I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2574
To consolidate certain mineral interests in the National Grasslands in Billings
County, North Dakota, through the exchange of Federal and private
mineral interests to enhance land management capabilities and environ-
mental and wildlife protection, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 29, 1997
Mr. POMEROY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
A BILL
To consolidate certain mineral interests in the National
Grasslands in Billings County, North Dakota, through
the exchange of Federal and private mineral interests
to enhance land management capabilities and environ-
mental and wildlife protection, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. EXCHANGE OF CERTAIN MINERAL INTERESTS
IN BILLINGS COUNTY, NORTH DAKOTA.
(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to direct
the consolidation of certain mineral interests in the Little
Missouri National Grasslands in Billings County, North
Dakota, through the exchange of Federal and private min-
eral interests in order to enhance land management capa-
bility and environmental and wildlife protection.
(b) EXCHANGE.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law—
(1) if, not later than 45 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, Burlington Resources Oil &
Gas Company (referred to in this Act as ‘‘Bur-
lington’’ and formerly known as Meridian Oil Inc.),
conveys title acceptable to the Secretary of Agri-
culture (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Secretary’’)
to all oil and gas rights and interests on lands iden-
tified on the map entitled ‘‘Billings County, North
Dakota, Consolidated Mineral Exchange—November
1995’’, by quitclaim deed acceptable to the Sec-
retary, the Secretary shall convey to Burlington,
subject to valid existing rights, by quitclaim deed, all
Federal oil and gas rights and interests identified on
that map; and
(2) if Burlington makes the conveyance under
paragraph (1) and, not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the owners of the re-
maining non-oil and gas mineral interests on lands
identified on that map convey title acceptable to the
Secretary to all rights, title, and interests in the in-
lands to explore for and develop interests conveyed
to Burlington under this Act, subject to applicable
Federal and State laws.
(2) SURFACE OCCUPANCY AND USE.—Rights to
surface occupancy and use that Burlington would
have absent the exchange under this Act on its in-
terests conveyed under this Act shall apply to the
same extent on the federally owned surface estate
overlying oil and gas rights conveyed to Burlington
under this Act.
(g) ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOR ENVIRON-
MENTALLY SENSITIVE LANDS.—All activities of Bur-
lington, and its successors and assigns, relating to explo-
ration and development on environmentally sensitive Na-
tional Forest System lands, as described in the ‘‘Memo-
randum of Understanding Concerning Certain Severed
Mineral Estates, Billings County, North Dakota’’, exe-
cuted by the Forest Service and Burlington and dated No-
vember 2, 1995, shall be subject to the terms of the memo-
randum.
(h) MAP.—The map referred to in subsection (b)
shall be provided to the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Resources
of the House of Representatives, kept on file in the office
of the Chief of the Forest Service, and made available for
public inspection in the office of the Forest Supervisor of
the Custer National Forest within 45 days after the date
of enactment of this Act.
(i) CONTINUATION OF MULTIPLE USE.—Nothing in
this Act shall limit, restrict, or otherwise effect the appli-
cation of the principle of multiple use (including outdoor
recreation, range, timber, watershed, and fish and wildlife
purposes) in any area of the Little Missouri National
Grasslands. Federal grazing permits or privileges in areas
designated on the map entitled ‘‘Billings County, North
Dakota, 
Consolidated 
Mineral 
Exchange—November
1995’’ or those lands described in the ‘‘Memorandum of
Understanding Concerning Certain Severed Mineral Es-
tates, Billings County, North Dakota’’, shall not be cur-
tailed or otherwise limited as a result of the exchange au-
thorized by this Act.
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