An act to provide for the exchange of certain Federal coal leases in the State of New Mexico for other Federal coal leases in that State.
PL 96-475 (H.R.6816), enacted 10/19/1980

PUBLIC LAW 96-475—OCT. 19, 1980 
94 STAT. 2269 
Public Law 96-475 
96th Congress 
An Act 
To provide for the exchange of certain Federal coal leases in the State of New 
Mexico for other Federal coal leases in that State. 
Oct. 19, 1980 
[H.R. 6816] 
Federal coal 
leases in N. 
Mex., exchange. 
Be it enacted, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That (a) notwith-
standing any provision of law to the contrary and notwithstanding 
the provisions of section 2(a)(1) of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as 
amended (30 U.S.C. 201(a)(1)), the Secretary of the Interior is author-
ized and directed to issue leases for coal on other Federal lands in the 
State of New Mexico to the owner or owners of Federal coal leases, 
serial numbered NM0186612 and NM0186613, upon surrender and 
relinquishment of such leases or portions thereof. Such exchange 
shall be completed within 30 months of the date of enactment of this 
Act: Provided, however. That failure of the Secretary to complete 
such exchange shall not prejudice the rights of the owner or owners of 
the designated coal leases, and the exchange shall be completed as 
expeditiously as possible after the expiration of such time period 
upon request of such owner or owners. 
(b) Leases to be issued by the Secretary pursuant to the authority Description. 
granted by subsection (a) of this Act shall be from within the Federal 
lands described as follows: 
TOWNSHIP 23 NORTH, RANGE 12 WEST 
Section 5: South half. 
Section 6: South half. 
Section 7: All, 
Section 8: All, 
Section 9: West half, 
Section 17: East half, east half west half, northwest quarter 
northwest quarter. 
Section 18: North half north half. 
Section 20: Northeast quarter, northeast quarter northwest 
quarter, 
Section 21: West half northwest quarter. 
TOWNSHIP 23 NORTH, RANGE 13 WEST 
Section 1: Northwest quarter, northwest quarter southwest quar-
ter, north half northeast quarter, southeast quarter northeast quar-
ter, northeast quarter southeast quarter. The selection of lands 
pursuant to this subsection shall be consistent with existing land use 
planning policy and leasing procedures established by the Secretary. 
(c) The leases to be issued by the Secretary pursuant to the Funds exchange. 
authority,granted by subsections (a) and (b) of this Act and the leases 
or portions thereof to be exchanged therefor shall be of equal value. If 
such leases or portions thereof are unavoidably not of equal value, the 
Secretary is authorized to receive, from the lessee, or effective 
October 1, 1981, to pay to the lessee out of funds appropriated in 
94 STAT. 2270 
PUBLIC LAW 96-475—OCT. 19, 1980 
advance for that purpose, cash in an amount up to 25 per centum of 
the value of the lease or leases to be issued by the Secretary in order 
to equalize the value of 
the leases to be exchanged. 
Terms and 
(d) Any exchange lease issued by the Secretary under the authority 
conditions. 
Q
f ^j^jg ^^^ shall Contain the same terms and conditions as those 
leases surrendered on the date the exchange takes place. 
(e) Except as otherwise herein provided, any lease issued pursuant 
to this Act shall be consistent with the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 as 
30 use 181 note, amended (30 U.S.C. 184 et seq.). 
Approved October 19, 1980. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 96-1200 (Comm. on Interior and Insular Affairs). 
SENATE REPORT No. 96-800 accompanying S. 1455 (Comm. on Energy and Natural 
RfisoiircGs) 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 126 (1980): 
Aug. 18, considered and passed House. 
Sept. 16, considered and passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 1455. 
Sept. 30, House concurred in Senate amendment with amendments. 
Oct. 1, Senate concurred in House amendments.