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Notes

25 U.S.C. §§ 396a–396g

7 sections in range

§396a. Leases of unallotted lands for mining purposes; duration of leases

25 U.S.C. § 396a

On and after May 11, 1938, unallotted lands within any Indian reservation or lands owned by any tribe, group, or band of Indians under Federal jurisdiction, except those specifically excepted from the provisions of sections 396a to 396g of this title, may, with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, be leased for mining purposes, by authority of the tribal council or other authorized spokesmen for such Indians, for terms not to exceed ten years and as long thereafter as minerals are produced in paying quantities.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

(May 11, 1938, ch. 198, § 1, 52 Stat. 347.)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Repeal of Inconsistent Acts

Act May 11, 1938, ch. 198, § 7, 52 Stat. 348, provided that: “All Act [Acts] or parts of Acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.”

§396b. Public auction of oil and gas leases; requirements

25 U.S.C. § 396b

Leases for oil- and/or gas-mining purposes covering such unallotted lands shall be offered for sale to the highest responsible qualified bidder, at public auction or on sealed bids, after notice and advertisement, upon such terms and subject to such conditions as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe. Such advertisement shall reserve to the Secretary of the Interior the right to reject all bids whenever in his judgment the interest of the Indians will be served by so doing, and if no satisfactory bid is received, or the accepted bidder fails to complete the lease, or the Secretary of the Interior shall determine that it is unwise in the interest of the Indians to accept the highest bid, said Secretary may readvertise such lease for sale, or with the consent of the tribal council or other governing tribal authorities, a lease may be made by private negotiations: Provided, That the foregoing provisions shall in no manner restrict the right of tribes organized and incorporated under sections 16 and 17 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984) [25 U.S.C. 5123, 5124], to lease lands for mining purposes as therein provided and in accordance with the provisions of any constitution and charter adopted by any Indian tribe pursuant to the Act of June 18, 1934 [25 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.].
Notes, amendments, and revision history

(May 11, 1938, ch. 198, § 2, 52 Stat. 347.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Act of June 18, 1934, referred to in text, is act June 18, 1934, ch. 576, 48 Stat. 984, popularly known as the Indian Reorganization Act, which is classified generally to chapter 45 (§ 5101 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5101 of this title and Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Repeal of Inconsistent Acts

For repeal of inconsistent acts, see section 7 of act May 11, 1938, set out as a note under section 396a of this title.

§396c. Lessees of restricted lands to furnish bonds for performance

25 U.S.C. § 396c

On and after May 11, 1938, lessees of restricted Indian lands, tribal or allotted, for mining purposes, including oil and gas, shall furnish corporate surety bonds, in amounts satisfactory to the Secretary of the Interior, guaranteeing compliance with the terms of their leases: Provided, That personal surety bonds may be accepted where the sureties deposit as collateral with the said Secretary of the Interior any public-debt obligations of the United States guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States equal to the full amount of such bonds, or other collateral satisfactory to the Secretary of the Interior, or show ownership to unencumbered real estate of a value equal to twice the amount of the bonds.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

(May 11, 1938, ch. 198, § 3, 52 Stat. 348.)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Repeal of Inconsistent Acts

For repeal of inconsistent acts, see section 7 of act May 11, 1938, set out as a note under section 396a of this title.

§396d. Rules and regulations governing operations; limitations on oil or gas leases

25 U.S.C. § 396d

All operations under any oil, gas, or other mineral lease issued pursuant to the terms of sections 396a to 396g of this title or any other Act affecting restricted Indian lands shall be subject to the rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior. In the discretion of the said Secretary, any lease for oil or gas issued under the provisions of sections 396a to 396g of this title shall be made subject to the terms of any reasonable cooperative unit or other plan approved or prescribed by said Secretary prior or subsequent to the issuance of any such lease which involves the development or production of oil or gas from land covered by such lease.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

(May 11, 1938, ch. 198, § 4, 52 Stat. 348.)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Repeal of Inconsistent Acts

For repeal of inconsistent acts, see section 7 of act May 11, 1938, set out as a note under section 396a of this title.

§396e. Officials authorized to approve leases

25 U.S.C. § 396e

The Secretary of the Interior may, in his discretion, authorize superintendents or other officials in the Indian Service to approve leases for oil, gas, or other mining purposes covering any restricted Indian lands, tribal or allotted.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

(May 11, 1938, ch. 198, § 5, 52 Stat. 348.)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Repeal of Inconsistent Acts

For repeal of inconsistent acts, see section 7 of act May 11, 1938, set out as a note under section 396a of this title.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of the Interior, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Interior, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1262, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

§396f. Lands excepted from leasing provisions

25 U.S.C. § 396f

Sections 396a, 396b, 396c, and 396d of this title shall not apply to the Crow Reservation in Montana, the ceded lands of the Shoshone Reservation in Wyoming, the Osage Reservation in Oklahoma, nor to the coal and asphalt lands of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes in Oklahoma.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

(May 11, 1938, ch. 198, § 6, 52 Stat. 348; May 27, 1955, ch. 106, § 2, 69 Stat. 68.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1955—Act May 27, 1955, struck out “the Papago Indian Reservation in Arizona,” after “shall not apply to”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Repeal of Inconsistent Acts

For repeal of inconsistent acts, see section 7 of act May 11, 1938, set out as a note under section 396a of this title.

Papago Indian Reservation

Section 1 of act May 27, 1955, authorized the leasing of minerals for mining purposes. See note under section 5103 of this title.

§396g. Subsurface storage of oil or gas

25 U.S.C. § 396g

The Secretary of the Interior, to avoid waste or to promote the conservation of natural resources or the welfare of the Indians, is authorized in his discretion to approve leases of lands that are subject to lease under section 396 or 396a of this title, for the subsurface storage of oil and gas, irrespective of the lands from which initially produced, and the Secretary is authorized, in order to provide for the subsurface storage of oil or gas, to approve modifications, amendments, or extensions of the oil and gas or other mining lease(s), if any, in effect as to restricted Indian lands, tribal or allotted, and may promulgate rules and regulations consistent with such leases, modifications, amendments, and extensions, relating to the storage of oil or gas thereunder. Any such leases may provide for the payment of a storage fee or rental on such stored oil or gas or, in lieu of such fee or rental, for a royalty other than that prescribed in the lease when such stored oil or gas is produced in conjunction with oil or gas not previously produced. It may be provided that any oil and gas lease under which storage of oil or gas is so authorized shall be continued in effect at least for the period of such storage use and so long thereafter as oil or gas not previously produced is produced in paying quantities.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

(May 11, 1938, ch. 198, § 8, as added Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 808, 70 Stat. 774.)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Repeal of Inconsistent Acts

For repeal of inconsistent acts, see section 7 of act May 11, 1938, set out as a note under section 396a of this title.