To preserve for the benefit of present and future generations the pristine beauty of System units, and to further the purposes of section 100101(a), chapter 1003, and sections 100751(a), 100752, 100753, and 102101 of this title and the individual organic Acts for the System units, all activities resulting from the exercise of mineral rights on patented or unpatented mining claims within any System unit shall be subject to such regulations prescribed by the Secretary as the Secretary considers necessary or desirable for the preservation and management of the System units.

All mining claims under the Mining Law of 1872 (30 U.S.C. chapter 2, sections 161 and 162, and chapters 12A and 16) that lie within the boundaries of System units in existence on September 28, 1976, that were not recorded with the Secretary within one year after September 28, 1976, shall be conclusively presumed to be abandoned and shall be void. The recordation does not render valid any claim that was not valid on September 28, 1976, or that becomes invalid after that date.

When the Secretary finds on the Secretary’s own motion or on being notified in writing by an appropriate scientific, historical, or archeological authority that a district, site, building, structure, or object that has been found to be nationally significant in illustrating natural history or the history of the United States and that has been designated as a natural or historic landmark may be irreparably lost or destroyed in whole or in part by any surface mining activity, including exploration for or removal or production of minerals or materials, the Secretary shall notify the person conducting the activity and submit a report on the findings or notification, including the basis for the Secretary’s finding that the activity may cause irreparable loss or destruction of a national landmark, to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, with a request for advice of the Council as to alternative measures that may be taken by the United States to mitigate or abate the activity.

The holder of any patented or unpatented mining claim subject to this subchapter that believes the holder has suffered a loss by operation of this subchapter, or by orders or regulations issued pursuant to this subchapter, may bring a civil action in United States district court to recover just compensation, which shall be awarded if the court finds that the loss constitutes a taking of property compensable under the Constitution.

Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary to acquire land and interests in land within the boundary of any System unit. The Secretary shall give prompt and careful consideration to any offer made by the owner of any valid right or other property in Glacier Bay National Monument, Death Valley National Monument, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, or Mount McKinley National Park to sell the right or other property if the owner notifies the Secretary that the continued ownership of the right or property is causing, or would result in, undue hardship.