; or (B) an Alaska Native Corporation. (2) Alaska Native Corporation The term Alaska Native Corporation has the meaning given the term Native Corporation in section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1602 ). (3) Lead agency The term lead agency means the agency with primary responsibility for issuing a mineral exploration or mine permit for a project. (4) Mineral exploration or mine permit The term mineral exploration or mine permit includes— (A) an authorization of the Bureau of Land Management or the Forest Service, as applicable, for premining activities that requires an environmental impact statement or similar analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); (B) a plan of operations issued by— (i) the Bureau of Land Management under subpart 3809 of part 3800 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations); or (ii) the Forest Service under subpart A of part 228 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations); and (C) a permit issued under an authority described in section 3503.13 of title 43, Code of Federal regulations (or successor regulations). (5) Project The term project means a project for which the issuance of a permit is required to conduct activities for, relating to, or incidental to mineral exploration, mining, beneficiation, processing, or reclamation activities— (A) on a mining claim, millsite claim, or tunnel site claim for any locatable mineral; or (B) in conjunction with any Federal mineral (other than coal and oil shale) that is leased under— (i) the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands ( 30 U.S.C. 351 et seq.); or (ii) section 402 of Reorganization Plan Numbered 3 of 1946 (5 U.S.C. App.). 4. Improving development of strategic and critical minerals (a) Definition of strategic and critical minerals In this section, the term strategic and critical minerals means minerals that are necessary— (1) for the national defense and national security requirements