§88 Disposition of Coal by United States

Summary

When coal laws apply to land someone has applied for, entered, or been given under these land rules, the United States will handle the coal on that land under whatever coal-land laws are in force when the coal is disposed of. Anyone who is allowed by U.S. law to acquire coal or mining rights may enter those lands to look for coal while the coal is still available for disposal, but they must file a bond approved by the Secretary of the Interior to pay for any damage to crops or improvements caused by prospecting. A person who already bought the coal or the right to mine it from the United States may reenter and use as much of the surface as needed to mine, after paying damages or giving a good bond and starting a court action to fix those damages. The owner who holds a limited patent may mine coal for personal, domestic use at any time before the United States disposes of the coal. People may also apply under the land laws to challenge a coal classification of surplus land and seek a patent without a coal reservation, and they must get prompt consideration.