Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever mines or removes coal of any character, whether anthracite, bituminous, or lignite, from beds or deposits in lands of, or reserved to the United States, with intent wrongfully to appropriate, sell, or dispose of the same, shall be or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
This section shall not interfere with any right or privilege conferred by existing laws of the United States.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 787 (PDF, 39 MB); Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, §601(a)(8), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3498.)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to mine or remove coal from land owned or reserved by the United States, intending to wrongfully take, sell, or get rid of it.