Title 30 — Mineral Lands and MiningRelease 119-73

§86 Disposition of lands in Indian reservations with reservation of coal; examination and appraisal of lands

Title 30 › Chapter CHAPTER 3— - LANDS CONTAINING COAL, OIL, GAS, SALTS, ASPHALTIC MATERIALS, SODIUM, SULPHUR, AND BUILDING STONE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - COAL LAND ENTRIES UNDER NONMINERAL LAND LAWS WITH RESERVATION OF COAL TO UNITED STATES › § 86

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

When a reservation is opened for settlement and its surplus lands are divided into mineral and nonmineral, any surplus land that is coal-bearing or classified as coal must be handled the same way as the nonmineral land if someone applies for title. The United States keeps the coal and the right to search for, mine, and remove it. Before any transfer, those lands must be inspected, put into the same classes used for nonmineral lands, and appraised for value excluding the coal, under rules set by the Secretary of the Interior.

Full Legal Text

Title 30, §86

Mineral Lands and Mining — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In any Indian reservation opened to settlement and entry pursuant to a classification of the surplus lands therein as mineral and nonmineral, such surplus lands not otherwise reserved or disposed of, which have been or may be withdrawn or classified as coal lands or are valuable for coal deposits, shall be subject to the same disposition as is or may be prescribed by law for the nonmineral lands in such reservation whenever proper application shall be made with a view of obtaining title to such lands, with a reservation to the United States of the coal deposits therein and of the right to prospect for, mine, and remove the same. Such surplus lands, prior to any disposition hereunder, shall be examined, separated into classes the same as are the nonmineral lands in such reservations, and appraised, as to their value, exclusive of the coal deposits therein, under such rules and regulations as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior for that purpose.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

30 U.S.C. § 86

Title 30 — Mineral Lands and Mining

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73