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

Summary

If someone proves they followed the land-entry laws, they get an official ownership document for the land. But that document keeps all coal under the land for the United States. The United States also keeps the right to look for, mine, and take that coal. The coal can be sold or given out later under the coal-land laws that apply at that time. Any person allowed by federal law to buy coal or mining rights may go onto the land to look for coal if the Secretary of the Interior approves a bond to pay for any damage to crops or buildings. A person who already bought the coal or the right to mine it from the United States may return, use as much surface as needed for mining, and remove the coal if they pay for damages or post a court bond to fix those damages. The landowner may mine coal for their own household use until the United States disposes of the coal. People may still apply to prove land is not coal land so they can try to get ownership without the coal reservation.