36.25.302    LANDS AVAILABLE FOR LEASING

(1) State lands available for leasing by the board under these rules include state lands to which the title has vested in the state and in which the coal or coal rights are not reserved by the United States. Such state lands include those which have been sold but in which coal rights have been reserved, in whole or in part, whether such lands are under certificate of purchase or whether patents have been issued. The board in its discretion may withdraw any lands from leasing. In cases where the lands are under lease for grazing, agriculture or similar purposes, care will be taken in issuing the coal lease to protect the rights of the purchaser or surface lessee.

(2) If after a determination of the amount, location, and quality of the coal on the lands for lease, it appears that the extraction of the coal from such lands by strip mining methods would adversely affect the methods of recovery of deep minable coal from such operations on such lands in the future, the board may not issue a lease.

History: 77-3-303, MCA; IMP, 77-3-303, MCA; NEW, 1979 MAR p. 734, Eff. 7/12/79; TRANS, 1996 MAR p. 2384.