reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MT Code § 77-3-435 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-435. Payments due to state -- audit -- notice -- action

  77-3-435. Payments due to state -- audit -- notice -- action. (1) The report under 77-3-431 must be accompanied by payment of the amount due the state as royalty for the month covered by the report unless the state's royalty is being or has been paid directly by the purchaser. However, when the amount of royalty due from a lease is determined by the board to be so small as to make it uneconomical to collect monthly, the board may authorize royalty payments to be made semiannually.   (2) Oil and gas leases granted by the state must contain suitable provisions imposing upon all lessees the obligation to make payments due the state in the manner, at the time, and to the representative of the state that may be required by the board.   (3) Except as provided in subsection (4), the department may, within 7 years of the filing of a report pursuant to 77-3-431, commence an audit of a lessee's or a former lessee's operation to determine whether the report is complete and accurate and whether all royalties owed have been paid. The department shall notify the lessee in writing of the audit. The notice must describe the period for which the audit is being conducted. Upon conclusion of the audit, the department shall notify the lessee of the department's conclusions and, if the department has determined that additional royalties are owed, the basis for that determination. An action to compel payment of royalties due must be commenced within 2 years of the date of mailing the notice.   (4) If a lessee or former lessee, with intent to evade payment of royalties, purposely or knowingly files a false report or purposely or knowingly fails to pay royalties owed, the department may conduct an audit and file an action to collect royalties at any time after the royalty is due.   History: (1)En. Sec. 5, Ch. 108, L. 1927; re-en. Sec. 1882.5, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 122, L. 1953; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 171, L. 1963; amd. Sec. 87, Ch. 428, L. 1973; Sec. 81-1705, R.C.M.; (2)En. Sec. 19, Ch. 108, L. 1927; re-en. Sec. 1882.19, R.C.M. 1935; Sec. 81-1719, R.C.M. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1705(part), 81-1719(part); amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 34, L. 1997.
MT Code § 77-3-436 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-436. Disposition of royalties and other money

  77-3-436. Disposition of royalties and other money. All fees, rentals, penalties, royalties, and bonuses collected for or under state oil and gas leases shall be paid to the department and credited as follows:   (1) All fees and penalties shall be credited to the state general fund.   (2) All rentals shall be credited to the income fund of the grant to which the lands under each lease belong.   (3) All moneys collected as royalties and bonuses shall be credited to the permanent fund arising from the grant to which the land under each particular lease belongs and become and forever remain an inseparable and inviolable part thereof. However, all royalties and bonuses collected from the lands forming part of the capitol building grant shall be available as income, the same as all other receipts from such lands.   (4) All moneys received as rentals, royalties, and bonuses for or under leases on state lands and not held in trust for the public schools of the state or for any state institution shall be credited to the state general fund unless other disposition is provided by law.   History: En. Sec. 12, Ch. 108, L. 1927; re-en. Sec. 1882.12, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 44, Ch. 100, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 89, Ch. 428, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1712; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 353, L. 1985.
MT Code § 77-3-437 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-437. Amendment of existing leases

  77-3-437. Amendment of existing leases. The owner or owners of any existing state oil and gas lease shall have the right to exchange it for an amended lease containing the same provisions as to the term of said lease as are then provided by law for state oil and gas leases upon filing a written application therefor and upon payment of a sum which is the full market value of the exchange, as determined by the board. The amended lease shall be subject to all other provisions, including rents and royalties, contained in the original lease and shall bear the same commencement date as the original lease.   History: En. Sec. 8, Ch. 108, L. 1927; re-en. Sec. 1882.8, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 122, L. 1953; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1708.
MT Code § 77-3-438 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-438. Assignments of leases

  77-3-438. Assignments of leases. (1) The assignment of any oil and gas lease issued under this part, either in whole or as to subdivisions of land embracing not less than 40 acres covered thereby, made to an assignee qualified as provided herein is permitted. Such assignment is not, however, binding upon the state until filed with the department and accompanied by the required fees, together with such proof of qualifications required by the board, and approved by the board or its lawful representative. The approval of any assignment so filed and supported may not be withheld in any case where the rights or interest of the state in the property assigned will not in the judgment of the board be prejudiced thereby, and the decision of the board in all cases is subject to appeal upon proper court proceedings.   (2) All other assignments of oil and gas leases issued under this part or interests therein are subject to approval by the board and are binding upon the state in the discretion of the board.   History: En. Sec. 16, Ch. 108, L. 1927; re-en. Sec. 1882.16, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 90, Ch. 428, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1716.
MT Code § 77-3-439 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-439. Surrender of leases

  77-3-439. Surrender of leases. The lessee under any oil and gas lease granted by the state may at the termination of any rental year, by giving to the department 30 days' previous notice in writing, surrender and relinquish the lease to the state in whole or as to any legal subdivision of the lands covered thereby and be discharged from any obligation not yet accrued as to lands so surrendered and relinquished without prejudice to the continuance of the lease as to lands not surrendered or relinquished.   History: En. Sec. 18, Ch. 108, L. 1927; re-en. Sec. 1882.18, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 92, Ch. 428, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1718.
MT Code § 77-3-440 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-440. Forfeiture and cancellation of leases

  77-3-440. Forfeiture and cancellation of leases. (1) All oil and gas leases granted by the state pursuant to the terms of this part shall provide for forfeiture and cancellation thereof upon failure of the lessee to fully discharge the obligations provided therein, after written notice from the state and reasonable time allowed to the lessee for performance of any undertaking or obligation specified in such notice concerning which the lessee is in default.   (2) Any lessee, upon application therefor, shall be granted a hearing on any notice or demand of the board before any lease is declared forfeited or canceled by the board.   History: En. Sec. 10, Ch. 108, L. 1927; re-en. Sec. 1882.10, R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1710(part).
MT Code § 77-3-441 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-441. Restriction on new lease following termination of old lease

  77-3-441. Restriction on new lease following termination of old lease. In all cases where an oil and gas lease issued after March 3, 1955, is surrendered for cancellation before its expiration, relinquished to the state, or canceled through proceedings on the part of the state, no new lease on the lands under such lease may be issued within 30 days from the date of cancellation or relinquishing. This restriction does not apply, however, in cases of bona fide assignment.   History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 161, L. 1955; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 22, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 85, Ch. 428, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 136, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 379, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1702.1(4).
MT Code § 77-3-442 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-442. Disposition of property of lessee upon termination of lease

  77-3-442. Disposition of property of lessee upon termination of lease. (1) Upon the termination for any cause of a lease issued under this part, the former lessee has 6 months after the date of the termination to remove from the premises all machinery, fixtures, improvements, buildings, and equipment belonging to the lessee, except for casing in the wells and other equipment or apparatus necessary for the preservation of any oil or gas well or wells and the structures described in 77-1-134. As to the casing, equipment, and apparatus, any succeeding lessee or, in the event there is no succeeding lessee, the state wishing to have the property left upon the premises shall pay a reasonable value for the property to the former lessee.   (2) If the succeeding lessee or the board is unable to agree with the former lessee upon the reasonable cash value of the casing, equipment, and apparatus, the succeeding lessee or, if there is no succeeding lessee, the state shall pay in cash to the former lessee a sum fixed as a reasonable price by a board of three appraisers, one of whom must be chosen by the successful bidder, one by the former lessee, and the third by the two appraisers chosen. If a person refuses to appoint an appraiser within 15 days of a request to do so by the department, the department may appoint an appraiser for that person. The appraisal must be reported to the respective parties in writing and is final and conclusive.   (3) Except as provided in 77-1-134, unless the department gives written authorization, the former lessee may not remain in possession or manage the land and property formerly covered by the lease. During the time the former lessee remains in authorized possession, the lessee may retain the same share of the products of the premises as inured to the lessee during the term of the lease. Except as provided in 77-1-134, if the state or other bidder does not desire any of the lessee's property as provided in this section, the lessee shall properly plug all wells and remove all of the lessee's property from the premises.   History: En. Sec. 17, Ch. 108, L. 1927; re-en. Sec. 1882.17, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 91, Ch. 428, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1717; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 34, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 472, L. 2009.
MT Code § 77-3-443 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-443. Reservation in lease for disposition of surface

  77-3-443. Reservation in lease for disposition of surface. In every oil and gas lease granted pursuant to the terms hereof there shall be reserved unto the state the right to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of the surface of the lands covered thereby, subject always to the rights and privileges granted unto the lessee under such oil and gas lease.   History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 108, L. 1927; re-en. Sec. 1882.1, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 90, L. 1943; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 261, L. 1947; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 184, L. 1961; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1701(part).
MT Code § 77-3-444 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-444. Limitation on overriding royalties and payments out of production

  77-3-444. Limitation on overriding royalties and payments out of production. (1) A person, partnership, or association may not enter into an agreement that in the aggregate creates overriding royalties or payments out of the production of oil and gas in excess of 5% above the landowner's royalty payable to the state of Montana unless that agreement expressly provides that the obligation to pay overriding royalties or payments out of production may be suspended by the director of the department at any time upon a determination that the excess overriding royalties or payments out of production constitute a burden on lease operations to the extent that:   (a) proper and timely development may be retarded;   (b) continued operation of the lease may be impaired; or   (c) premature abandonment of the wells may occur.   (2) This section applies separately to any zone or portion of a lease segregated for computing a royalty due to the state of Montana.   (3) All agreements of any kind creating overriding royalties or payments out of production of oil and gas must be filed with the department within 30 days of their creation by the lessee.   History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 157, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 287, Ch. 42, L. 1997.
MT Code § 77-3-445 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-445. through 77-3-450 reserved

  77-3-445 through 77-3-450 reserved.
MT Code § 77-3-451 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-451. Limitation on public inspection rights

  77-3-451. Limitation on public inspection rights. The department may withhold from public inspection any information obtained from an oil or gas lessee under this part if the information, including drill logs, seismic data, and lithographic descriptions, relates to the geology of the oil or gas lease. The withholding is effective for as long as the department considers it necessary either to protect the lessee's economic interest in the geologic information against unwarranted injury or to protect the public's best interest.   History: En. Sec. 4, Ch. 105, L. 1989.
MT Code § 77-3-501 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 5. Underground Storage of Natural Gas|77-3-501. Lease for underground storage of natural gas authorized

  77-3-501. Lease for underground storage of natural gas authorized. (1) The board is hereby authorized and empowered to lease in such manner and upon such terms as it may determine, not inconsistent with The Enabling Act and the constitution, state lands to which the title has vested in the state, subject to existing rights, for use for the underground storage of natural gas upon the terms and conditions herein prescribed, to any natural gas public utility authorized to do business in this state and engaged in the business of transporting or distributing natural gas by means of pipelines into, within, or through this state for ultimate public use.   (2) State lands which may be leased shall include lands in which the deposit of native gas shall have been depleted, provided the lessee pays to the state the amount specified by the board for the native gas then remaining in the lands to be leased.   History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 213, L. 1955; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1725(1).
MT Code § 77-3-502 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 5. Underground Storage of Natural Gas|77-3-502. Rules

  77-3-502. Rules. The board shall have the power and authority to prescribe such rules and to do and perform all acts and things not inconsistent with The Enabling Act, the constitution, and the statutes of this state as it may deem necessary and proper relating to the leasing of state lands for the underground storage of natural gas and the sale of the gas remaining in state lands in a gas field wherein native gas deposits have been depleted.   History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 213, L. 1955; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1727.
MT Code § 77-3-503 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 5. Underground Storage of Natural Gas|77-3-503. Hearings on questions related to leases

  77-3-503. Hearings on questions related to leases. The board may order and hold hearings on any matter or question involving leases issued under 77-3-501 under such rules as it adopts.   History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 213, L. 1955; amd. Sec. 96, Ch. 428, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1729(part).
MT Code § 77-3-504 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 5. Underground Storage of Natural Gas|77-3-504. Lessee's right to hearing

  77-3-504. Lessee's right to hearing. Any lessee, upon application, is entitled to a hearing on any notice or demand of the department before any lease is granted, forfeited, or canceled by the board.   History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 213, L. 1955; amd. Sec. 96, Ch. 428, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1729(part).
MT Code § 77-3-505 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 5. Underground Storage of Natural Gas|77-3-505. Bond of lessees

  77-3-505. Bond of lessees. A lessee under 77-3-501 shall furnish bond to the state in a form prescribed by the board and in an amount adequate to indemnify the state against loss, damage, or detriment by reason of failure of the lessee to fully discharge the obligations contained in any lease. No bond in excess of $20,000 is required under any one lease.   History: En. Sec. 4, Ch. 213, L. 1955; amd. Sec. 95, Ch. 428, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1728.
MT Code § 77-3-506 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 5. Underground Storage of Natural Gas|77-3-506. Disposition of leased land

  77-3-506. Disposition of leased land. In every lease granted pursuant to the terms hereof there shall be reserved unto the state the right to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of the lands covered thereby, subject always to the rights and privileges granted unto the lessee under a lease provided for by this part.   History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 213, L. 1955; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1725(2).
MT Code § 77-3-507 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 5. Underground Storage of Natural Gas|77-3-507. Lessee to prevent waste

  77-3-507. Lessee to prevent waste. (1) Leases issued under the provisions of this part shall all be subject to the conditions that the lessee in conducting the underground storage of natural gas shall use all reasonable precautions to prevent waste of oil or gas developed in the land or the entrance of water through wells drilled to store natural gas to the oil or gas sands or oil or gas bearing strata to the destruction or injury of oil or gas deposits.   (2) Violations of any of these conditions shall constitute grounds for the forfeiture of the lease after hearing had thereon before the board.   History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 213, L. 1955; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1725(3).
MT Code § 77-3-508 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 5. Underground Storage of Natural Gas|77-3-508. Duration of lease

  77-3-508. Duration of lease. All leases issued under 77-3-501 may be granted for a period not exceeding 20 years, and the lessee has a preferential right to renew the lease for an additional period not exceeding 20 years, subject to any terms and conditions the board imposes.   History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 213, L. 1955; amd. Sec. 94, Ch. 428, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1726.
MT Code § 77-3-509 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 5. Underground Storage of Natural Gas|77-3-509. Disposition of funds

  77-3-509. Disposition of funds. All rentals collected for or under leases issued under 77-3-501 shall be paid to the department and credited in the same manner as rentals from oil and gas leases.   History: En. Sec. 6, Ch. 213, L. 1955; amd. Sec. 97, Ch. 428, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1730.
MT Code § 77-3-510 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 5. Underground Storage of Natural Gas|77-3-510. Cancellation and forfeiture of lease

  77-3-510. Cancellation and forfeiture of lease. All leases granted under 77-3-501 shall provide for their forfeiture and cancellation upon failure of the lessee to fully discharge the obligations provided therein, after written notice from the department and reasonable time allowed to the lessee for performance of any undertaking or obligation specified in such notice concerning which the lessee is in default.   History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 213, L. 1955; amd. Sec. 96, Ch. 428, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1729(part).
MT Code § 77-3-511 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 5. Underground Storage of Natural Gas|77-3-511. Termination and surrender of lease

  77-3-511. Termination and surrender of lease. The lessee may at the termination of any rental year, by giving to the department 30 days' previous notice in writing, surrender and relinquish such lease to the state and be thereupon discharged from any obligation not yet accrued.   History: En. Sec. 7, Ch. 213, L. 1955; amd. Sec. 98, Ch. 428, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1731(1).
MT Code § 77-3-512 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 5. Underground Storage of Natural Gas|77-3-512. Disposition of lessee's property upon termination of lease

  77-3-512. Disposition of lessee's property upon termination of lease. Upon the termination for any cause of any lease issued under 77-3-501, the lessee has 6 months after the date of the termination within which to remove all machinery, fixtures, improvements, buildings, and equipment belonging to it upon the premises.   History: En. Sec. 7, Ch. 213, L. 1955; amd. Sec. 98, Ch. 428, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1731(2).
MT Code § 77-4-101 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 4. Renewable Resources|Part 1. Geothermal Resources|77-4-101. Geothermal leases authorized

  77-4-101. Geothermal leases authorized. (1) The board may lease state-owned lands, including the beds of navigable streams and the beds of navigable bodies of water, to persons, associations, or corporations for prospecting, exploration, well construction, and the production of geothermal resources.   (2) The board may exercise business discretion in entering into leases under this part.   History: (1)En. 21-2601 by Sec. 1, Ch. 111, L. 1974; Sec. 81-2601, R.C.M. 1947; (2)En. 81-2604 by Sec. 4, Ch. 111, L. 1974; Sec. 81-2604, R.C.M. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 81-2601, 81-2604(part).
MT Code § 77-4-102 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 4. Renewable Resources|Part 1. Geothermal Resources|77-4-102. Definitions

  77-4-102. Definitions. Unless the context requires otherwise, in this part, the following definitions apply:   (1) "Geothermal development" means any of the operations or facilities necessary for the production of geothermal resources.   (2) "Geothermal resources" means the natural heat energy of the earth, including the energy, in whatever form, which may be found in any position and at any depth below the surface of the earth, either present in, resulting from, created by, or which may be extracted from such natural heat and all minerals in solution or other products obtained from the material medium of any geothermal resource.   History: En. 81-2602 by Sec. 2, Ch. 111, L. 1974; R.C.M. 1947, 81-2602(part).