locke argued november decided april section federal land policy management act flpma establishes federal recording system designed rid federal lands stale mining claims provide federal land managers information allows make informed land management decisions section requires mining claims located prior flpma enactment initially recorded bureau land management blm within three years enactment requires claimant year initial recording prior december every year file state officials blm notice intention hold claim affidavit assessment work performed claim detailed reporting form section provides failure comply either requirements shall deemed conclusively constitute abandonment claim appellees purchased mining claims complied initial recording requirement failed meet time first annual filing requirement filing blm december subsequently blm notified appellees claims declared abandoned void due tardy filing unsuccessful administrative appeal appellees filed action federal district alleging effected unconstitutional taking property without compensation denied due process district issued summary judgment appellees favor holding created impermissible irrebuttable presumption claimants fail make timely filing intended abandon claims alternatively held late filing substantially complied implementing regulations held section plain language prior december read conjunction blm regulations makes clear annual filings must made december thus blm act ultra vires concluding appellees filing untimely pp congress intended extinguish claims timely filings made specific evidence intent abandon made irrelevant failure file time causes claim lost pp annual filing deadline complied substantially otherwise filing late even one day pp section unconstitutional pp congress well within affirmative powers enacting filing requirement imposing penalty extinguishment applying requirement sanction claims located flpma enacted pp appellees property loss one avoided minimal burden failure file time congress action caused property rights extinguished regulation property rights take private property individual reasonable expectations continue realized long complies reasonable regulations pp flpma provides appellees process constitutional due act recording provisions clearly afford within act reach reasonable opportunity familiarize general requirements imposed comply requirements act constitutes purely economic regulation congress entitled conclude preferable place substantial portion burden claimants make national recording system work pp marshall delivered opinion burger white blackmun rehnquist joined filed concurring opinion post powell filed dissenting opinion post stevens filed dissenting opinion brennan joined post carolyn corwin argued cause appellants briefs solicitor general lee assistant attorney general habicht deputy solicitor general claiborne david shilton arthur gowran harold swafford argued cause appellees brief john hoffman laurens silver john leshy filed brief sierra club amicus curiae urging reversal briefs amici curiae urging affirmance filed state nevada brian mckay attorney general james smith deputy attorney general alaska miners association et al ronald zumbrun robin rivett colorado mining association randy parcel mobil oil stephen alfers william hillhouse ii mountain legal foundation preston oade justice marshall delivered opinion primary question presented appeal whether constitution prevents congress providing holders unpatented mining claims fail comply annual filing requirements federal land policy management act flpma shall forfeit claims enactment general mining laws century sought make living locating developing minerals federal lands virtually unconstrained fetters federal control general mining laws et still effect today allow citizens go onto unappropriated unreserved public land prospect develop certain minerals discovery mineral deposit followed minimal procedures required formally locate deposit gives individual right exclusive possession land mining purposes long assessment work performed annually individual may continue extract sell minerals claim without paying royalty nominal sum certain statutory conditions fulfilled individual may patent claim thereby purchasing federal government land minerals obtaining ultimate title patenting however required unpatented mining claim remains fully recognized possessory interest best humboldt placer mining become clear regime created virtual chaos respect public lands estimated million unpatented mining claims existed public lands national forests addition half land national forest system thought covered claims many claims dormant decades many invalid reasons absence federal recording system simple way existed determining public lands subject mining locations whether locations valid invalid ibid result federal land managers proceed slowly cautiously taking action affecting federal land lest federal property rights claimants unlawfully disturbed time bureau land management blm proposed sale conveyance federal land title search county recorder office necessary outstanding mining claim found matter stale apparently abandoned formal administrative adjudication required determine validity claim decade studying problem context broader inquiry proper management public lands modern era congress enacted flpma pub stat codified et section act establishes federal recording system designed rid federal lands stale mining claims provide federal land managers information allows make informed land management decisions claims located flpma enactment federal recording system imposes two general requirements first claims must initially registered blm filing within three years flpma enactment copy official record notice certificate location stat second year initial recording prior december every year claimant must file state officials blm notice intention hold claim affidavit assessment work performed claim detailed reporting form stat section act provides failure comply either requirements shall deemed conclusively constitute abandonment mining claim owner second requirements annual filing obligation created dispute underlying appeal appellees four individuals engaged business operating mining properties nevada purchased unpatented mining claims public lands near ely nevada claims major sources gravel building material claims valued several million dollars assessment year alone appellees gross income totaled million throughout period owned claims appellees complied annual filing assessment work requirements addition appellees satisfied flpma initial recording requirement properly filing blm notice location thereby putting claims record purposes flpma end however appellees failed meet time first annual obligation file federal government allegedly receiving misleading information blm employee appellees waited december submit blm annual notice intent hold proof assessment work performed required flpma noted section requires documents filed annually prior december appellees checked discovered blm regulations made quite clear claimants required make annual filings proper blm office december calendar year cfr current version cfr thus appellees filing one day late fact brought painfully home appellees received letter blm nevada state office informing claims declared abandoned void due tardy filing many cases loss claim way minimal practical effect claimant simply locate claim rerecord blm case however relocation appellees claims initially located appellees predecessors prohibited common varieties act act prospectively barred location sort minerals yielded appellees claims appellees mineral deposits thus escheated government losing administrative appeal appellees filed present action district district nevada complaint alleged inter alia effected unconstitutional taking property without compensation denied due process summary judgment district held indeed deprive appellees process constitutionally due supp district reasoned created impermissible irrebuttable presumption claimants failed make timely filing intended abandon claims rather relying presumption government obliged district view provide individualized notice claimants claims danger lost followed hearing claimants demonstrate fact abandoned claim alternatively district held late filing substantially complied act regulations district held act congress unconstitutional civil suit party noted probable jurisdiction reverse ii appeal brings merely constitutional question decided entire case mclucas dechamplain raines entire case includes nonconstitutional questions actually decided lower well nonconstitutional grounds presented passed lower clark principles important aids prudential exercise appellate jurisdiction case arrives appeal pass constitutionality act congress construction act fairly possible nonconstitutional ground fairly available constitutional question avoided see heckler mathews johnson robison cf congress industrial organizations appeals former criminal appeals act see generally ashwander tva brandeis concurring thus turn first nonconstitutional questions pressed iii district appellees asserted requirement filing prior december year construed require filing december thus appellees argued december filing fact complied statute blm acted ultra vires voiding claims although district address argument argument raises question sufficiently legal nature choose address even absence lower analysis see clark supra clear us plain language statute simply sustain gloss appellees put even counsel appellees conceded oral argument statement congress wanted filed december think clear statement tr oral arg see also literal reading statute require december filing allow literal reading statute produce result demonstrably odds intentions drafters griffin oceanic contractors respect filing deadlines literal reading congress words generally proper reading words attempt decide whether date one set statute date actually intended congress set sail aimless journey purpose filing deadline well served nearly date might choose date congress fact set statute actual purpose sometimes unknown railroad retirement board fritz stevens concurring case filing deadlines might expected nothing legislative history suggests congress chose december december september end assessment year mining claims last day required filings made eadlines inherently arbitrary fixed dates often essential accomplish necessary results boyle faced inherent arbitrariness filing deadlines must least civil case apply terms date fixed statute cf railroad retirement board fritz supra moreover blm regulations made absolutely clear since enactment flpma prior december means says current version filing regulations owner unpatented mining claim located federal lands shall filed caused filed december calendar year evidence annual assessment work performed previous assessment year notice intention hold mining claim cfr emphasis added saying insensitive problems posed congressional reliance words prior december see post stevens dissenting fact congress might acted greater clarity foresight give courts carte blanche redraft statutes effort achieve congress perceived failed basic difference filling gap left congress silence rewriting rules congress affirmatively specifically enacted mobil oil higginbotham judiciary licensed attempt soften clear import congress chosen words whenever believes words lead harsh result see northwest airlines transport workers contrary deference supremacy legislature well recognition congressmen typically vote language bill generally requires us assume legislative purpose expressed ordinary meaning words used richards going behind plain language statute search possibly contrary congressional intent step taken cautiously even best circumstances american tobacco patterson quoting piper industries even taking step nothing legislative history remotely suggests congressional intent contrary congress chosen words neither appellees dissenters pointed anything suggests steps take courts realm interpretation place domain legislation phrase prior may clumsy meaning clear circumstances obligated apply prior december language terms see american tobacco patterson supra consumer product safety gte sylvania agency regulations clarify confirm import statutory language making clear annual filings must made december regulations provide conclusive answer appellees claim language filing deadline plain agency construction completely consistent language agency construction simply found sufficiently unreasonable unacceptable fec democratic senatorial campaign committee press statutory construction point disingenuous evasion even avoid constitutional question moore ice cream rose cardozo therefore hold blm act ultra vires concluding appellees filing untimely section failure comply filing requirements shall deemed conclusively constitute abandonment mining claim must next consider whether provision expresses congressional intent extinguish claims filings made claims filings made claimants specific intent abandon claim district adopted latter interpretation basis concluded created constitutionally impermissible irrebuttable presumption abandonment district reasoned congress chosen make loss claim turn specific intent claimant prior hearing findings claimant intent constitutionally required claim nonfiling claimant extinguished concluding congress concerned specific intent claimant even claimant failed make required filings district began fact neither act defines term abandonment term appears district noted correctly common law mining traditionally drawn distinction abandonment claim occurs upon showing claimant intent relinquish claim forfeiture claim noncompliance requirements law must shown see american law mining pp relied upon district given congress expressly stated statute intent depart meaning abandonment common law district concluded intended incorporate traditional distinction abandonment forfeiture thus reasoned district congress intend cause forfeiture claims required filings made rather focus claimant actual intent corollary district understood failure file intended merely one piece evidence factual inquiry whether claimant specific intent abandon property construction statutory scheme withstand analysis reference conceptions often helpful guide interpreting undefined statutory terms see nlrb amax coal standard oil principle guide legislative intent talisman principle applied defiance statute overriding purposes logic although couched terms conclusive presumption abandonment little doubt congress intended cause forfeiture claims filing requirements met begin senate version provided claim properly recorded shall conclusively presumed abandoned shall void committee report accompanying repeatedly indicated failure comply filing requirements make claim void see pp house legislation reports merely repeat statutory language without offering explanation clear conference committee report undisputed intent senate make void claims proper filings timely made intent chambers report stated senate bill house amendments provided recordation mining claims extinguishment abandoned claims emphasis added addition district construction fails give effect deemed conclusively language failure file merely shifts burden claimant prove intends keep claim nothing conclusive achieved district sought avoid conclusion holding extinguish automatically claims initial recordings opposed annual filings made district attempted justify distinction initial recordings annual filings ground dominant purpose avoid forcing blm awesome task searching every local title record establish initially federal recording system purpose satisfied initial recording primary purposes deemed conclusively language district view met clear language admits distinction initial recordings annual filings failure either shall deemed conclusively constitute abandonment district analysis purposes also misguided annual filing requirements serve purpose similar initial recording requirement millions claims undoubtedly recorded presence annual filing obligation allows blm keep system established date yearly basis put burden blm keep system current inquiry status recorded claims lead situation similar led congress initially make federal recording system purposes recording system implicated similarly somewhat less substantially annual filing obligation initial recording requirement district empowered thwart purposes clear language concluding actually concerned initial recordings reasons find congress intended extinguish claims timely filings made specific evidence intent abandon simply made irrelevant failure file time causes claim lost see western mining council watt final statutory question must resolved turn constitutional holding district relying primarily hickel oil shale district held even statute required filing december appellees substantially complied filing december accept view statute notion filing deadline complied filing sometime deadline falls due say least surprising notion notion without limiting principle late filings acceptable late filings might equally acceptable cascade exceptions engulf rule erected filing deadline yet regardless cutoff line set individuals always fall side filing deadlines like statutes limitations necessarily operate harshly arbitrarily respect individuals fall side concept filing deadline content deadline must enforced less rigid standard risk encouraging lax attitude toward filing dates boyle filing deadline complied substantially otherwise filing late even one day hickel oil shale supra support contrary conclusion hickel suggested although hold failure meet annual assessment work requirements general mining laws require less worth labor shall performed improvements made year render claim automatically void instead individual complied substantially fully requirement might circumstances able retain possession claim suggestions hickel afford safe mine owners fail meet filing obligations federal mining law failure comply fully physical requirement certain amount work performed year significantly different complete failure file time documents federal law commands filed addition general mining laws issue hickel clearly provide claim lost failure meet assessment work requirements thus open conclude hickel congress intended make assessment work requirement merely indicium claimant specific intent retain claim full compliance assessment work requirements establish conclusively intent keep claim less full compliance force law operate deprive claimant claim instead less full compliance subject mine owner determination whether nonetheless intended keep claim see hickel supra case statute explicitly provides failure comply applicable filing requirements leads automatically loss claim see part supra thus congress made unnecessary ascertain whether individual fact intends abandon claim room inquire whether substantial compliance indicative claimant intent intent simply irrelevant required filings made hickel discussion substantial compliance therefore inapposite statutory scheme issue result hickel gives miners greater latitude filing deadlines individuals iv much district constitutional discussion necessarily falls conclusion automatically deems forfeited claims required filings timely made district invalidation statute rested heavily view creates irrebuttable presumption mining claims abandoned miner fails timely file required documents statute presumes failure file signify specific intent abandon claim held presumes nothing claimant actual intent statute simply conclusively deems claims forfeited forfeiture provision subject individualized hearing requirement irrebuttable presumption cases vlandis kline cleveland bd education lafleur nothing suggest enacting congress way concerned whether particular claimant tardy filing failure file indicated actual intent abandon claim suggestions district opinion even understood forfeiture provision might unconstitutional therefore go consider whether automatic forfeiture claim failure make annual filings constitutionally permissible framework analysis question substantive procedural dimensions set forth recent decision texaco short upheld state statute pursuant severed mineral interest used period years automatically lapsed reverted current surface owner property unless mineral owner filed statement claim county recorder office within years statute passage texaco must first address question affirmative legislative power whether congress authorized provide property rights character shall extinguished owners take affirmative action required statute even respect vested property rights legislature generally power impose new regulatory constraints way rights used condition continued retention performance certain affirmative duties long constraint duty imposed reasonable restriction designed legitimate legislative objectives legislature acts within powers imposing new constraints duties see village euclid ambler realty turner new york vance vance terry anderson egislation readjusting rights burdens unlawful solely upsets otherwise settled expectations usery turner elkhorn mining citations omitted power qualify existing property rights particularly broad respect character property rights issue although owners unpatented mining claims hold fully recognized possessory interests claims see best humboldt placer mining recognized interests unique form property ibid owner underlying fee title public domain maintains broad powers terms conditions upon public lands used leased acquired see kleppe new mexico mining location gone patent higher quality immune attack investigation unpatented claims homestead kindred laws valid gives claimant certain exclusive possessory rights homestead desert claims right arises invalid claim kind must conform law initiated otherwise work unlawful private appropriation derogation rights public cameron background doubt congress condition initial receipt unpatented mining claim upon agreement perform annual assessment work make annual filings requirement applied claims already located time flpma enacted thus applies vested claims alter analysis retroactive application flpma supported legitimate legislative purpose furthered rational means pension benefit guaranty corporation gray purposes applying flpma filing provisions claims located act passed rid federal lands stale mining claims provide centralized collection federal land managers comprehensive information status recorded unpatented mining claims clearly legitimate addition reasonable severe means furthering goals sanctioning loss claims claimants fail file provides powerful motivation comply filing requirement automatic invalidation noncompliance enables federal land managers know certainty ease whether claim currently valid finally restriction attached continued retention mining claim imposes minimal burdens claimants must simply file paper year indicating required assessment work performed intend hold claim indeed appellees fully protected interests effect statute taking minimal additional step patenting claims result congress well within affirmative powers enacting filing requirement imposing penalty extinguishment set forth applying requirement sanction claims located flpma passed look next substantive effect determine whether congress nonetheless barred enacting works impermissible intrusion constitutionally protected rights respect regulation private property protection must come fifth amendment proscription taking private property without compensation point however texaco controlling never required congress compensate owner consequences neglect appellees failed inform proper filing deadline failed file timely fashion documents required federal law property loss one appellees avoided minimal burden failure file time action congress caused property right extinguished regulation property rights take private property individual reasonable expectations continue realized long complies reasonable regulatory restrictions legislature imposed see miller schoene terry anderson cf hawkins barney lessee pet right one complain reasonable time given vigilant asserting rights finally act provides appellees process constitutional due altering substantive rights enactment rules general applicability legislature generally provides constitutionally adequate process simply enacting statute publishing extent statute regulates private conduct affording within statute reach reasonable opportunity familiarize general requirements imposed comply requirements texaco see also anderson national bank luckett north laramie land hoffman doubt act recording provisions meet minimal requirements although flpma enacted owners existing claims appellees required make initial recording october period individuals become familiar requirements new law surpasses grace period upheld context similar regulation mineral interests texaco moreover specific annual filing obligation issue case triggered year claim recorded initially thus every claimant appellees position already filed annual filing obligations come due claimants already made one filing act indicates know must presumed know existence act need inquire demands requirement annual filing thus unlikely come attention position appellees render unconstitutional notice provided grace period despite fact flpma meets three standards laid texaco imposition new regulatory restraints existing property rights district seemed believe individualized notice filing deadlines nonetheless constitutionally required district felt requirement overly burdensome government great benefit mining claimants district may well right individualized notice scheme sound means administering act regulation private property rights constitution offers courts warrant inquire whether scheme might rational desirable one chosen congress long legislative scheme rational way reaching congress objectives efficacy alternative routes congress alone consider enough say act approaches problem developing national recording system rationally whether different notice scheme wiser practical circumstances question constitutional dimension usery turner elkhorn mining deal purely economic legislation congress entitled conclude preferable place substantial portion burden claimants make national recording system work see ibid weinberger salfi mourning family publications service district therefore erred invoking constitution supplant valid administrative scheme established congress judgment reversed case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered footnotes text provides relevant part follows recordation mining claims filing requirements owner unpatented lode placer mining claim located prior october shall within period following october prior december year thereafter file instruments required paragraphs subsection file record office location notice certificate recorded either notice intention hold mining claim including limited notices provided law filed suspension deferment annual assessment work affidavit assessment work performed thereon detailed report provided section title relating thereto file office bureau designated secretary copy official record instrument filed recorded pursuant paragraph subsection including description location mining claim sufficient locate claimed lands ground additional filing requirements owner unpatented lode placer mining claim mill tunnel site located prior october shall within period following october file office bureau designated secretary copy official record notice location certificate location including description location mining claim mill tunnel site sufficient locate claimed lands ground owner unpatented lode placer mining claim mill tunnel site located october shall within ninety days date location claim file office bureau designated secretary copy official record notice location certificate location including description location mining claim mill tunnel site sufficient locate claimed lands ground failure file constituting abandonment defective untimely filing failure file instruments required subsections subsection shall deemed conclusively constitute abandonment mining claim mill tunnel site owner shall considered failure file instrument defective timely filed record federal laws permitting filing recording thereof instrument filed record behalf owners mining claim mill tunnel site somewhat different scheme applies claims located october date act took effect complaint supp total gross income claims exceeded million ibid affidavit submitted district one appellees employees stated blm officials ely told employee filing made blm reno office december affidavit laura locke version blm question answer pamphlet erroneously stated annual filings made december year staking mining claim federal lands later versions corrected error bring pamphlet accord blm regulations require filings made december justice stevens justice powell seek make much pamphlet uncontroverted evidence appellees told december filing comply statute see post however time appellees filed blm regulations pamphlets made clear filing required december thus dissenters reliance pamphlet seem better directed claim equitably estopped forfeiting appellees claims given advice blm agent objective basis pamphlet provides crediting claim advice given district consider estoppel claim without expressing view whether matter law appellees prevail theory see heckler community health services crawford county leave treatment issue including fuller development record district remand district decided case constitutional statutory grounds affect obligation take jurisdiction case long unconstitutionality act congress one grounds decision civil suit party appeal lies directly rock royal another district west similarly declared unconstitutional respect invalidation claims based failure meet initial recordation requirements timely fashion rogers supp mont nonconstitutional questions passed lower may vacate decision remand instructions questions decided see youakim miller may choose decide questions without benefit lower analysis see clark choice options depends extent lower factfinding analysis nonconstitutional questions necessary useful disposition questions statutory filing deadlines generally subject defenses waiver estoppel equitable tolling see zipes trans world airlines whether general principle applies deadlines run favor government question express opinion today addition showing made appellees way unable exercise usual care diligence allowed meet filing deadline learn existence see boyle brennan concurring course issue boyle explicit provision internal revenue code provided exception code filing deadlines flpma contains analogous provision legislative drafting books filled suggestions phrase prior replaced word see dickerson materials legal drafting seen suggestion prior replaced phrase obviously different substantive content note code sprinkled provisions require action prior date including least provisions contemplate action prior december see ii supp iii app dozens state statutes local ordinances undoubtedly incorporate similar prior december deadlines addition legislatures know make explicit intent allow action december employ december date statute see unclear whether arguments advanced dissenters meant apply provisions latter given little guidance go rather eclectic task choosing prior december deadlines interpret flexibly understandably enough dissenters seek disavow intent call prior december deadlines question assure us unique case post powell dissenting involving unique factual matrix post stevens dissenting thing find unique particular december deadline dissenters willing go tortured reasoning evade senate bill required initial recordings annual filings factor significant light actions conference committee clear structure senate bill impose sanction claim extinguishment failed make whatever filings federal law required since blm regulations provided filings due december considered timely postmarked december received blm close business following january cfr appellees dissenters attempt transform regulation blank check generally authorizing substantial compliance filing requirements disagree two reasons first regulation effect appellees filed therefore relied validate purported substantial compliance second agency decided take account holiday mail delays treating timely filed document postmarked statutory filing date require agency accept documents time january agency rationally decide either options sort situation requiring mailings received date must made requiring mailings postmarked date sound way administering statute justice stevens suggests blm well within authority promulgate regulations construing statute allow december filings assuming correctness suggestion fact two interpretations statute equally reasonable suggests us agency interpretation sufficiently reasonable acceptable see fec democratic senatorial campaign committee appellees suggest texaco short requires restriction imposed substantively reasonable sense adequately relate conception nature property right involved thus appellees point fact texaco failure file produce forfeiture addition mineral interest lain dormant years according appellees conjunction dormancy period failure file statement claim sufficiently indicated abandonment term understood common law justify statute principles however entitle individual retain property common law recognize abandoned legislatures enact substantive rules law treat property forfeited conditions common law consider sufficient indicate abandonment see hawkins barney lessee pet evidence individual abandoned rights property clear subject one every community liberty make rule long proper notice rules exists burdens impose wholly disproportionate burdens individuals face highly regulated society people forced alone bear public burdens fairness justice must borne public whole armstrong burden imposed reasonable restriction property right congress chosen redefine way unpatented mining claim lost imposition filing requirement serves valid public objectives imposes minimal burdens property holders takes effect appellees sufficient notice need comply reasonable opportunity filing requirement meets standards sufficient texaco make reasonable restriction continued retention property right result case individual notice statutory change must given statute sufficiently unusual character triggered circumstances commonplace average citizen reason regard triggering event calling heightened awareness one legal obligations texaco brennan dissenting blm provide notice hearing adjudicative fact whether required filings actually made appellees availed process appealing department interior board land appeals blm order extinguished claims failure make timely filing exercise administrative discretion blm last several years chosen mail annual reminder notices claimants several months end year according government notices state ou must file relevant year failure file timely proper blm office render claim abandoned brief appellants justice concurring agree district erred holding federal land policy management act flpma violates due process creating irrebuttable presumption abandonment whatever force vlandis kline beyond facts underlying case believe comports due process analysis later decision weinberger salfi also believe statute otherwise violate fifth amendment district erred alternative holding substantial compliance satisfies filing requirements corresponding regulations agree judgment must reversed nonetheless share many concerns expressed dissenting opinions justice powell justice stevens facts alleged appellees allowing bureau land management blm extinguish active mining claims appellees owned worked years seem unfair inconsistent purposes underlying flpma government disputed appellees sought good faith comply statutory deadline appellees contend order meet requirements contacted blm informed agency personnel file required materials december appellees apparently relied advice appropriate documents local blm office date blm accepted documents filing three months later sent appellees notice stating mining claims abandoned void filing made rather prior december although blm regulations clarify filing deadlines contained existence regulations imply appellees unjustified confusion concerning deadlines reliance advice provided blm local office blm issued explanatory pamphlet stating annual filings made december year ante moreover blm evidently come understand need clarify nature annual filing requirement sends reminder notices every year holders recorded mining claims warning deadline approaching filings must made december unusual facts alleged appellees suggest blm actions might estop government relying obliterate property interest provided family livelihood decades properly notes estoppel issue addressed district open remand ante regard merely note view previous decisions preclude application estoppel context heckler community health services crawford county expressly declined adopt flat rule estoppel may circumstances run government rule unnecessary decision case noted reluctance hold cases public interest ensuring government enforce law free estoppel might outweighed countervailing interest citizens minimum standard decency honor reliability dealings government omitted although well settled government may estopped terms litigant omitted never held government extinguish vested property interest legally held actively maintained years merely private owners relied advice agency personnel concerning poorly worded statutory deadline consequently missed filing deadline one day thus district ultimately determines appellees reasonably relied communications blm making annual filing december previous decisions necessarily bar application doctrine equitable estoppel accordingly fact reverses decision district establish appellees must ultimately forfeit mining claims justice powell dissenting agree much justice stevens dissent write separately special circumstances case believe necessary decide congress actually intended even correct believing congress intended require filings day year rather reasonably end calendar year statutory deadline uncertain satisfy constitutional requirements simply fails give property holders clear definite notice must protect existing property interests acknowledges ante government since century encouraged citizens discover develop certain minerals public lands general mining laws et individual locates mining claim right exclusive possession land mining purposes may extract sell minerals finds without paying royalty federal government making valuable mineral discovery claimant may hold claim long performs worth assessment work year performs certain additional conditions claimant may patent claim nominal sum thereby obtain rights land minerals see recently federal recordation requirements faced uncertainty stale mining claims created property rights public lands congress enacted federal land policy management act stat provision required existing claimholders record claims order retain specifically required within period following october prior december year thereafter claimholders file bureau land management blm copy notice intention retain claims affidavit assessment work special form failure make either initial subsequent yearly filing deemed conclusively constitute abandonment mining claim appellees lockes owners unpatented mining claims federal land nevada appellees predecessors located claims appellees since purchased claims earned livelihood producing gravel building materials present produced approximately million worth materials assessment year alone produced gravel materials worth million sense claims stale lockes fully complied initial recordation requirement properly filing notice location october order ascertain comply subsequent yearly recordation requirements lockes sent daughter worked business office ely nevada office blm inquired file assessment notice told among things documents filed reno office december supp following advice lockes documents reno office date april received notice blm mining claims abandoned void app juris statement filed rather prior december difference interpretation statutory deadline gives rise present controversy justice stevens correctly points number circumstances cast doubt care congress drafted meaning specifically notes section clearly describe must filed let alone must filed ii blm rewording deadline implementing regulations cfr indicates blm considered statutory deadline confusing iii lest doubt blm recognized possible confusion even described section pamphlet distributed miners requiring filing december iv blm charged enforcing section interpreted quite flexibly irrationally requiring property holders file one day end year rather end year creates trap unwary post justice stevens also facts particularly last suggest congress drafted inartfully also congress may actually intended require filing prior december certainly reasonable interpretation congressional intent consistent policies act believe however given special circumstances case need determine congress actually intended today recognizes takings clause imposes limitations government power impose forfeitures ante texaco short identified one important limitations stated state power condition permanent retention property right performance reasonable conditions emphasis added accord jackson lamphire pet cases may occur forfeiture provisio may unreasonable amount denial right call interposition furthermore conditions like imposed property interest created must also meet due process standards usery turner elkhorn mining standards require among things question actions individual must take protect interests texaco short supra together takings due process clauses prevent government depriving individual property rights arbitrarily present case claim yearly filing requirement unreasonable rather claim arises fact language prior december creates uncertainty otherwise reasonable filing period ends given natural tendency interpret phrase end calendar year rather day calendar year believe uncertainty violated standard certainty definiteness constitution requires statement least one government publications filing required december department interior staking mining claim federal lands supports conclusion terminating property interest property holder reasonably believed statute additional day satisfy filing requirements less arbitrary terminating failure satisfy conditions unreasonable amount time cf wilson iseminger terry anderson although latter may rest impossibility former rests performance day late easily performed day neither serves purpose forcing arbitrary forfeiture property rights state believe constitution requires law inform property holder certainty definiteness must fulfill recording requirements imposed property interest created given statutory uncertainty find forfeiture imposed filing december invalid accordingly dissent section entirety recordation mining claims filing requirements owner unpatented lode placer mining claim located prior october shall within period following october prior december year thereafter file instruments required paragraphs subsection owner unpatented lode placer mining claim located october shall prior december year following calendar year said claim located file instruments required paragraphs subsection file record office location notice certificate recorded either notice intention hold mining claim including limited notices provided law filed suspension deferment annual assessment work affidavit assessment work performed thereon sic detailed report provided section title relating thereto file office bureau designated secretary copy official record instrument filed recorded pursuant paragraph subsection including description location mining claim sufficient locate claimed lands ground notice blm also stated ubject valid intervening rights third parties void abandoned claims sites may relocated based new location date appropriate instruments may refiled within time periods prescribed regulations app juris statement unlike claimants however lockes unable relocate claims common varieties act et withdrawn deposits common building materials coverage general mining laws forfeiture meant relocation refiling rather irrevocable loss claims source livelihood believes obligated apply prior december language terms meaning clear ante clarity however found words courts example used words similar contexts clearly mean end year amf jewett bay state gas commissioner contrasted phrases rom january vacation holiday fund waterfront new york harbor cert denied december peabody coal lowis ways strongly suggest meaning various administrative agencies also followed usage promulgating regulations cfr cfr cfr parties course ordinarily bound consequences failing strictly meet statutory deadlines true example statutes limitations filing deadlines clearly specified special circumstances justice stevens identifies constitutional concerns identified case unique justice stevens justice brennan joins dissenting opinion contrary intent congress engages unnecessary constitutional adjudication unjustly creates trap unwary property owners first choice language prior december read context least ambiguous best consequence legislative accident perhaps caused nothing unfortunate fact congress busy work carefully view congress actually intended authorize annual filing time prior close business december prior end calendar year filing pertains second even congress irrationally intended applicable deadline calendar year end one day end calendar year recognized since amendment julian calendar clear appellees substantially complied requirements statute large part bureau land management issued interpreting regulations recognize substantial compliance today violates principle pass constitutionality act congress construction statute fairly possible question may avoided also principle decide constitutional question ground upon dispose case congress enacted federal land policy management act establish federal land planners managers federal recording system designed cope problem stale claims provide easy way discovering federal lands subject either valid invalid mining claim locations submit appellees actions case diminish importance congressional purposes contrary actions entirely consistent statutory purposes despite confusion created inartful draftsmanship statutory language careful reading discloses least three respects text possibly reflect actual intent congress first description must filed initial filing subsequent annual filings quite obviously garbled read literally seems require notice intent hold claim affidavit assessment work performed claim must filed detailed report provided title one must substitute word word make sense provision error cause us pause concluding congress commanded blind allegiance remainder literal text second express language statute unambiguous describing place second annual filing shall made statute read inflexibly owner must file office bureau required documents yet regulations bureau drafted quite reasonably construe statute allow filing mailbox provided document actually received bureau prior close business january year following year statute requires filing made notice mailed december received bureau january filed office bureau within meaning statute one office december accepted filing finds comfort fact implementing regulations eliminated risk injustice ante one must rely regulations apparent meaning statute obvious begin regulations use language prior december instead use december year bureau drafting regulations using latter phrase indicates meaning statute quite plain ante assumes language plain doubtful bureau found necessary change language moreover bureau aegis department interior issued pamphlet entitled staking mining claim federal lands contained following information owners claims sites located file evidence assessment work performed preceding year file notice intent hold claim site claim site recorded blm documents must filed december subsequent year emphasis added plain language ante indeed light foregoing believe congress intended words prior december year given literal reading adopts today statutory scheme requires periodic filings basis end calendar year course correctly described either prior close business december december surely understandable author might inadvertently use words prior december meant refer end calendar year facts case demonstrate scrivener error one made good faith risk error course greatest reference end calendar year fact error seems rather clear one suggested rational basis omitting one day period annual filing may made presume congress deliberately created trap unwary omission fully consistent intent congress treat filing received calendar year timely filing year interpretation certainly interfere congress intent establish federal recording system designed cope problem stale mining claims federal lands system established apparently functioning moreover claims active bureau well aware appellees intended hold operate claims additionally sensible construction statute interfere congress intention provide easy way discovering federal lands subject either valid invalid mining claim locations bureau case well aware existence production appellees mining claims blinking reality bureau reach decision undisputed appellees made first filing august made second required filing december bureau declare mining claims abandoned void april thus appellees lost entire livelihood practical reason contrary intent congress hypertechnical construction poorly drafted statute agency interprets allow filings far beyond december circumstances interprets inflexibly others appellants acknowledge may well congress wished require filing end calendar year earlier deadline resulted careless draftmanship brief appellants doubt congress chosen adopt construction statute filing take place end calendar year attention focused precise issue cf delcostello teamsters ii concluding constitutional analysis district also held standard applied assessment notice requirements substantial compliance measured lockes satisfied statutory duties section filing notices one day late district grounded holding analysis hickel oil shale hickel construed reads claim located day may patent issued therefor less worth labor shall performed improvements made year pon failure comply conditions claim mine upon failure occurred shall open relocation manner location ever made provided original locators heirs assigns legal representatives resumed work upon claim failure location emphasis added agree every default assessment work cause claim lost defaults however might equivalent abandonment hold token assessment work assessment work substantially satisfy requirements adequate maintain claims within meaning leasing act hold otherwise help defeat policy made prospective recipient royalties beneficiary oil shale claims support wilbur krushnic ickes development broad ground rather dicta contrary conclude must confined situations substantial compliance assessment work requirements ibid view unique factual matrix unequivocally contradicts statutory presumption intent abandon reason late filing sum case presents ambiguous statute strictly construed destroy valuable rights appellees property owners complied local federal statutory filing requirements apart late filing caused bureau failure mail reminder notice necessary statute ambiguity caused bureau information appellees date filing occurred acceptable long bureau declared technical abandonment complete possession information necessary assess activity locations ownership appellees mining claims possessed information needed carry statutory functions finally bureau claimed filing contrary congressional purposes behind statute filing affected bureau planning functions manner interfered measurable way bureau need obtain information showing substantial compliance necessitates significant burden proof appellees whose active mining claims destroyed contrary congress intent convinced substantially complied statute respectfully dissent full text reads follows recordation mining claims filing requirements owner unpatented lode placer mining claim located prior october shall within period following october prior december year thereafter file instruments required paragraphs subsection owner unpatented lode placer mining claim located october shall prior december year following calendar year said claim located file instruments required paragraphs subsection file record office location notice certificate recorded either notice intention hold mining claim including limited notices provided law filed suspension deferment annual assessment work affidavit assessment work performed thereon detailed report provided section title relating thereto file office bureau designated secretary copy official record instrument filed recorded pursuant paragraph subsection including description location mining claim sufficient locate claimed lands ground additional filing requirements owner unpatented lode placer mining claim mill tunnel site located prior october shall within period following october file office bureau designated secretary copy official record notice location certificate location including description location mining claim mill tunnel site sufficient locate claimed lands ground owner unpatented lode placer mining claim mill tunnel site located october shall within ninety days date location claim file office bureau designated secretary copy official record notice location certificate location including description location mining claim mill tunnel site sufficient locate claimed lands ground failure file constituting abandonment defective untimely filing failure file instruments required subsections section shall deemed conclusively constitute abandonment mining claim mill tunnel site owner shall considered failure file instrument defective filed record federal laws permitting filing recording thereof instrument filed record behalf owners mining claim mill tunnel site validity claims waiver assessment unaffected recordation application shall render valid claim otherwise valid applicable law nothing section shall construed waiver assessment requirements law delaware tribal business committee weeks stevens dissenting emphasis added view expressed rocky mountain mineral law institute july plain congress intended filing requirement expire last day year inartful draftsmanship requires filings subsection act made december result unfortunate use words prior december since december bears relationship assessment year ends noon september year statutory requirement locator shall file necessary documents december year following calendar year claim located means claim located noon september calendar year locator must file next full calendar year notice intention hold assessment work requirement yet arisen sherwood recordation prospecting federal land policy management act rocky mountain mineral law institute footnotes omitted clark escambia county mcmillan per curiam see also ashwander tva brandeis concurring agrees regarding first purpose inexplicably without citation concludes another purpose provide federal land managers information allows make informed management decisions ante latter statutory purpose mentioned legislative history rather variation purpose equally without citation offered appellants see brief appellants see supra see title cfr provides filed file means received date stamped proper blm office purpose complying title timely filed means filed within time period prescribed law received january period prescribed law envelope bearing clearly dated postmark affixed postal service within period prescribed law day period apply notice location filed pursuant title see title last day falls date office closed cfr undisputed regulations come attention appellees justify forfeiture case ground appellees chargeable constructive notice contents federal register acceptable today justice jackson mind absurdity hold every farmer insures crops knows federal register contains even knows publication peruse voluminous dull publication issued time time order make sure whether anything promulgated affects rights never need crop insurance never get time plant crops federal crop insurance corporation merrill jackson dissenting ante criticizes citation blm regulations demonstrate agency departed plain statutory language allowing mail filings received january breath acknowledges agency bound plain language administering statute ibid deadline makes clear judicially created statutory purpose utterly lacking foundation agency adoption january deadline illustrates need information december bound language provision substantial compliance interfere agency statutory functions intent congress several amici filed materials listing numerous cases asserted bureau using every technical construction statute suck active mining claims much vacuum cleaner watched closely suck jewelry loose money see brief mountain legal foundation amicus curiae claiming overwhelming number mining claims lost pitfalls section claiming unpatented mining claimants lost almost active locations due technical rigors conclusive presumption section app listing cases brief alaska miners association california mining association nevada mining association miners advocacy council placer miners association amici curiae exhibit letter bureau utah state office stating well claims invalidated filings made december exhibit letter bureau billings montana office stating claims invalidated filings made december exhibit letter bureau wyoming state office stating claims invalidated filings made december exhibit letter bureau arizona state office stating approximately claims invalidated due filing affidavit one day late brief mobil oil corporation amicus curiae claiming situation similar appellees according bureau calculations thousands active mining claims terminated filings made december considered untimely representations confirm picture painted amici federal bureaucracy virtually running amok surely operating contrary intent congress terminating valuable property rights hardworking productive citizens country suggests appellees failure file december caused property right extinguished ante however one hand carefully avoids mentioning period elapsed december bureau declared appellees mining claims abandoned hand describes bureau needing information allows make informed land management decisions ante ante lists several provisions code supportive position prior december somehow less ambiguous occasional use various statutory provisions unclear whether arguments advanced dissenters meant apply provisions ibid however provisions cited support illustrate lack justification approach highlight uniqueness provision case eleven provisions refer specific date provision issue requires specific action continual annual basis thus involving much greater risk creating trap unwary specific dates mentioned provisions long past thus contrary premise decision effect require future action see prior december prior december prior december prior december prior december prior december ii supp iii prior december prior december first year following october prior december prior december prior december app prior december remaining provision cited authority panama canal certain property shall transferred republic panama prior december legislative history indicates language added make clear president authorized accelerate final transfer panama canal provided panama canal treaty conf panama canal treaty art ii indicates shall terminate noon panama time december therefore language tailored unique treaty provision supp ibid reply brief appellants affidavit laura locke brief appellants