Public Law 62–152

That the Secretary of the Interior, under rules and regulations to be prescribed by him, may grant to the operator of any coal mine or mines in the State of Oklahoma the right to lease additional acreage from the unleased segregated coal land of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations, in the State of Oklahoma not to exceed, in any case six hundred and forty acres of land: Provided, That the land sought to be leased adjoins and is

Proviso.

Contiguous lands.

contiguous to the coal-mining property of the applicant in operation: And provided further, That the right to lease such additional lands

Confined to actual operators.

shall extend only to coal-mining corporations, individual or individuals actually operating coal mines in said State in good faith, and in only such cases as may be found necessary for the successful administration of such mine: And provided further, That the lease or

Duration and royalty.

leases on such additional coal lands shall not be made for a longer period of time than existing leases of the respective applicants and shall not be made at a less rate of royalty than the rate of royalty paid on existing leases now in operation in said State of Oklahoma.