A bill to extend certain oil and gas leases by a period sufficient to allow the drilling of an ultra-deep well.
PL 95-77 (H.R.2502), enacted 07/30/1977

PUBLIC LAW 95-77—JULY 30, 1977 
91 STAT. 317 
Public Law 95-77 
95th Congress 
An Act 
To extend certain oil and gas leases by a period suflScient to allow the drilling 
of an ultradeep well. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled. That the Secretary 
of the Interior is authorized and directed to extend any lease issued 
pursuant to section 17 of the Act of February 20, 1920, as amended 
(30 U.S.C. 226), and which was committed to the cooperative or unit 
plan known as the Unit Agreement for the Development of the 
Pacific Creek Unit II Area covering certain leases owned by Rain-
bow Resources Group as of January 26,1977, in the State of Wyoming, 
and which would otherwise terminate prior to July 23, 1981, until 
July 23, 1981, and so long thereafter as oil and gas is produced in 
paying quantities: Provided, however, That (a) the provisions of 
this Act shall not apply to any lease which has been assigned in 
whole or in part between the twenty-sixth day of January 1977, 
and the effective date of this Act; (b) any such lease which is assigned 
in whole or in part prior to the twenty-third day of July 1981 shall 
automatically terminate by operation of law and no longer be of any 
force or effect unless any such lease is assigned to one or more mem-
bers of the Rainbow Resources Group or, alternatively, to the heirs 
or devisees in the case of the death of an individual owner; (c) all 
provisions restricting the assignment of leases as contained in para-
graphs (a) and (b) shall cease as of July 23, 1981; (d) except as 
specifically modified herein as to such leases, all other provisions of 
the Act of February 20,1920, as amended (41 Stat. 443, 30 U.S.C. 181, 
et seq.), shall be applicable as to such leases. 
SEC. 2. Notwithstanding any provision of any such lease, or provi-
sion of law or regulation to the contrary, from and after the twenty-
third day of July 1977, the annual rental provided for in the leases 
described in section 1 of this Act shall be the sum of $5 per acre for 
the period July 23, 1977, through July 22, 1978, and $2 per annum 
thereafter. 
SEC. 3. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized and directed to 
specify terms and conditions for the diligent and prudent exploration 
and development of such leases, or the unit to which such leases have 
been committed, including requirements for the commencement of 
drilling operations, which such conditions shall be deemed a part of 
the lease agreement for each such lease. 
SEC. 4. If the Secretary of the Interior makes a determination that 
any of the terms and conditions imposed by him under the authority 
of section 3 of this Act for the prudent and diligent development of 
any such lease, or of a unit to which any such lease has been committed, 
have been violated, he shall give written notice of such violation to 
such lessee, or to the unit operator designated by such lessee, setting 
forth the nature of such violation and affording the lessee or designated 
unit operator a reasonable time in which to correct such violation. If 
such violation has not been corrected within the time stated in such 
notice, such lease shall immediately terminate and be of no further 
force or effect. 
July BO, 1977 
[H.R. 2502] 
Pacific Creek 
Unit II Area, 
Wyo. 
Oil and gas leases 
extension. 
Restriction. 
Annual rental. 
Terms and 
conditions. 
Violation, notice. 
Termination. 
91 STAT. 318 
PUBLIC LAW 95-77—JULY 30, 1977 
Extensions, 
notice. 
Reinstatement. 
SEC. 5. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, if any 
lands covered by a lease described in section 1 of this Act have been, or 
hereafter are, committed to an approved cooperative or unit plan of 
development and any part, or all of sucrh lands, are thereafter segre-
gated or eliminated from such approved or prescribed plan, such lease 
shall terminate as to those lands so segregated or eliminated from 
such approved or prescribed plan. 
SEC. 6. No lease subject to this Act shall be deemed to have been 
extended unless within thirty days after receiving written, notice from 
the Secretary of the Interior of the terms and conditions to be imposed 
by him on such lease or leases pursuant to section 3 of this Act 
the record owner of such lease has agreed in writing to such conditions. 
SEC. 7. If any lease described in section 1 of this Act has terminated 
by virtue of the provisions of the Act of February 25,1920, as amended 
(41 Stat, 443; 30 U.S.C. 181, et seq.), prior to the date of the approval 
of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized and directed to 
reinstate such lease: Provided^ however^ That all of the provisions 
of this Act shall be fully applicable to such reinstated lease. 
Approved July 30, 1977. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-374 (Comm. on Interior and Insular Affairs). 
SENATE REPORT No. 95-330 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 123 (1977): 
June 6, considered and passed House. 
July 14, considered and passed Senate. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 13, No. 32: 
Aug. 1, Presidential statement.