PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

A leaseholder can give up all or part of a geothermal lease by filing a written relinquishment at the proper land office. The relinquishment takes effect on the filing date. After filing, the lessee is freed from new duties for the land given up, but they and their surety or bond remain responsible for any lease breaches that happened before filing (except a past failure to drill). They must also still pay any unpaid rentals and royalties, put wells into proper suspension or abandonment condition, and protect or restore the surface and its resources under the lease and rules.

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