FOREWORD This compilation of the oil and gas conservation laws of the principal producing States and the United States has been suggested by those engaged on the problem of coordinating State conservation efforts, and was prepared for the Board under the direction of its Technical and Advisory Committee. It covers the laws and regulations up to June 20, 1931. RAY LYMAN WILBUR, Chairman. III UNITED STATES THE MINERAL LEASING ACT (FEBRUARY 25, 1920; 41 STAT. 437, AS AMENDED) [Lands subject to disposition; right to extract helium reserved; persons not entitled to benefits.] SECTION 1. That deposits of coal, phosphate, sodium, oil, oil shale, or gas, and lands containing such deposits owned by the United States, including those in national forests, but excluding lands acquired under the act known as the Appalachian Forest act, approved March 1, 1911 (Thirty-sixth Statutes, page 961), and those in national parks, and in lands withdrawn or reserved for military or naval uses or purposes, except as hereinafter provided, shall be subject to disposition in the form and manner provided by this act to citizens of the United States, or to any association of such persons, or to any corporation organized under the laws of the United States, or of any State or Territory thereof, and in the case of coal, oil, oil shale, or gas, to municipalities: Provided, That the United States reserves the right to extract helium from all gas produced from lands permitted, leased, or otherwise granted under the provisions of this act, under such rules and regulations as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior: Provided further, That in the extraction of helium from gas produced from such lands, it shall be so extracted as to cause no substantial delay in the delivery of gas produced from the well to the purchaser thereof: And provided further, That citizens of another country, the laws, customs, or regulations of which deny similar or like privileges to citizens or corporations of this country, shall not by stock ownership, stock holding, or stock control own any interest in any lease acquired under the provisions of this act. (U. S. Code, Title 30, sec. 181.) [Sections 2 to 8, inclusive, relate to coal.] [Sections 9 to 12, inclusive, relate to phosphates.] [Prospecting permits; term and conditions; extension; location of lands; marking land; notice of application for permit; permits in Alaska.] SEC. 13. That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized, under such necessary and proper rules and regulations as he may 1 |