R850-22-1000. Multiple Mineral Development (MMD) Area Designation

1. The agency may designate any land under its authority as a multiple mineral development area. In designated multiple mineral development areas the agency may require, in addition to all other terms and conditions of the lease, that the lessee furnish a bond or evidence of financial responsibility as specified by the agency, to assure that the agency and other lessees shall be indemnified and held harmless from and against unreasonable and all unnecessary damage to mineral deposits or improvements caused by the conduct of the lessee on trust lands. Written notice shall be given to all lessees holding a lease for any mineral commodity within the multiple mineral development area. Thereafter, in order to preserve the value of mineral resources the agency may impose any reasonable requirements upon any mineral lessee who intends to conduct any mineral activity within the multiple mineral development area. The lessee is required to submit advance written notice of any activities to occur within the multiple mineral development area to the agency and any other information that the agency may request. All activities within the multiple mineral development area are to be deferred until the agency has specified the terms and conditions under which the mineral activity is to occur and has granted specific permission to conduct the activity. The agency may hold public meetings regarding the mineral development within the multiple mineral development area.

2. The agency may grant a lease extension under a multiple mineral development area designation, providing that the lessee or designated operator requests an extension to the agency prior to the lease expiration date, and that the lessee or designated operator would have otherwise been able to request a lease extension as provided in Subsection 53C-2-405(4).