The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1928-07-12

EXTENSIONS OF TIME FOR OIL
AND Gas PROSPECTING PERMITS

Governor William Spry, U. S. Land
Commissioner. has issued several
new rulings clearing up the prcce-
dure for the extensions of time OF
oil and gas prospecting permits un-
der the several acts of Congress.
The rulings are all contained in
Circular No. 1147 which supercedes
circulars Nos. SO1, 946, 1O41 anc
1868. The new circular is dated May
2, 1928, and it was approved on the
same date by Judge E. G. Finney,
First Assistant Secretary Of the In
terror. The circular is directed to
the Registers of the various y. s
Land Offices and in part is as 70,
lows:
Acts Of Congress
The Act Of Congress approved,
Jan. II, 1922 (42 Stat 1860 provides
that the Secretary of the Interior
- if he shall find that any
oil or gas permittee has been unable
with the exercise of diligence to be-
gin drilling operations, or to drill
wells of the depth and within the time
prescribed by sec. 13 OF the Act q
FEB. Is, 1920, extend the time for be-
ginning such drilling or completing
ii TO the amount specified in the Acl
for such time net exceeding 3 years
and upon such conditions as he shall
prescribe"
The Act Of Apr. 5, 1926 a. State.
236) authorizes the Secretary Of the
Interior to grant extensions for an
additional period Of 3 years:
.** If he shall find that the
permittee has been unable, with the
exercise of reasonable diligence, 70
begin drilling operations or to drill
wells Of the depth and within the
time required by existing law OF
has drilled wells OF the depth ana
within the time required existing
law and has failed to discover oil or
gas, and desires to further prose
cute exploration"
BY Act approved Mar. 3, 1928,
(Public No. 11S) the Secretary Of the
Interior is given authority to extend
for an additional period Of 2 years
any oil or gas prospecting permit IS
sued under the Act. of Feb. 20, 1920
or extended under the act Of Feb. p,
1920, or extended under the Act Of
Jan. IL, 1922, or as further extended
under the Act of Apr. 5, 1926:
"** = if he shall find that the
permittee has been unable to ar
range the exercise OF reasonable.
diligence to begin drilling opera
tions or to drill wells of the depth
and within the time required by
existing law, or has drilled wells of
the depth and within the time re-
quired by existing law and has
failed to discover oil or gas, and de-
sires to prosecute further explora
ticn.
Sec. 2. Upon application to the
Secretary Of the Interior, end sub
iect to valid intervening rights and
to the provisions Of section | Of
this act, any permit which has al
ready expired because Of lack Of
under existing law to
make further extensions, may bel
extended for period Of years
from the date Of the passage of this
act.
Method Of Procedure
Accordingly. the owner Of an oil
and gas prospecting permit may Sc
cure an extension Of time thereon for
beginning or completing drilling op-
ere etions, by filing an application
therefor showing that he is entitled
b such extension under the provi-
sicns Of one Of the said acts. The
application may be filed in the dis
.rict land office having jurisdiction
,ver the land involved or in the Gen
sraI Land Office, and must be under
oath or accompanied by the affidavit
II the permittee, or his attorney in
act, where such attorney has been
given full control Of operations under
nc permit, and corroborated by the
,ffidavit Of at least one disinterested
person having knowledge Of the facts.