### Question
How is the "public lands" defined?


### Answer
The term **public lands** is defined in *25 U.S.C. § 1776a* as follows -

> any land or interest in land owned by the United States (without regard to the means by which the United States acquired ownership of the land or interest in land) and administered by the Secretary through the Bureau of Land Management

#### Citation:
  - *25 U.S.C. § 1776a*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 19-INDIAN LAND CLAIMS SETTLEMENTS > SUBCHAPTER X-CROW LAND CLAIMS SETTLEMENT**

