§1009 — Title 30 Mineral Lands and Mining | U.S. Code

Summary

A leaseholder can file a written surrender of a whole geothermal lease or just part of it at the proper land office. The surrender takes effect on the day it is filed. After filing, the leaseholder is free from new duties on the surrendered land. But the leaseholder and anyone who guaranteed the lease remain responsible for breaches that happened before filing (except a failed obligation to drill). They must still pay all rents and royalties already due, put wells into proper suspension or abandonment condition, and protect or restore the surface and its resources as the lease and rules require.

Title 30, §1009

Mineral Lands and Mining — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The holder of any geothermal lease at any time may make and file in the appropriate land office a written relinquishment of all rights under such lease or of any legal subdivision of the area covered by such lease. Such relinquishment shall be effective as of the date of its filing. Thereupon the lessee shall be released of all obligations thereafter accruing under said lease with respect to the lands relinquished, but no such relinquishment shall release such lessee, or his surety or bond, from any liability for breach of any obligation of the lease, other than an obligation to drill, accrued at the date of the relinquishment, or from the continued obligation, in accordance with the applicable lease terms and regulations, (1) to make payment of all accrued rentals and royalties, (2) to place all wells on the relinquished lands in condition for suspension or abandonment, and (3) to protect or restore substantially the surface and surface resources.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2005—Pub. L. 109–58 inserted section catchline.

§1009 Relinquishment of geothermal rights

Summary

Title 30, §1009

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Citations & Metadata