It is hereby declared to be in the public interest to provide a method whereby small tracts of land, which cannot economically be separately explored and mined, may be consolidated for the purposes of exploring, mining and conserving the natural resources of this state under those circumstances where the mineral development of such tracts and […]
Any money payable to unknown owners or to owners whose addresses are unknown under leases effectuated by an order of consolidation pursuant to this act [69-9-1 to 69-9-10 NMSA 1978] shall be placed in suspense with the state treasurer who shall hold said money for payment upon demand and proof of ownership. Any money held […]
No lands owned by the United States of America or the state of New Mexico or lying within the corporate limits of an incorporated village, city or town or held under patented or unpatented mining claim, and no allotted or tribal Indian lands shall be subject to the provisions of this act [69-9-1 to 69-9-10 […]
As used in Chapter 69, Article 9 NMSA 1978: A. “small tract” means a tract of land comprising two acres or less. Where contiguous tracts of two acres or less are owned in common, as for example common ownership of contiguous lots created by platting, each tract is nevertheless a small tract within this definition; […]
The secretary shall be vested with jurisdiction over the administration of this act [69-9-1 to 69-9-10 NMSA 1978] and shall have the power and the duty to make such rules, regulations and orders as may be necessary or proper to effectuate its purposes. History: 1953 Comp., § 63-32-4, enacted by Laws 1967, ch. 33, § […]
Any person, corporation or other legal entity seeking consolidation of an area comprised wholly of small tracts and holding mining rights with respect to interests equal in the aggregate to at least sixty percent of the entire mineral estate (insofar as it pertains to ore) in such area, may make written application for such consolidation […]
Upon receiving an application for consolidation under this act [69-9-1 to 69-9-10 NMSA 1978], the secretary shall set a date for hearing evidence with respect to such application. Notice of the hearing shall be given to all owners by publication once a week for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation published in […]
The secretary shall order consolidation of an area comprised of small tracts pursuant to application filed under this act [69-9-1 to 69-9-10 NMSA 1978] if he finds that: A. proper notice of said hearing has been given as required by this act; B. mineral development of the small tracts in the area to be consolidated […]
An order of consolidation entered by the secretary pursuant to this act [69-9-1 to 69-9-10 NMSA 1978] shall, as to each small tract or interest therein, within the consolidated area on which applicant does not otherwise hold the mining rights, effectuate a mining lease to applicant from the owner of such tract, or interest therein, […]
The order of the secretary shall be effective when approved by the district court for the county in which the consolidated area is located. Notice of hearing in the district court shall be given in the same manner as required for notice of hearing before the secretary, as specified in Section 69-9-6 NMSA 1978. History: […]
