may be revoked at any time for just cause, among which are: incompetence, gross misconduct, conflict of interest, failure to personally execute a survey, failure to prosecute work diligently, and failure to file timely returns.
3–6 Before the revocation as stated in 3–5 can occur, any outstanding surveys or survey orders must be disposed of by completion, cancellation or by issuing a new order to another mineral surveyor, as mutually agreed on by all parties.
Qualification
3–7 Although the mineral surveyor, as an employee or officer of the Federal Government, is not subject to State laws regulating the practice of land surveying, he will find it advisable to be registered, at least in his home State, if not in other states where he engages in mineral land surveying. Actually, he is only exempt from registration when he is working under a mineral survey order and as such he is limited to work covered by the order. However, the States of California and Nevada specifically permit a United States Mineral Surveyor to make a location survey and to make such survey a part of the record. (Public Resources Code of California, Sec. 2311, and 517.210 R.S. Nevada.) A mineral surveyor would probably not be questioned in other states if he is making an amended location survey or field examination prior to the application for survey. Often, additional work will be required by the claimant and the mineral surveyor will have to refer this work to others or associate with a registered surveyor. Furthermore, if an applicant for appointment is not registered in his home State, the Chief of the Division of Cadastral Survey may require a more extensive examination so as to embrace material normally covered in State examinations.
3–8 Although basically a land surveyor, the mineral surveyor should have a working knowledge of geology, ore deposits and principles of mining in order to properly execute his work. He should also be familiar with the methods of making underground surveys. He may acquire such knowledge informally by reading texts on the subjects and through membership in local mining associations and organizations.