N.Y. PBL Law § 81

§ 81. Minerals subject to state ownership; exploration of mines on\nstate lands. 1. The following minerals are the property of the people\nof the state of New York in their right of sovereignty:\n (a) All deposits of gold and silver in or upon private lands and lands\nbelonging to the state heretofore or hereafter discovered within this\nstate.\n (b) All deposits of minerals and fossils heretofore or hereafter\ndiscovered in or upon any lands belonging to the people of the state of\nNew York.\n 2. The commissioner of general services may, upon written application\nby any citizen of the United States, issue to such applicant a permit,\nconsent, or lease of such duration as the commissioner may deem\nadvisable, upon such terms and conditions as the commissioner shall\ndetermine, to enter upon state lands, for the purpose of exploring for\nmines and minerals or for the purpose of breaking up such lands and\nworking any mine or extracting any mineral in such lands.\n In the case of state lands other than unappropriated state lands, the\nstate department, agency, commission or institution having jurisdiction\nover such lands shall receive notice from the commissioner of any\napplication to explore, break-up or mine, and shall have a period of not\nless than thirty days to report thereon in writing to the commissioner,\nand no permit, consent or lease shall be issued until such report has\nbeen received or the thirty day period has expired, and shall not be\neffective until approved by the governor.\n