Mineral Leasing Act Reciprocity Provision--Implementation and Constraints

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the implementation of the reciprocity provision of the Mineral Lands Leasing Act, focusing on: (1) the Department of the Interior's procedures for making determinations on mineral reciprocity; (2) the extent of interagency cooperation; (3) investment restrictions on U.S. firms in certain foreign countries; and (4) the views of U.S. firms regarding the adequacy and usefulness of the mineral reciprocity provision.