Court Opinion

ID: 9446263
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 21:50:14.585794+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:30:35.128914
License: Public Domain

FAHY, Circuit Judge
(concurring in part and dissenting in part).
I concur in holding that the application of appellant for a noncompetitive lease covering the 618.81 acres, later included in the lease to The Texas Company, could not validly have been denied on the facts in this record, which show that this acreage was not within a known geologic structure of a producing oil or gas field at the time appellant’s application was filed. As to the 335.90 acres, however, I would not disturb the Secretary’s decision. I think that decision must be read as including a conclusion, or finding, that this acreage was within a known geologic structure when appellant’s application was filed. Such conclusion, or finding, I think should not on this record be overturned by the court.