Document: 400 U.S. 48 91 S.Ct. 196 27 L.Ed.2d 193 HICKEL, Secretary of the Interiorv.OIL SHALE CORP. et al. No. 25. Argued Oct. 22, 1970. Decided Dec. 8, Syllabus The General Mining Act 1872 provided that until a patent issued for mineral location on lands belonging to United States 'not less than $100 worth labor shall be performed or improvements made during each year,' and could issue showing claimant had expended $500 claim. Failure do assessment work generally entitled others relocate Under Mineral Leasing 1920 theretofore open acquisition title became available only lease basis, but Saving Clause covered valid claims existent February 25, 1920, 'and thereafter maintained in compliance with laws under which initiated.' All involved this suit were cancelled by Interior early 1930's because annual work, required Act, not been performed. In attempting establish their oil shale Colorado respondents brought action District Court require expunge his rulings cancelling lack enjoin him from enforcing them. Appeals, ruling favor respondents, held Department no jurisdiction cancel claims. courts relied Wilbur v. ex rel. Krushnic, 280 306, 50 103, 74 L.Ed. 445, Ickes Virginia-Colorado Development Corp., 295 639, 55 888, 79 1627, where declined interpret as requiring return Government full possessory rights subject defaults work. decisions indicated failure perform such relocation forfeiture Government. Held: makes beneficiary all are invalid otherwise, matter determine whether respondents' 'maintained' within meaning clause, including performance adequate supra, Virginia-Colorado, must confined situations there has substantial Pp. 51-58. 406 F.2d 759, reversed remanded. Peter L. Strauss, Washington, D.C., petitioner. Fowler Hamilton, New York City, respondents. Mr. Justice DOUGLAS delivered opinion Court. 1 This case involves six groups located asserted 1872, 17 Stat. 91, now 30 U.S.C. §§ 26, 28, 29. Section 28 provides year.'1 And § 29 claim These patented canceled ground amount specified 'during year.'2 2 Some claimants applied patents between 1955 1962. Land Office rejected applications canceled. On appeal, Interior, acting through Solicitor, ruled these cancellations effective, later judicial determinations invalidity grounds cancellation notwithstanding. Union Oil Co., 71 I.D. 169.3 then sought an order compel patents. They argued was without authority when it did nullified contest proceedings 1935. alternative, they review those rulings. Respondent Shale Corp. commenced Court, patent, canceling cases consolidated trial granted relief, 261 F.Supp. 954, Appeals affirmed, both holding void have over matter. is here petition certiorari, we consider correctly construed invalidate Secretary's protection public domain. 3 Before come consideration Krushnic should noted Congress enacting 21 Lands 41 241(a), completely changed national policy disposition lands. Thereafter longer lease. But 37 contained 'valid initiated, may perfected laws, discovery.' 193. Respondents contend fall exception. 4 assert like recognized approved case. case, however, statutory performed, aggregate $500. default one year period. Mandamus issuance directed, saying: 5 'Prior passage necessary preserve right, incidents ownership * *, against States, subsequent relocators. So far government concerned, any effect. Whenever other requirements aside, owner even though some years omitted.' U.S., at 317, S.Ct., 104. 6 further resumption before challenge intervened. 7 also except year. It alleged, planned resume adverse abandoned. 1920. 8 Those two reflect attitude fair treatment who substantially completed 28. There are, dicta gives inures benefit 9 Indeed derives already noted,4 upon 'the mine occurred same manner if ever made,' 'resumed' 'after location.' therefore so concerned concerns 'rival claimants.'5 10 problem present which, noted, Concededly, maintain 'subject only' leasing States. See Hence assume, arguendo, time relocator, speaking vitally interested party reason Act. For reclaimed portions domain land might disposed different procedure (leasing) end (oil production6) devoted wholly purposes7 purview determined Congress. 11 appears shortly affected speculative fever. Then came period calm. By late forties continuing into sixties speculators out original locators heirs, obtained quitclaim deeds them, thereupon eliminated record titleholders performing year.8 94 98 litigation character. nothing reprehensible practice, approved. command done year' requires escape requirement 'maintained 12 legislative history does throw much light problem. Senator Cole, proponent explained, adopt Spanish law mining titles subjected them 'to what term denouncement defeasance after certain time.' Cong. Globe, 42d Cong., 2d Sess., 2459 (1872). While objective beneficial use party,' once defaulted, inevitably accrued fee. premise would seem valid. 13 throws little 14 Senate considerable debate addition words 'including discovery' 37, contains Clause. 15 'Mr. JONES Mexico. Suppose 16 SMOOT. Very well; desires insert I offer objection. WALSH Montana. President, going say Senators my mind discovery necessarily perfect claim, unless he just sense protected. 18 'under laws' cover everything—the discovery, everything else. 19 discovery,' proposed, seems me, will make plain. 20 objection bill.' 58 Cong.Rec. 4584.9 'perfection' thus seemingly meant 'everything' taken literally mean year.' 22 If hold contrary enforcement solely private initiative relocators, 'maintenance' provision becomes largely illusory, impossible dependent activities energies effective device. area possibly relocated purposes, likelihood remote concluded that: 'The old sheltered (1920) Act.' F.2d, 763. That remain immune anyone complete defiance 23 lapse basis charge abandonment. 645—646, 889—890, 1627. We construe statement facts sufficient well established evidence Co. Smith, 249 337, 349, 39 308, 311, 63 635, Donnelly 228 243, 267, 33 449, 457, 57 820. If, fact, abandoned, relocators ones interested. interest retrieving G. Widman, T. Brightwell, & J. Haggard, Legal Study Public 189—193 (1969). gave keen recapturing agree every cause lost. Defaults, equivalent abandonment; token satisfy 'maintain' To otherwise help defeat prospective recipient royalties, cannot support broad ground. Rather, contrary, conclude 'possessory title' claimant, disturbed flimsy insubstantial grounds. 24 Unlike Commissioner's findings indicate met conditions respecting Therefore control litigation. disagree opinions doing view otherwise. follows had, has, contests involving judgments below reversed. 25 rely response declared 'void.' He 'other Departmental conflict decision hereby overruled.' 287, 290. decision, argue, previous voided. Moreover, administrative rule 35 years, itself relied, retroactively changed. addition. decisions, still valid, direct time, testing substantive procedural errors, notice.10 26 contentions questions decided below. Therefore, remand issues relevant current validity open, availability time. extent found void, controlling, review, inadequate abandonment, fraud, like. Likewise concerning amount, nature opportunity bring narrow ambit limited opinions. DP Reversed HARLAN, WHITE, MARSHALL took part APPENDIX TO OPINION OF THE COURT One group question composed (Bute) nine individuals December 1919 January cutoff date prior falid Act.1 records show entry 1921 'Notice Lieu Labor.'2 No entries made. 1954, man name Ertl acquired group. 1955, filed 'Affidavit Annual Labor' published notice newspaper.3 1956, decree court quieting interests Another (Atlas) individuals. 1921, filed. instruments July notice. September, named Dutton and, May quieted himself entire (Camp Bird) instuments regarding labor. eight locators, four 1956. responded 75% 25% Dutton. January, transferred above Energy Resources Technology Land, Inc. (ERTL). ERTL conveyed Bute claims, Nos. 33—48, eventually purchased $1,536,000. 1963, leased remaining $148,000 per Forty-six Shale, Atlas Camp Bird here. (Carbon 1—8 Elizabeth 1—12) passed several hands, forfeiture, above, Wasatch Joseph Umpleby. Sixteen (SW, NW, NE, SE) similar history, three last (Oyler 1—4) forfeiture. 31 CHIEF JUSTICE STEWART dissent. believe Court's Accordingly, overruled, affirm judgment us. reads part: 'On 10th day therefor, (U)pon comply conditions, made, assigns, legal representatives, resumed location. *' filing application, thereafter, sixty days publication, file Manager certificate Chief Cadastral Engineer grantors *.' description see Appendix opinion. admitted erroneous. declared, Commissioner determinations. since appealed from, res judicata, attack n. 1, supra. recent account operation Third Nation's Report Law Review Commission 124 138. regulations provide: expenditure section 2324 Revised (30 28), rival land, goes right possession, determination committed exclusively courts.' 43 CFR 3420.4. value shown magnitude stake. told respondent bid 5,120 acres federal Colorado. Fed.Reg. 16154. projected operations estimated yield 40 gallons ton, royalty being 24¢ ton. Id., 16156. rate 66,000 tons 330 produce close $5,230,000. project life years. containing agricultural nonmineral including, inter alia, Stock-Raising Homestead 1916, 862, 291 seq., gas sodium Indian tribal Utah, grazing districts Taylor Grazing 1269, 315 seq. 3, Appendix, infra. amendment agreed to. change House respect. H.Rep. 398, 66th 1st 11. Conference Report, H.R.Rep. 600, 16. reopening locator whom receipt service adequately shown. Calif., 72 313. 193, deposits herein referred to, valuable minerals form (in Act), suspended 1919. Such suspensions allowed 1933 1938, 1942, 1943, 1948, 1949. co-owners contributed share more give delinquent co-owner writing publication least week 90 fails refuses contribute share, 'his become property coowners expenditures.' enforceable state courts. Hamilton Ertl, 146 Colo. 80, 360 P.2d 660. allows inure 350—351, 311—312, 635.

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