Public Law 76–201

That hereafter

Lincoln National Forest, N. Mex.

Mining locations upon certain lands within, limitation on use of surface.

mining locations made under the United States mining laws upon lands within the watershed of the headwaters of the Bonito River in the Lincoln National Forest within the State of New Mexico, specifically described as those certain pieces or parcels of land situate, lying, and being in the county of Lincoln, State of New Mexico, described as follows:

The east half east half section 12, east half east half section 13,

Description.

east half northeast quarter section 24, township 10 south, range 10 east, New Mexico principal meridian; southeast quarter section 25, southwest quarter section 26, south half section 27, southeast quarter and south half southwest quarter section 28, southeast quarter section 31, and all of sections 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36, township 9 south, range 11 east, New Mexico principal meridian; all of sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, and 29, north half section 19, north half and southwest quarter section 24, northwest quarter section 26, north half northeast quarter section 32, and north half north half section 33, township 10 south, range 11 east, New Mexico principal meridian; southwest quarter section 25, south half of fractional section 26, all of fractional section 35, and all of section 36, township 9 south, range 12 east, New Mexico principal meridian; all of section 1, all of fractional section 2, all of fractional section 11, all of section 12, all of section 13, all of fractional section 14, north half of fractional section 23, and north half section 24, township 10 south, range 12 east, New Mexico principal meridian; having an area of approximately thirty-nine and three hundred and seventy-six one-thousandths square miles, shall confer on the locator the right to occupy and use only so much of the surface of the land covered by the location as may be reasonably necessary to carry on prospecting and mining, including the taking of mineral deposits and timber required by or in the mining operations, and no permit shall

Proviso.

Cutting and removal of timber.

be required or charge made for such use or occupancy: Provided, however, That the cutting and removal of timber, except where clearing is necessary in connection with mining operations or to provide space for buildings or structures used in connection with mining operations, shall be conducted in accordance with the rules for timber

Regulations applicable to use of surface, etc.

cutting on adjoining national-forest land, and no use of the surface of the claim or the resources therefrom not reasonably required for carrying on mining and prospecting shall be allowed except under the national-forest rules and regulations, nor shall the locator prevent or obstruct other occupancy of the surface or use of surface resources under authority of national-forest regulations, or permits issued thereunder, if such occupancy or use is not in conflict with mineral development.

Sec. 2.

That hereafter all patents issued under the United States mining laws affecting lands within the watershed of headwaters of the Bonito River in the Lincoln Forest, in the State of New Mexico, shall convey title to the mineral deposits within the claim, together with the right to cut and remove so much of the mature timber therefrom as may be needed in extracting and removing the mineral deposits, if the timber is removed in accordance with the rules for

Reservation of title to surface, etc.

timber cutting on adjoining national-forest land, but each patent shall reserve to the United States all title in or to the surface of the lands and products thereof, and no use of the surface of the claim or the resources therefrom not reasonably required for carrying on mining or prospecting shall be allowed except under the rules and regulations of the Department of Agriculture.

Sec. 3.

That valid mining claims within the watershed of the head-waters of the Bonito River in the Lincoln National Forest, within the State of New Mexico, as above described, existing on the date of the enactment of this Act and thereafter maintained in compliance with the law under which they were initiated and the laws of the State of New Mexico, may be perfected under this Act or under the laws under which they were initiated, as the claimant may desire.