Which act addresses ownership of oil and minerals in Alaska?

• A. Mineral Leasing Act of 1920
• B. Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
• C. Clean Air Act
• D. National Environmental Policy Act

Answer: (A)

Think about who has the right to access and control oil and mineral resources on Alaska’s lands. The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 establishes the federal system for leasing mineral lands—including oil and gas—on federal lands in Alaska. It outlines who can obtain leases, how leases are awarded, and how royalties are collected, giving the framework that directly determines who can explore, drill, and profit from those resources on federal territory. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act mainly deals with resolving Native land and resource claims and organizing land ownership through corporations; it doesn’t establish the general leasing system for oil and minerals. The Clean Air Act and the National Environmental Policy Act govern environmental protections and processes, not who owns or can lease mineral resources.