Lithuanian Geological Survey was founded on October 16, 1940 and restored on March 11, 1991. The functions of LGT are determined by the Underground Law and other legal statements.

In Lithuania, the subsurface belong by right of exclusive ownership to the State according to the Constitution and the Underground Law. Surficial soil (arable layer) belongs to the land owner.

Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania forms the subsurface resource use and protection policy and coordinating its implementation. Lithuanian Geological Survey (LGT) participates in the state subsurface policy making, organizes and executes geological investigations of the State,
regulates and controls the use of underground, manages the system of State geological information. Those public administration bodies are the main institutions of the underground sector regulation.