[105th Congress Public Law 167]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
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[DOCID: f:publ167.105]
[[Page 39]]
LITTLE MISSOURI NATIONAL GRASSLANDS MINERAL INTEREST CONSOLIDATION
[[Page 112 STAT. 40]]
Public Law 105-167
105th Congress
An Act
To consolidate certain mineral interests in the National Grasslands in
Billings County, North Dakota, through the exchange of Federal and
private mineral interests to enhance land management capabilities and
environmental and wildlife protection, and for other
purposes. <<NOTE: Apr. 13, 1998 - [S. 750]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. EXCHANGE OF CERTAIN MINERAL INTERESTS IN BILLINGS
COUNTY, NORTH DAKOTA.
(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to direct the consolidation
of certain mineral interests in the Little Missouri National Grasslands
in Billings County, North Dakota, through the exchange of Federal and
private mineral interests in order to enhance land management capability
and environmental and wildlife protection.
(b) Exchange.--Notwithstanding <<NOTE: Burlington Resources Oil &
Gas Company.>> any other provision of law--
(1) if, not later than 45 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company (referred to
in this Act as ``Burlington'' and formerly known as Meridian Oil
Inc.), conveys title acceptable to the Secretary of Agriculture
(referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') to all oil and
gas rights and interests on lands identified on the map entitled
``Billings County, North Dakota, Consolidated Mineral Exchange--
November 1995'', by quitclaim deed acceptable to the Secretary,
the Secretary shall convey to Burlington, subject to valid
existing rights, by quitclaim deed, all Federal oil and gas
rights and interests on lands identified on that map; and
(2) if Burlington makes the conveyance under paragraph (1)
and, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this
Act, the owners of the remaining non-oil and gas mineral
interests on lands identified on that map convey title
acceptable to the Secretary to all rights, title, and interests
in the interests held by them, by quitclaim deed acceptable to
the Secretary, the Secretary shall convey to those owners,
subject to valid existing rights, by exchange deed, all
remaining Federal non-oil and gas mineral rights, title, and
interests in National Forest System lands and National
Grasslands identified on that map in the State of North Dakota
as are agreed to by the Secretary and the owners of those
interests.
[[Page 112 STAT. 41]]
(c) Leasehold Interests.--As a condition precedent to the conveyance
of interests by the Secretary to Burlington under this Act, all
leasehold and contractual interests in the oil and gas interests to be
conveyed by Burlington to the United States under this Act shall be
released, to the satisfaction of the Secretary.
(d) Equal Valuation of Oil and Gas Rights Exchange.--The values of
the interests to be exchanged under subsection (b)(1) shall be deemed to
be equal.
(e) Approximate Equal Value of Exchanges With Other Interest
Owners.--The values of the interests to be exchanged under subsection
(b)(2) shall be approximately equal, as determined by the Secretary.
(f) Land Use.--
(1) Exploration and development.--The Secretary shall grant
to Burlington, and its successors and assigns, the use of
federally-owned surface lands to explore for and develop
interests conveyed to Burlington under this Act, subject to
applicable Federal and State laws.
(2) Surface occupancy and use.--Rights to surface occupancy
and use that Burlington would have absent the exchange under
this Act on its oil and gas rights and interests conveyed under
this Act shall apply to the same extent on the federally-owned
surface estate overlying oil and gas rights and interests
conveyed to Burlington under this Act.
(g) Environmental Protection for Environmentally Sensitive Lands.--
All activities of Burlington, and its successors and assigns, relating
to exploration and development on environmentally sensitive National
Forest System lands, as described in the ``Memorandum of Understanding
Concerning Certain Severed Mineral Estates, Billings County, North
Dakota'', executed by the Forest Service and Burlington and dated
November 2, 1995, shall be subject to the terms of the memorandum.
(h) Map.--The map referred to in subsection (b) shall be provided to
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the
Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives, kept on file in
the office of the Chief of the Forest Service, and made available for
public inspection in the office of the Forest Supervisor of the Custer
National Forest within 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(i) Continuation of Multiple Use.--Nothing in this Act shall limit,
restrict, or otherwise affect the application of the principle of
multiple use (including outdoor recreation, range, timber, watershed,
and fish and wildlife purposes) in any area of the Little Missouri
National Grasslands. Federal grazing permits or privileges in areas
designated on the map entitled ``Billings County, North
[[Page 112 STAT. 42]]
Dakota, Consolidated Mineral Exchange--November 1995'' or those lands
described in the ``Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Certain
Severed Mineral Estates, Billings County, North Dakota'', shall not be
curtailed or otherwise limited as a result of the exchanges directed by
this Act.
Approved April 13, 1998.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 750 (H.R. 2574):
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 105-471 accompanying H.R. 2574 (Comm. on Resources).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 105-92 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 143 (1997):
Oct. 6, considered and passed
Senate.
Vol. 144 (1998):
Mar. 30, considered and passed
House.
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