Title 43—Public Lands: Interior--Volume 1
PART 2540—COLOR-OF-TITLE AND OMITTED LANDS
§ 2540.0-3   Authority.
(a) Act of December 22, 1928. The Act of December 22, 1928 (45 Stat. 1069), as amended by the Act of July 28, 1953 (67 Stat. 227; 43 U.S.C. 1068, 1068a), authorizes the issuance of patent for not to exceed 160 acres of public lands held under claim or color of title of either of the two classes described in § 2540.0-5(b) upon payment of the sale price of the land.
(b) Act of February 23, 1932. The Act of February 23, 1932 (47 Stat. 53; 43 U.S.C. 178), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior in his discretion to issue patents, upon the payment of $1.25 per acre, for not more than 160 acres of public land, where such land is contiguous to a Spanish or Mexican land grant, and where such land has been held in good faith and in peaceful, adverse possession by a citizen of the United States, his ancestors or grantors, for more than 20 years under claim or color of title and where valuable improvements have been placed on such land, or some part thereof has been reduced to cultivation. The act further provides that where the land is in excess of 160 acres, the Secretary may determine the 160 acres to be patented under the Act. Under the said act the coal and all other minerals in the land are reserved to the United States and shall be subject to sale or disposal under applicable leasing and mineral land laws of the United States.
(c) Act of September 21, 1922. The Act of September 21, 1922 (42 Stat. 992; 43 U.S.C. 992), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior in his judgment and discretion to sell at an appraised price, any of those public lands situated in Arkansas, which were originally erroneously meandered and shown upon the official plats as water-covered areas, and which are not lawfully appropriated by a qualified settler or entryman claiming under the public land laws, to any citizen who in good faith under color of title or claiming as a riparian owner, has prior to September 21, 1922, placed valuable improvements on such land or reduced some part thereof to cultivation.
(d) Act of February 19, 1925. The Act of February 19, 1925 (43 Stat. 951; 43 U.S.C. 993), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior in his judgment and discretion to sell at an appraised price, any of those public lands situated in Louisiana, which were originally erroneously meandered and shown upon the official plats as water-covered areas and which are not lawfully appropriated by a qualified settler or entryman claiming under the public land laws, to any citizen who or whose ancestors in title in good faith under color of title or claiming as a riparian owner, has prior to February 19, 1925, placed valuable improvements upon or reduced to cultivation any of such lands. The coal, oil, gas, and other minerals in such lands are reserved to the United States.
(e) Act of August 24, 1954. The Act of August 24, 1954 (68 Stat. 789), directs the Secretary of the Interior to issue patents for public lands which lie between the meander line of an inland lake or river in Wisconsin as originally surveyed and the meander line of that lake or river as subsequently resurveyed, under certain terms and conditions. The Act of February 27, 1925 (43 Stat. 1013 43 U.S.C. 994), authorized the Secretary of the Interior to sell such public lands under certain other terms and conditions. These Acts are cited as the Act of 1954 and the Act of 1925, respectively, in §§ 2545.1 to 2545.4.
(f) Act of May 31, 1962. (1) The Act of May 31, 1962 (76 Stat. 89), hereafter referred to as the Act, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, in his discretion, to sell at not less than their fair market value any of those lands in the State of Idaho, in the vicinity of the Snake River or any of its tributaries, which have been, or may be, found upon survey to be omitted public lands of the United States, and which are not within the boundaries of a national forest or other Federal reservation and are not lawfully appropriated by a qualified settler or entryman claiming under the public land laws, or are not used and occupied by Indians claiming by reason of aboriginal rights or are not used and occupied by Indians who are eligible for an allotment under the laws pertaining to allotments on the public domain.
(2) The Act provides that in all patents issued under the Act, The Secretary of the Interior (i) shall include a reservation to the United States of all the coal, oil, gas, oil shale, phosphate, potash, sodium, native asphalt, solid and semisolid bitumen, and bitumen rock (including oil-impregnated rock or sands from which oil is recoverable only by special treatment after the deposit is mined or quarried), together with the right to prospect for, mine, and remove the same; and (ii) may reserve the right of access to the public through the lands and such other reservations as he may deem appropriate and consonant with the public interest in preserving public recreational values in the lands.
(3) The Act further provides that the Secretary of the Interior shall determine the fair market value of the lands by appraisal, taking into consideration any reservations specified pursuant to paragraph (f)(2) of this section and excluding, when sales are made to preference-right claimants under section 2 of the Act, any increased values resulting from the development or improvement thereof for agricultural or other purposes by the claimant or his predecessors in interest.
(4) The Act grants a preference right to purchase lands which are offered by the Secretary of the Interior for sale under the Act to any citizen of the United States (which term includes corporations, partnerships, firms, and other legal entities having authority to hold title to lands in the State of Idaho) who, in good faith under color of title or claiming as a riparian owner has, prior to March 30, 1961, placed valuable improvements upon, reduced to cultivation or occupied any of the lands so offered for sale, or whose ancestors or predecessors in title have taken such action.
(g) The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.
(1) Section 211 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1721), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior in his discretion to sell at not less than fair market value to the occupant thereof any omitted lands which, after survey, are found to have been occupied and developed for a 5-year period prior to January 1, 1975.
(2) The Act provides that all such conveyances under the Act must be in the public interest and will serve objectives which outweigh all public objectives and values served by retaining such lands in Federal ownership.
(3) Section 208 of the Act (43 U.S.C. 1718) further provides that the Secretary of the Interior shall issue patents subject to such terms, convenants, conditions, and reservations as deemed necessary to insure proper land use and protection of the public interest.
(4) Section 209 of the Act (43 U.S.C. 1719) provides that all patents issued under the Act shall reserve to the United States all minerals in the lands, together with the right to prospect for, mine, and remove the minerals under applicable law and such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, except as provided by section 209(b) of the Act.
§ 2540.0-5   Definition.
(a) The act, when used in this section means the Act of December 22, 1928 (45 Stat. 1069; 43 U.S.C. 1068, 1068a), as amended by the Act of July 28, 1953 (67 Stat. 227, 43 U.S.C. 1068a).
(b) The claims recognized by the Act will be referred to in this part as claims of class 1, and claim of class 2. A claim of class 1 is one which has been held in good faith and in peaceful adverse possession by a claimant, his ancestors or grantors, under claim or color of title for more than 20 years, on which valuable improvements have been placed, or on which some part of the land has been reduced to cultivation. A claim of class 2 is one which has been held in good faith and in peaceful, adverse possession by a claimant, his ancestors or grantors, under claim or color of title for the period commencing not later than January 1, 1901, to the date of application, during which time they have paid taxes levied on the land by State and local governmental units. A claim is not held in good faith where held with knowledge that the land is owned by the United States. A claim is not held in peaceful, adverse possession where it was initiated while the land was withdrawn or reserved for Federal purposes.
§ 2541.1   Who may apply.
Any individual, group, or corporation authorized to hold title to land in the State and who believes he has a valid claim under color of title may make application.
§ 2541.2   Procedures.
(a) Application. (1) An application for a claim of class 1 or of class 2 must be filed in duplicate on a form approved by the Director. It must be filed in accordance with the provisions of § 1821.2 of this chapter.
(2) Every application must be accompanied by a filing fee of $10, which will be nonreturnable.
(3) The application must be in typewritten form, or in legible handwriting, and it must be completely executed and signed by the applicant.
(4) Every applicant must furnish information required in the application form concerning improvements, cultivation, conveyances of title, taxes, and related matters.
(b) Description of lands applied for. Application under the act may be made for surveyed or unsurveyed lands. If unsurveyed, the description must be sufficiently complete to identify the location, boundary, and area of the land and, if possible, the approximate description or location of the land by section, township, and range. If unsurveyed land is claimed, final action will be suspended until the plat of survey has been officially filed.
(c) Presentation and verification of factual statements. (1) Information relating to all record and nonrecord conveyances, or to nonrecord claims of title, affecting the land shall be itemized on a form approved by the Director. The statements of record conveyances must be certified by the proper county official or by an abstractor. The applicant may be called upon to submit documentary or other evidence relating to conveyances or claims. Abstracts of title or other documents which are so requested will be returned to the applicant.
(2) Applicants for claims of class 2 must itemize all information relating to tax levies and payments on the land on a form approved by the Director which must be certified by the proper county official or by an abstractor.
§ 2541.3   Patents.
(a) Any applicant who satisfied all requirements for a claim of class 1 or class 2 commencing not later than January 1, 1901, to the date of application and who so requests in the application will receive a patent conveying title to all other minerals except:
(1) Any minerals which, at the time of approval of the application, are embraced by an outstanding mineral lease or
(2) Any minerals for which the lands have been placed in a mineral withdrawal.
(b) All mineral reservations will include the right to prospect for, mine, and remove the same in accordance with applicable law.
(c) The maximum area for which patent may be issued for any claim under the act is 160 acres. Where an area held under a claim or color of title is in excess of 160 acres, the Secretary has authority under the act to determine what particular subdivisions not exceeding 160 acres, may be patented.
§ 2541.4   Price of land; payment.
(a) Price of land. The land applied for will be appraised on the basis of its fair market value at the time of appraisal. However, in determination of the price payable by the applicant, value resulting from improvements or development by the applicant or his predecessors in interest will be deducted from the appraised price, and consideration will be given to the equities of the applicant. In no case will the land be sold for less than $1.25 per acre.
(b) Payment. Applicant will be required to make payment of the sale price of the land within the time stated in the request for payment.
§ 2541.5   Publication; protests.
(a) The applicant will be required to publish once a week for four consecutive weeks in accordance with § 1824.3 of this chapter, at his expense, in a designated newspaper and in a designated form, a notice allowing all persons claiming the land adversely to file in the office specified in § 2541.1-2(a) their objections to the issuance of patent under the application. A protestant must serve on the applicant a copy of the objections and furnish evidence of such service.
(b) The applicant must file a statement of the publisher, accompanied by a copy of the notice published, showing that publication has been had for the required time.
§ 2542.1   Application.
(a) Where filed; purchase price required. Applications under the Act of February 23, 1932 must be filed with the authorizing officer of the proper office at Santa Fe, New Mexico, and should be accompanied by payment of the purchase price of the land applied for at the rate of $1.25 per acre.
(b) Form. No special form of application is provided. The application should be in typewritten form or in legible handwriting and must be corroborated by at least two disinterested persons having actual knowledge of the facts alleged therein.
(c) Contents of application. Applicants desiring to take advantage of the benefits of the Act of February 23, 1932, must show the following matters in their applications:
(1) Full name and post-office address of the applicant and whether married or single.
(2) Description of the land for which patent is desired. If surveyed, the land should be described by legal subdivision, section, township, and range. If unsurveyed, the land should be described by metes and bounds.
(3) That the land applied for is contiguous to a Spanish or Mexican land grant. The grant should be identified by name, number, patentee or description of land involved. The points or places at which the land applied for is contiguous to the Spanish or Mexican land grant, must be clearly shown.
(4) That possession of the lands applied for has been maintained for more than 20 years under claim or color of title. If the applicant is claiming as a record owner, he or she will be required to file an abstract of title, certified to by a competent abstractor, showing the record of all conveyances of the land up to the date of the filing of the application. If the applicant is not a record owner and no abstract of title can be furnished, statements must be filed, setting forth the names of all mesne possessors of the land, the periods held by each, giving the dates and manner of acquiring possession of the land, and the acts of dominion exercised over the land by each possessor.
(5) That the lands have been held in good faith and in peaceful, adverse possession. The applicant should show whether or not he and his predecessors in interest have paid taxes on the lands and for what periods of time, and whether any consideration was paid for any conveyances of the land. It should further be shown whether there is any person who is claiming the land adversely to the applicant, and if there be such, the name and address of such adverse claimant should be furnished.
(6) Whether or not valuable improvements have been erected upon the land applied for and whether or not any part of such land has been reduced to cultivation. If improvements have been made, the nature, the value, the exact location, and the time of erection thereof, should be fully disclosed together with the identity of the one who was responsible for erecting such improvements. If any of the land has been reduced to cultivation, the subdivision so claimed to have been reduced must be identified and the amount and nature of the cultivation must be set forth, together with the dates thereof.
§ 2542.2   Evidence required.
(a) Citizenship. The applicant must furnish a statement showing whether such applicant is a native-born or naturalized citizen of the United States. In the event an applicant is a naturalized citizen, the statement should show the date of the alleged naturalization or declaration of intention, the title and location of the court in which instituted, and when available, the number of the document in question, if the proceeding has been had since September 26, 1906. In addition, in cases of naturalization prior to September 27, 1906, there should be given the date and place of the applicant's birth and the foreign country of which the applicant was a citizen or subject. In case the applicant is a corporation, a certified copy of the articles of incorporation should be filed.
(b) Acreage claimed. The applicant in the statement required under paragraph (a) of this section must show that the land claimed is not a part of a claim which embraced more than 160 acres on February 23, 1932. If the land claimed is part of a claim containing more than 160 acres, a full disclosure of all facts concerning the larger claim must be furnished.
§ 2542.3   Publication and posting of notice.
(a) If upon consideration of the application it is determined that the applicant is entitled to purchase the land applied for, the applicant will be required to publish notice of the application in a newspaper of general circulation in the county wherein the land applied for is situated. Notice for publication shall be issued in the following form:
Notice is hereby given that ________________________ (Name of applicant) of ______________________________ (Address) has filed application __________________________________ (Number and land office) under the Act of February 23, 1932 (47 Stat. 53), to purchase __________________________________________ (Land) Sec.______, T.______, R.______, ____________ Mer., claiming under ____________ (Ground of claim).
The purpose of this notice is to allow all persons having bona fide objection to the proposed purchase, an opportunity to file their protests in this office on or before
(b) The notice shall be published at the expense of the applicant and such publication shall be made once each week for a period of five consecutive weeks. A copy of the notice will be posted in the proper office during the entire period of publication. The applicant must file evidence showing that publication has been had for the required time, which evidence must consist of the statement of the publisher, accompanied by a copy of the notice as published.
§ 2542.4   Patent.
(a) Upon submission of satisfactory proof of publication and the expiration of the time allowed for the filing of objections against the application, if there be no protest, contest or other objection against the application, patent will then be issued by the authorizing officer.
(b) There will be incorporated in patents issued on applications under the above Act, the following:
Excepting and reserving, however, to the United States, the coal and all other minerals in the land so patented, together with the right of the United States or its permittees, lessees, or grantees, to enter upon said lands for the purpose of prospecting for and mining such deposits as provided for under the Act of February 23, 1932 (47 Stat. 53).
§ 2543.1   Applications.
(a) Applications to purchase under the Act of September 21, 1922, must be signed by the applicant in the State of Arkansas. Such applications had to be filed within 90 days from the date of the passage of this Act, if the lands had been surveyed and plats filed, otherwise they must be filed within 90 days from the filing of such plats. The applicant must show that he is either a native-born or naturalized citizen of the United States, and, if naturalized, file record evidence thereof; must describe the land which he desires to purchase, together with the land claimed as the basis of his preference right to the lands applied for if he applies as a riparian owner, or if claiming otherwise, under what color of title his claim is based, and that the applied-for lands are not lawfully appropriated by a qualified settler or entryman under the public land laws, nor in the legal possession of any adverse applicant; the kind, character, and value of the improvements on the land covered by the application; when they were placed thereon; the extent of the cultivation had, if any, and how long continued. This application must be supported by the statements of two persons having personal knowledge of the facts alleged in the application.
(b) All applications to purchase under the act must be accompanied by an application service fee of $10 which will not be returnable.
§ 2543.2   Appraisal of land.
When an application is received it will be assigned for investigation and appraisement of the land in accordance with the provisions of the Act of September 21, 1922.
§ 2543.3   Purchase price required.
If upon consideration of the application it shall be determined that the applicant is entitled to purchase the lands applied for, the applicant will be notified by registered mail that he must within 30 days from service of notice deposit the appraised price, or thereafter, and without further notice, forfeit all rights under his application.
§ 2543.4   Publication and posting.
Upon payment of the appraised price a notice of publication will be issued. Such notice shall be published at the expense of the applicant in a designated newspaper of general circulation in the vicinity of the lands once a week for five consecutive weeks immediately prior to the date of sale, but a sufficient time should elapse between the date of last publication and date of sale to enable the statement of the publisher to be filed. The notice will advise all persons claiming adversely to the applicant that they should file any objections or protests against the allowance of the application within the period of publication, otherwise the application may be allowed. Any objections or protests must be corroborated, and a copy thereof served upon the applicant. The Bureau of Land Management will cause a notice similar to the notice for publication to be posted in such office, during the entire period of publication. The publisher of the newspaper must file in the Bureau of Land Management prior to the date fixed by the sale evidence that publication has been had for the required period, which evidence must consist of the statement of the publisher, accompanied by a copy of the notice published.
§ 2543.5   Patent.
Upon submission of satisfactory proof, if no protest or contest is pending, patent will be issued.
§ 2544.1   Applications.
(a) Applications to purchase under the Act of February 19, 1925, must be signed by the applicant in the State of Louisiana. Such applications had to be filed within 90 days from the passage of this act, if the lands had been surveyed and plats filed, otherwise they must be filed within 90 days from the filing of such plat. The applicant must show that he is either a native-born or a naturalized citizen of the United States, and, if naturalized, file record evidence thereof; must describe the land which he desires to purchase, together with the land claimed as the basis of his preference right to the lands applied for it he applies as a riparian owner, or if claiming otherwise, under what color of the title his claim is based; in other words, a complete history of the claim, and that the lands applied for are not lawfully appropriated by a qualified settler or entryman under the public land laws, nor in the legal possession of any adverse applicant; the kind, character, and value of the improvements on the land covered by the application; when they were placed thereon; the extent of the cultivation, if any, and how long continued. Such application must be supported by the statement of at least two persons having personal knowledge of the facts alleged in the application.
(b) All applications to purchase under the act must be accompanied by an application service fee of $10 which will not be returnable.
§ 2544.2   Appraisal of land.
When an application is received it will be assigned for investigation and appraisement of the land in accordance with the provisions of the act.
§ 2544.3   Notice to deposit purchase price.
If, upon consideration of the application, it shall be determined that the applicant is entitled to purchase the lands applied for, the applicant will be notified, by registered mail, that he must within 6 months from receipt of notice deposit the appraised price of the land or else forfeit all his rights under his application.
§ 2544.4   Publication and posting.
Upon payment of the appraised price of the land the Bureau will issue notice of publication. Such notice shall be published at the expense of the applicant in a designated newspaper of general circulation in the vicinity of the lands, once a week for five consecutive weeks. In accordance with § 1824.3 of this chapter, immediately prior to the date of sale, but a sufficient time shall elapse between the date of the last publication and the date of sale to enable the statement of the publisher to be filed. The notice will advise all persons claiming adversely to the applicant that they should file any objections or protests against the allowance of the application within the period of publication, otherwise the application may be allowed. Any objections or protests must be corroborated, and a copy thereof served upon the applicant. The Bureau will also cause a copy of such notice of publication to be posted in such office during the entire period of publication. The applicant must file in the Bureau prior to the date fixed for the sale evidence that publication has been had for the required period, which evidence must consist of the statement of the publisher accompanied by a copy of the notice so published.
§ 2544.5   Patent.
Upon the submission of satisfactory proof, the Bureau will, if no protest or contest is pending, issue patent, such patent to contain a stipulation that all the minerals in the lands described in the application are reserved to the United States with the right to prospect for, mine and remove same.
§ 2545.1   Qualifications of applicants.
(a) To qualify under the Act of 1954, a person, or his predecessors in interest, (1) must have been issued, prior to January 21, 1953, a patent for lands lying along the meander line as originally determined, and (2) must have held in good faith and in peaceful, adverse possession since the date of issuance of said patent adjoining public lands lying between the original meander line and the resurveyed meander line.
(b) To qualify under the Act of 1925, a person must either (1) be the owner in good faith of land, acquired prior to February 27, 1925, shown by the official public land surveys to be bounded in whole or in part by such public lands or (2) be a citizen of the United States who, in good faith under color of title or claiming as a riparian owner, had, prior to February 27, 1925, placed valuable improvements upon or reduced to cultivation any of such public lands.
§ 2545.2   Applications.
(a) Claimants under the Act of 1925 have a preferred right of application for a period of 90 days from the date of filing of the plat of survey of lands claimed by them. Applications for public lands under the Act of 1954 must be filed within 1 year after August 24, 1954, or 1 year from the date of the official plat or resurvey, whichever is later. All applications must be filed in the proper office (see § 1821.2-1 of this chapter).
(b) Every application must be accompanied by a filing fee of $10, which is not returnable.
(c) No particular form is required but the applications must be typewritten or in legible handwriting and must contain the following information:
(1) The name and post office address of the applicant.
(2) The legal description and acreage of the public lands claimed or desired.
(3) The legal description of the lands owned by the applicant, if any, adjoining the public lands claimed or desired. If the claim is based on ownership of such adjoining lands, the application must be accompanied by a certificate from the proper county official or by an abstractor, showing the date of acquisition of the lands by the applicant and that the applicant owns the lands in fee simple as of the date of application.
(4) If the applicant is a color-of-title applicant under the Act of 1925, a statement whether or not the applicant is a citizen of the United States.
(5) If the application is based on color of title or riparian claim under the Act of 1925, a statement fully disclosing the facts of the matter; or if the application is based on peaceful, adverse possession under the Act of 1954, a similar statement showing peaceful, adverse possession by the applicant, or his predecessors in interest, since the issuance of the patent to the lands adjoining the claimed lands.
(6) A statement showing the improvements, if any, placed on the public lands applied for including their location, nature, present value, date of installation, and the names of the person or persons who installed them.
(7) A statement showing the cultivation, if any, of the lands applied for, including the nature, location, and dates of such cultivation.
(8) The names and post office addresses of any adverse claimants, settlers, or occupants of the public lands applied for or claimed.
(9) The names and post office addresses of at least two disinterested persons having knowledge of the facts relating to the applicant's claim.
(10) A citation of the act under which the application is made.
§ 2545.3   Publication and protests.
(a) The applicant will be required to publish once a week for five consecutive weeks in accordance with § 1824.3 of this chapter, at his expense, in a designated newspaper and in a designated form, a notice allowing all persons claiming the land adversely to file with the Bureau of Land Management, Washington, DC, their objections to issuance of patent under the application. A protestant must serve on the applicant a copy of the objections and furnish evidence of such service.
(b) The applicant must file a statement of the publisher, accompanied by a copy of the notice published, showing that publication has been had for the required time.
§ 2545.4   Price of land; other conditions.
(a) Persons entitled to a patent under the Act of 1954 must, within 30 days after request therefor, pay, under the same terms and conditions, the same price per acre as was paid for the land included in their original patent.
(b) Persons entitled to a patent under the Act of 1925, within 30 days after request therefor, must pay the appraised price of the lands, which price will be the value of the lands as of the date of appraisal, exclusive of any increased value resulting from the development or improvement of the lands for agricultural purposes by the applicant or his predecessors in interest but inclusive of the stumpage value of any timber cut or removed by them.
§ 2546.1   Offers of lands for sale.
Before any lands may be sold under the Act, the authorized officer of the Bureau of Land Management shall publish in the Federal Register and in at least one newspaper of general circulation within the State of Idaho a notice that the lands will be offered for sale, which notice shall specify a period of time not less than 30 days in duration during which citizens may file with the proper office at Boise, Idaho, a notice of their intention to apply to purchase all or part of the lands as qualified preference-right claimants.
§ 2546.2   Applications for purchase.
(a) All citizens who file a notice of intention in accordance with § 2546.1 within the time period specified in the published notice or any amendment thereof will be granted by the authorized officer a period of time not less than 30 days in duration in which to file, in duplicate with the Authorizing officer of the Boise State Office, their applications to purchase lands as preference-right claimants.
(b) Every application must be accompanied by a filing fee of $10, which is not returnable.
(c) No particular form is required but the applications must be typewritten or in legible handwriting and must contain the following information:
(1) The name and post office address of the claimant.
(2) The description and acreage of the public lands claimed or desired.
(3) The description of the lands owned by the applicant, if any, adjoining the public lands claimed or desired accompanied by a certificate from the proper county official or by an abstractor or by an attorney showing the date of acquisition of the lands by the applicant and that the applicant owns the lands in fee simple as of the date of application.
(4) A statement showing that the claimant is a citizen of the United States, as defined in paragraph (4) of § 2540.0-3(f).
(5) A statement giving the basis for color of title or claim of riparian ownership.
(6) A statement showing the improvements, if any, placed on the public lands applied for including their location, nature, present value, date of installation, and the names of the person or persons who installed them.
(7) A statement showing the cultivation and occupancy, if any, of the lands applied for, including the nature, location, and date of such cultivation and occupancy.
(8) The names and post office addresses of any adverse claimants, settlers, or occupants of the public lands claimed.
(9) The names and addresses of at least two disinterested persons having knowledge of the facts relating to the applicant's claim.
(10) A citation of the Act under which the application is made.
§ 2546.3   Payment and publication.
(a) Before lands may be sold to a qualified preference-right claimant, the claimant will be required to pay the purchase price of the lands and will be required to publish once a week for four consecutive weeks, at his expense, in a designated newspaper and in a designated form, a notice allowing all persons having objections to file with the Authorizing officer of the State Office at Boise, Idaho, their objections to issuance of patent to the claimant. A protestant must serve on the claimant a copy of the objections and must furnish the Authorizing officer with evidence of such service.
(b) Among other things, the notice will describe the lands to be patented, state the purchase price for the lands and the reservations, if any, to be included in the patent to preserve public recreational values in the lands.
(c) The claimant must file a statement of the publisher, accompanied by a copy of the notice published, showing that publication has been had for the required time.
§ 2546.4   Public auctions.
(a) The authorized officer may sell under the Act at public auction any lands for which preference-claimants do not qualify for patents under the regulations of § 2540.0-3(f) and subpart 2546.
(b) Lands will be sold under this section at not less than their appraised fair market value at the time and place and in the manner specified by the authorized officer in a public notice of the sale.
(c) Bids may be made by the principal or his agent, either personally at the sale or by mail.
(d) A bid sent by mail must be received at the place and within the time specified in the public notice. Each such bid must clearly state (1) the name and address of the bidder and (2) the specified tract, as described in the notice for which the bid is made. The envelope must be noted as required by the notice.
(e) Each bid by mail must be accompanied by certified or cashier's check, post office money order or bank draft for the amount of the bid.
(f) The person who submits the highest bid for each tract at the close of bidding, but not less than the minimum price, will be declared the purchaser.
§ 2547.1   Qualifications of applicants.
(a) Any person authorized to hold title to land in the State may make application under section 211 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1721). For regulations on conveyances of omitted lands and unsurveyed islands to State and local governments see subpart 2742 of this title.
(b) The applicant shall be a citizen of the United States, or in the case of corporation, shall be organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof.
(c) The applicant shall have occupied and developed the lands for a 5-year period prior to January 1, 1975.
§ 2547.2   Procedures; applications.
(a) The description of the omitted lands applied for shall be sufficiently complete to identify the location, boundary, and area of the land, including, if possible, the legal description of the land by section or fractional section, township, range, meridian and State.
(b) Each application shall be accompanied by a filing fee of $50 that is nonreturnable. The application shall be filed in accordance with the provisions of § 1821.2 of this title.
(c) No special form of application is required. The application shall be typewritten or in legible handwriting and shall contain the following information:
(1) The full name and legal mailing address of the applicant.
(2) The description and acreage of the public lands claimed.
(3) A statement showing that the applicant is qualified or authorized to hold title to land in the State, is a citizen of the United States, and in the case of a corporation, is organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof.
(4) A statement describing how the applicant has satisfied the requirements of the statute.
(5) A statement describing the nature and extent of any developments made to the lands applied for and describing the period and type of any occupancy of the land.
(6) The names and legal mailing addresses of any known adverse claimants or occupants of the applied for lands.
(7) A citation of the Act under which the application is being made.
§ 2547.3   Price of land; payment.
(a) The land applied for shall be appraised for fair market value at the time of appraisal. However, in determination of the price payable by the applicant, value resulting from development and occupation by the applicant or his predecessors in interest shall be deducted from the appraised price.
(b) The applicant shall also be required to pay administrative costs, including:
(1) The cost of making the survey,
(2) The cost of appraisal, and
(3) The cost of making the conveyance.
(c) The applicant shall be required to make payment of the sale price and administrative costs within the time stated in the requests for payment or any extensions granted thereto by the authorized officer.
§ 2547.4   Publication and protests.
(a) The applicant shall be required to publish a notice of the application once a week for five consecutive weeks in accordance with § 1824.3 of this title, in a designated newspaper and in a designated form. All persons claiming the land adversely may file with the State Office of the Bureau of Land Management in which the lands are located, their objections to issuance of patent under the application. A protestant shall serve on the applicant a copy of the objections and furnish evidence of such service.
(b) The applicant shall file at the appropriate BLM office a statement of the publisher, accompanied by a copy of the notice published, showing that the publication has been made for the required time.
§ 2547.5   Disposal considerations.
(a) Disposal under this provision shall not be made until:
(1) It has been determined by the authorized officer that such conveyance is in the public interest and will serve objectives which outweigh all public objectives and values which would be served by retaining such lands in Federal ownership.
(2) The relevant State government, local government, and areawide planning agency designated under section 204 of the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Act of 1966 (80 Stat. 1255, 1262), and/or Title IV of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act of 1968 (82 Stat. 1098, 1103-4) have notified the authorized officer as to the consistency of such conveyance with applicable State and local government land use plans and programs.
(3) The plat of survey has been officially filed.
§ 2547.6   Lands not subject to disposal under this subpart.
This subpart shall not apply to any lands within the National Forest System, defined in the Act of August 17, 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1601), the National Park System, the National Wildlife Refuge System, and the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
§ 2547.7   Coordination with State and local governments.
At least 60 days prior to offering land for sale, the authorized officer shall notify the Governor of the State within which the lands are located and the head of the governing body of any political subdivision of the State having zoning or other land use regulatory jurisdiction in the geographical area within which the lands are located that the lands are being offered for sale. The authorized officer shall also promptly notify such public officials of the issuance of the patent for such lands.