Request for Phosphate Information and Comments on Section 5 of H.R. 5341

GAO was asked for its opinion on Section 5 of H.R. 5341 and for information on the phosphate situation in the United States. Section 5 would prohibit the issuance of phosphate leases in the Osceola National Forest unless and until the United States by subsequent legislation determines that the mining of the affected phosphate would be necessary to the national interest. It would give the Secretary of the Interior 3 years to determine whether valuable deposits have been discovered on 41 preference right lease applications and, if so, to exchange them for leases covering other minerals elsewhere. In the event that exchanges cannot be negotiated, the holders of the lease applications would be entitled to monetary compensation.