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3 i Section 39 of MLA provides in part: In the event the Secretary of the Interior, in the interest of conservation, shall direct or shall assent to the suspension of operations and productioa under any lease granted under the [MLA] any payment of rental or of minimum royalty likewise shall be suspended during such period of suapenaion of operations and productioa; and the term of such lease shall be eztended by adding any such suspension period thereto. (30 II.S.C. 209) The Secretary's general rulemaking authority provided in the special leasing acts allows for a suapenaion of operations and production to be eztended by regula[Son to the hardrock and "special-act solid minerals" administered by BLK under 43 CFR Group 3500. Hereafter in these guidelines, the term "solid minerals" includes such "hardrock and special-act solid minerals," unless apeciElcally stated otherwise. The chart below summarizes the statutory and regulatory authority which applies to coal and solid minerals. 30 U.S.C. 209 JVYlI.m, CVV6YYlYW, 1 ClL.CL, 1JCV. J/ Phosphate, Sulphur, I (30 II.S.C. 209) p6LULUCF PI1 LLC161J I Y.J V.J.V• YLVl, I YJ VLP JJVJ.J-1 i30 U.S.C. 192c. etc.l Y.J.\r• 1LV1, U.S.C. 291. etc. i 2. suapenaion Qualification Criteria. The phrase "in the interest of conservation" in section 39 has been interpreted in case law to include not only mazimizing recovery and avoiding or ainimiziag waste or loos of the leased mineral resource but also avoiding or atiaimizing damage to other natural resources, each as other minerals, wildlife, water quality, air quality and the like. (See Copper Valley Mach. fiorts, Inc. v. Andrus, 653 F.2d 595 (1961)). The situation requiring a suspension of operations and production is thus not restricted solely to eztraction of coal or solid minerals. Further, a condition resulting from mining coal or solid minerals which occurs outside a lease's boundary may still qualify the lease foz a suspension of operations sad production. Attachment 1-6