
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 30USC358]

 
                   TITLE 30--MINERAL LANDS AND MINING
 
       CHAPTER 7--LEASE OF MINERAL DEPOSITS WITHIN ACQUIRED LANDS
 
Sec. 358. Rights under prior leases; priority of pending 
        applications; exchange of leases
        
    Nothing in this chapter shall affect any rights acquired by any 
lessee of lands subject to this chapter under the law as it existed 
prior to August 7, 1947, and such rights shall be governed by the law in 
effect at the time of their acquisition; but any person qualified to 
hold a lease who, on August 7, 1947, had pending an application for an 
oil and gas lease for any lands subject to this chapter which on the 
date the application was filed was not situated within the known 
geologic structure of a producing oil or gas field, shall have a 
preference right over others to a lease of such lands without 
competitive bidding. Any person holding a lease on lands subject hereto, 
which lease was issued prior to August 7, 1947, shall be entitled to 
exchange such lease for a new lease issued under the provisions of this 
chapter, at any time prior to the expiration of such existing lease.

(Aug. 7, 1947, ch. 513, Sec. 9, 61 Stat. 915.)


 Outer Continental Shelf; Jurisdiction of United States; Validation of 
                              Prior Leases

    Jurisdiction of United States over outer Continental Shelf, grant of 
leases on submerged lands thereof, and validation of prior leases, see 
section 1331 et seq. of Title 43, Public Lands.
