All deposits of coal, phosphate, oil, oil shale, gilsonite (including all vein-type solid hydrocarbons), gas, sodium, potassium, and sulphur which are owned or may be acquired by the United States and which are within the lands acquired by the United States, may be leased by the Secretary under the same conditions as contained in the leasing provisions of the mineral leasing laws. Coal or lignite under acquired lands set apart for military or naval purposes may be leased by the Secretary, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Defense, to a governmental entity which produces electrical energy for sale to the public if such governmental entity is located in the State in which such lands are located. No mineral deposit shall be leased except with the consent of the head of the executive department, independent establishment, or instrumentality having jurisdiction over the lands containing such deposit.
In cases, where the United States does not own all of the mineral deposits under any lands sought to be leased, the Secretary is authorized to lease the interest of the United States in any such mineral deposits when, in the judgment of the Secretary, the public interest will be best served thereby. Where the United States does not own any interest or owns less than a full interest in the minerals that may be produced from any lands sought to be leased, the Secretary may lease any interest of the United States then owned or to be acquired in the future in the same manner as provided in the preceding sentence.
