reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MT Code § 77-3-409 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-409. Misconduct of officers in relation to oil and gas leases

  77-3-409. Misconduct of officers in relation to oil and gas leases. (1) Any officer, employee, or representative of the state who directly or indirectly accepts any money or any other valuable thing, except the officer's, employee's, or representative's regular and lawful compensation, for performing or not performing an official act under the provisions of this part or for modifying the performance of an official act is guilty of a felony.   (2) Any officer, employee, or representative of the state who knowingly and willfully makes any false classification or appraisal of any state land or interest of the state in the land or of any oil and gas deposits in which the state is interested or who knowingly and willfully makes any false report of any classification or appraisal is guilty of a felony.   History: En. Sec. 21, Ch. 108, L. 1927; re-en. Sec. 1882.21, R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1721; amd. Sec. 2558, Ch. 56, L. 2009.
MT Code § 77-3-410 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-410. False statements relating to oil and gas leases

  77-3-410. False statements relating to oil and gas leases. Any person who shall knowingly make and file in any department, bureau, or office of the state any application, statement, or report in writing required by regulation promulgated pursuant to the provisions of this part containing any false statement of a material fact shall be guilty of a felony.   History: En. Sec. 22, Ch. 108, L. 1927; re-en. Sec. 1882.22. R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1722.
MT Code § 77-3-411 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-411. Notice of lease sale required

  77-3-411. Notice of lease sale required. (1) Within 15 days of the previous oil and gas lease sale, the department shall publish the date and place of the upcoming sale in a publication of general circulation in Montana and on the department's website.   (2) (a) The department shall accept nominations of tracts for an upcoming sale until 77 days prior to the date of the sale.   (b) Upon receipt of a nomination by the department, the location of the tracts is public information.   (3) At least twice, the department shall publish a notice containing the time and place of the sale, a statement that all sales will be by competitive bidding, and the number of tracts in each county offered for sale at the time of the notice on the department's website and in a publication of general circulation in Montana:   (a) not less than 63 days before the date of an upcoming sale; and   (b) between 21 days and 35 days before the date of the sale.   (4) In a publication of general circulation in each county where a tract is nominated for sale, the department shall publish a notice in compliance with subsection (3), except that each notice needs to contain only the number of tracts nominated for sale in that county and notice that a description and maps of tracts nominated are available on the department's website.   (5) The department shall publish on its website a description and maps of all tracts to be offered for sale.   (6) (a) Except as provided in subsection (6)(b), the department shall provide notice by first-class mail to surface owners of a tract being offered for sale using the most current known property owners of record as shown in the records of the county clerk and recorder of the county where the tract is located.   (b) The notice in subsection (6)(a) is not required if the surface is managed by the department pursuant to Title 77, chapter 1.   (7) The notice required by subsection (6) must contain the time and place of the sale, a statement that all sales will be by competitive bidding, and a description and area map of each tract offered for sale.   History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 432, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 206, L. 2019.
MT Code § 77-3-412 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-412. through 77-3-420 reserved

  77-3-412 through 77-3-420 reserved.
MT Code § 77-3-421 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-421. Duration of lease

  77-3-421. Duration of lease. (1) All state oil and gas leases entered by the board shall be granted for a primary term of not more than 10 years or less than 5 years and as long thereafter as oil or gas in paying quantities is produced, on condition that all drilling, rental, and other obligations are fully kept and performed by the lessee. However, leases for a period of less than 5 years may be issued if the board determines that such shorter term is necessary to ensure full compensation for the oil and gas resource.   (2) Oil or gas produced from any part of a unit in which state lands are included by virtue of a pooling agreement are considered to be produced from the state lands therein within the meaning of this part.   (3) The board may grant reasonable extensions of the primary term of a state oil or gas lease upon a showing that the lessee, despite due care and diligence, is or has been directly or indirectly prevented from exploring, developing, or operating the lease or is threatened with substantial economic loss, due to litigation regarding the lease or another lease in the immediate area held by the same lessee, state compliance with the Montana Environmental Policy Act, Title 75, chapter 1, parts 1 through 3, rules adopted under Title 75, chapter 1, or adverse conditions caused by natural occurrences.   History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 108, L. 1927; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 193, L. 1931; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 171, L. 1933; re-en. Sec. 1882.2, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 109, L. 1941; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 91, L. 1943; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 128, L. 1945; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 122, L. 1953; amd. Sec. 84, Ch. 428, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1702(part); amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 165, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 272, L. 1989.
MT Code § 77-3-422 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-422. Lease extension clause

  77-3-422. Lease extension clause. If oil or gas is not being produced from the leased premises at the expiration of the primary term of the lease but the owner of the lease is then engaged in drilling on the premises for oil or gas, then the lease continues in force so long as such drilling operations are being diligently prosecuted. If oil or gas is recovered from any such well drilled or being drilled at or after the expiration of the primary term of the lease, the lease continues in force so long as oil or gas in paying quantities is produced from the leased premises.   History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 108, L. 1927; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 193, L. 1931; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 171, L. 1933; re-en. Sec. 1882.2, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 109, L. 1941; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 91, L. 1943; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 128, L. 1945; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 122, L. 1953; amd. Sec. 84, Ch. 428, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1702(part).
MT Code § 77-3-423 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-423. Annual rental

  77-3-423. Annual rental. (1) The annual money rentals to be paid to the state for oil and gas leases must be set by the board but may not be less than $1.50 for each acre of land leased.   (2) In addition to the sum of $1.50 per acre, the rental for the first year of the lease must also include any sum in excess of $1.50 per acre offered and accepted for the first year's rental.   (3) The annual rental under this section may not be less than $100 a year.   (4) The first year's rental must be paid before the issuance of the lease. The rentals for each subsequent year of the lease are due and payable before the beginning of the subsequent lease year. Upon failure to make the rental payment, the lease terminates unless there is a well currently being drilled, a producing well, or a shut-in well approved by the department on the lease. Rental paid for any year must be credited against any royalty that accrues during that year.   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(1), (2); amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 163, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 34, L. 1997.
MT Code § 77-3-424 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-424. Power to terminate lease in absence of commencement of drilling or payment of delay drilling penalty

  77-3-424. Power to terminate lease in absence of commencement of drilling or payment of delay drilling penalty. (1) In every oil and gas lease granted after March 3, 1955, under this part there must be reserved to the board full power to declare termination of the lease at the end of the fifth year or any subsequent year of the primary term of the lease upon failure of the lessee to either:   (a) commence the drilling of a well for oil and gas upon the leased premises; or   (b) pay a delay drilling penalty as follows:   (i) for the sixth year of the lease $1.25 per acre per year; and   (ii) for the remainder of the primary term of the lease an amount per acre per year as the board may in its discretion determine.   (2) Notice of that determination must be given to the lessee, and if the lessee applies for a hearing thereon within 10 days after receipt of the notice, the determination becomes final only after the hearing has been held.   (3) This annual delay drilling penalty must be paid each year in advance. The board shall refund delay drilling penalties paid on a lease for any year in which the lessee commences drilling on that lease.   (4) If a well for oil and gas is commenced, the drilling of the well must be prosecuted with due diligence and dispatch to such depth as is necessary to make a reasonable test for oil or gas.   History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 161, L. 1955; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 251, L. 1965; amd. Sec. 86, Ch. 428, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1702.2(part); amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 15, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 163, L. 1989.
MT Code § 77-3-425 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-425. Dry hole clause

  77-3-425. Dry hole clause. If the first well drilled is a dry hole and if a second well is not commenced on the land covered by the lease before the next anniversary of the lease following the completion of the well, the lease may be terminated by the board unless the lessee, on or before such anniversary, resumes payment of any delay drilling penalties imposed by the board. Upon the resumption of payment of any required delay drilling penalties and their continued payment, the lease continues in force during the primary term as though there had been no interruption in the delay drilling penalty payments.   History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 161, L. 1955; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 251, L. 1965; amd. Sec. 86, Ch. 428, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1702.2(part); amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 163, L. 1989.
MT Code § 77-3-426 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-426. Lessee to prevent waste

  77-3-426. Lessee to prevent waste. Oil and gas leases issued under the provisions of this part must all be subject to the conditions that the lessee in conducting explorations and mining or drilling operations shall use all reasonable precautions to prevent waste of oil or gas developed in the land or the entrance of water through wells drilled by the lessee to the oil or gas sands or oil-bearing or gas-bearing strata to the destruction or injury of the oil or gas deposits. Violations of any of these conditions constitutes grounds for the forfeiture of the lease after a hearing on the violations before the board.   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); amd. Sec. 2559, Ch. 56, L. 2009.
MT Code § 77-3-427 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-427. Provision for offset wells -- compensatory royalties

  77-3-427. Provision for offset wells -- compensatory royalties. (1) Oil and gas leases granted by the state shall contain suitable provisions imposing upon all lessees the obligation to drill offset wells wherever and whenever necessary to prevent waste and damage to the property of the state.   (2) The board may allow the lessee the following options in lieu of drilling an offset well:   (a) releasing the lands in question; or   (b) paying a compensatory royalty on a nonproducing lease if the board determines that such compensatory royalty will fully compensate the state for waste and damage to the property of the state. The compensatory royalty shall be based upon the estimated drainage, as determined by the board, and shall be paid on a monthly basis unless circumstances require otherwise.   (3) If the board or the lessee terminates the lease, that termination does not impair any implied covenant against drainage or the right of the board to seek damages from the lessee for the lessee's failure to protect the lease from drainage of oil or gas by a well adjacent to the state lease.   History: En. Sec. 19, Ch. 108, L. 1927; re-en. Sec. 1882.19, R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1719(part); amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 81, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 163, L. 1989.
MT Code § 77-3-428 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-428. Additional development following completion of productive well

  77-3-428. Additional development following completion of productive well. (1) The lessee shall be required, upon completing a commercially productive oil or gas well upon the leased premises, to proceed with reasonable diligence to drill such additional wells to the depth of the formation found commercially productive or to such depth as may be necessary to economically test, develop, and operate the deposits discovered.   (2) No lessee shall, however, be required to drill to completion more than one well under any one lease during any one calendar year or a total number of wells under any one lease in excess of the total number of 40-acre subdivisions of land held under such lease. As to lands found valuable for gas production only, the drilling obligation of the lessee shall be confined to a total number of wells equal to the total number of tracts comprising 160 acres of land included in the lease, except as the drilling of offset oil or gas wells necessary to protect the leased premises and deposits from loss or depletion due to wells drilled on contiguous lands shall require greater diligence in drilling and a greater number of wells to be drilled.   (3) The performance of said well drilling operations may be suspended only by and with the consent of the board during the time oil or gas previously discovered cannot be marketed at a profit or for other good cause shown.   History: En. Sec. 11, Ch. 108, L. 1927; re-en. Sec. 1882.11, R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1711.
MT Code § 77-3-429 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-429. Operating agreements

  77-3-429. Operating agreements. Owners of state oil and gas leases may enter into agreements with other persons, associations, firms, and corporations for drilling and other operations on the state lands under their leases. No such operating agreements are in any way binding upon the state until filed with the board and approved by it. No such drilling or operating agreement in any way affects the obligations of each individual leaseholder to the state.   History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 108, L. 1927; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 193, L. 1931; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 171, L. 1933; re-en. Sec. 1882.2, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 109, L. 1941; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 91, L. 1943; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 128, L. 1945; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 122, L. 1953; amd. Sec. 84, Ch. 428, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1702(3).
MT Code § 77-3-430 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-430. Pooling agreements and unit operations

  77-3-430. (Temporary) Pooling agreements and unit operations. Nothing contained in this or in prior related laws prevents the board from entering into agreements for the pooling of acreage with others for unit operations for the production of oil or gas or both and the apportionment of oil or gas royalties or both on an acreage or other equitable basis and from modifying leases with respect to delay rentals, delay drilling penalties, and royalties in accordance with such pooling agreements and such unit plans of operation. However, such agreements may not change the percentage of royalties to be paid to the state from the percentages as fixed in its leases. The board may modify existing pooling and unit agreements so as to commit the state lands included therein for as long as the unitized substance or substances for which the state lands are committed is produced from any lands in the unit.   77-3-430. (Effective on occurrence of contingency) Pooling agreements and unit operations. Nothing contained in this or in prior related laws prevents the board from entering into agreements for the pooling of acreage with others for unit operations for the storage of carbon dioxide in a geologic storage reservoir or the production of oil or gas or both and the apportionment of oil or gas royalties or both on an acreage or other equitable basis and from modifying leases with respect to delay rentals, delay drilling penalties, and royalties in accordance with pooling agreements and unit plans of operation. However, agreements may not change the percentage of royalties paid to the state from the percentages fixed in its leases. The board may modify existing pooling and unit agreements to commit the state lands included in the pooling or unit agreements for as long as the unitized substance or substances for which the state lands are committed are produced from any lands in the unit.   History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 108, L. 1927; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 193, L. 1931; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 171, L. 1933; re-en. Sec. 1882.2, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 109, L. 1941; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 91, L. 1943; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 128, L. 1945; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 122, L. 1953; amd. Sec. 84, Ch. 428, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1702(4); amd. Sec. 10, Ch. 474, L. 2009.
MT Code § 77-3-431 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-431. Report of lessees

  77-3-431. Report of lessees. (1) On or before the last day of each month every holder of a producing oil or gas lease shall make a report to the department for the preceding calendar month on a form the department prescribes. The report shall show the amount of oil or gas produced and saved during the preceding month, the price obtained, the total amount of all sales, and any additional information as may be required, and it shall be signed by the lessee or some responsible person having knowledge thereof.   (2) Oil and gas leases granted by the state shall contain suitable provisions imposing upon all lessees the obligation to make such report of operation, production, and sales in the manner, at the time, and to such representative of the state as may be required by the board.   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. 1947; (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).
MT Code § 77-3-432 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-432. Royalty

  77-3-432. Royalty. In each oil and gas lease granted by the state under this part, there must be reserved to the state as consideration for the lease a royalty in all oil and gas produced and saved from all lands covered by the lease and not used for light, fuel, and operation purposes on the leased premises, which must be equivalent to the full market value, as ascertained by the board at the date of the lease, of the estate or interest of the state in the lands and oil and gas deposits disposed of under the lease. The royalty reservation must be set by the board but may not be less than 12 1/2% on gas and not less than 12 1/2% on oil or casinghead gasoline for each producing well for the calendar month. The state may share the expense of transporting the oil to the nearest market on a basis proportional to the state's royalty interest in the oil and at a rate per mile acceptable to the department.   History: En. Sec. 4, Ch. 108, L. 1927; re-en. Sec. 1882.4, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 61, L. 1951; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 103, L. 1965; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 379, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1704(part); amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 136, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 163, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 34, L. 1997.
MT Code § 77-3-433 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-433. Shut-in gas royalty

  77-3-433. Shut-in gas royalty. The royalty on gas, including casinghead gas and all gaseous substances not sold or used off the premises, must be at the rate of $400 per lease each year or the amount of the annual rental provided in the lease, whichever is the greater, payable on or before the annual anniversary date of the lease. As long as the leased lands contain a well capable of production in paying quantities and the requisite payment is made, the lease must be considered as a producing lease under the lease terms.   History: En. Sec. 4, Ch. 108, L. 1927; re-en. Sec. 1882.4, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 61, L. 1951; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 103, L. 1965; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 379, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1704(part); amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 34, L. 1997.
MT Code § 77-3-434 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 77. State Lands|Chapter 3. Rock, Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Resources|Part 4. Oil and Gas|77-3-434. Manner of making royalty payment

  77-3-434. Manner of making royalty payment. Such lease shall provide for the rendering of payment of such royalty on all oil and gas produced and saved and sold or used off the premises in the following manner and upon the following terms:   (1) the lessee shall pay to the state in cash, for all oil and gas royalty reserved, the posted field price existing on the day such oil or gas is run into any pipeline or storage tank to the credit of the lessee, plus any bonus actually paid or agreed to be paid to the lessee for such oil or gas; or   (2) at the option of the state exercised in writing by the board not oftener than every 30 days, the lessee shall deliver the state's royalty oil or gas free of cost or deductions into the pipeline to which the wells of the lessee may be connected or into any storage designated by the state and connected with such wells.   History: En. Sec. 4, Ch. 108, L. 1927; re-en. Sec. 1882.4, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 61, L. 1951; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 103, L. 1965; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 379, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 81-1704(part).