§85 Patents for Lands, with Reservation of Coal; Disposal of Coal Deposits

Summary

If a person proves they followed the land laws and the rules in sections 83–85, they must get a land patent (ownership). That patent keeps all the coal rights for the United States. The government may sell or give the coal later under the coal-land laws in effect then. People who are allowed by federal law to get coal or mining rights can go onto the land to look for coal. They must first get the Secretary of the Interior to approve a bond that will pay for any damage to crops or buildings caused by the search. Anyone who actually buys the coal or the right to mine it from the United States may come back and use as much of the surface as needed to mine and remove the coal. They must pay for damages to the landowner or post a court-approved bond to settle damages. The landowner may still mine coal for their own household use until the United States disposes of the coal. People can also apply to challenge a land’s coal classification and try to get a patent without the coal reservation.