§88 Disposition of coal by United States

Summary

If the coal laws apply to land someone has applied for, entered, or gotten a patent on, the United States will handle the coal on that land under whatever coal-land rules are in effect when the coal is sold or given out. People who are allowed under U.S. law to get coal or mining rights may enter those lands at any time to look for coal if the coal can still be disposed of, but they must have a bond approved by the Secretary of the Interior to pay for any damage to crops or buildings. Anyone who already bought the coal or mining rights from the United States may come back and use as much surface as needed to mine and remove the coal. They must pay for damage to the landowner or give a good bond and let a court decide the damage amount. A landowner with a limited patent may still dig coal for personal, domestic use until the United States disposes of the coal. Owners may also apply to challenge a coal classification and seek a full patent without the coal reservation, and those applications must be considered promptly.