Collapse to view only § 251.15 - Conditions, rules and regulations to govern exercise of mineral rights reserved in conveyances to the United States.

Natural Resources Control

§ 251.9 - Management of Municipal Watersheds.

(a) The Forest Service shall manage National Forest watersheds that supply municipal water under multiple use prescriptions in forest plans (36 CFR part 219). When a municipality desires protective actions or restrictions of use not specified in the forest plan, within agreements, and/or special use authorizations, the municipality must apply to the Forest Service for consideration of these needs.

(b) When deemed appropriate by the Regional Forester, requested restrictions and/or requirements shall be incorporated in the forest plan without written agreements. Written agreements with municipalities to assure protection of water supplies are appropriate when requested by the municipality and deemed necessary by the Regional Forester. A special use authorization may be needed to effect these agreements.

(c) In preparing any municipal watershed agreement for approval by the Regional Forester or issuing special use authorization to protect municipal water supplies, the authorized forest officer shall specify the types of uses, if any, to be restricted; the nature and extent of any restrictions; any special land management protective measures and/or any necessary standards and guidelines needed to protect water quality or quantity; and any resources that are to be provided by the municipality.

(d) A special use authorization (36 CFR 251.54) is required if the municipality is to use the subject lands, restrict public access, or control resource uses within the watershed. Special use authorizations issued pursuant to this section are subject to the same fee waivers, conditions, and procedures applicable to all other special uses as set forth in subpart B of this part.

(e) Any municipal watershed management agreements, special use authorizations, requirements, and/or restrictions shall be consistent with forest plans, or amendments and revisions thereto.

[53 FR 27685, July 22, 1988]

§ 251.10 - Prohibition of location of mining claims within certain areas in the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve, South Dakota.

The location of mining claims in such areas within 660 feet of any Federal, State or county road and within such other areas where the location of mining claims would not be in the public interest, as may be designated by the Chief, Forest Service, or the Regional Forester, of Forest Service Region 2, is hereby prohibited. The Director, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior, shall be advised of the areas so designated and notices of the boundaries of such areas posted at conspicuous places in the Preserve, as well as at the county courthouses in Pennington in the cities of Custer and Rapid City, and Custer Counties and the post offices State of South Dakota.

[13 FR 3676, July 1, 1948, as amended at 48 FR 31854, July 12, 1983]

§ 251.11 - Governing mining locations under the mining laws of the United States within that portion of the Black Hills National Forest, State of South Dakota, designated as the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve.

(a) Whoever locates a mining claim within the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve must, within 10 days after posting the location notice upon such claim, file a true copy of such location notice with the Forest Supervisor of the Black Hills National Forest at Custer, South Dakota, and further, within 10 days after said location notice is filed for record pursuant to the State laws of South Dakota, a true copy of the recorded location certificate must be filed with said Forest Supervisor.

(b) All mining locators shall in all developments and operations make all reasonable provisions for the disposal of tailings, dumpage, and other deleterious materials or substances in such manner as to prevent obstruction, pollution, or deterioration of the land, streams, ponds, lakes, or springs, as may be directed by the Forest Supervisor.

(c) All slash resulting from cutting or destruction of forest growth incident and necessary to mining operations must be disposed of as directed by the Forest Supervisor.

(d) 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 marking rules and timber sale practices applicable to the Black Hills National Forest, and such cutting and removal of timber shall be as directed by the Forest Supervisor.

(e) No use of the surface of a mining 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 developments.

(f) When any road is to be built for mining purposes upon a mining claim, the locator must apply to the Forest Supervisor for the applicable rules and regulations governing the construction and maintenance of roads within the Black Hills National Forest, and such road will be built in accordance with such specifications and in such locations as the Forest Supervisor may direct.

(g) In conducting mining operations the locator, his agents, representatives, or employees, or other persons whose presence in the area or in the vicinity thereof, is occasioned by such mining operations, shall use due diligence in the prevention and suppression of fires, and shall, when requested by the Forest Supervisor, or his authorized representative, be available for service in the extinguishment and suppression of all fires occurring within the Preserve: Provided, That if such fire does not originate through any negligence on the part of the locator, his agents, representatives, or employees, or other persons whose presence in the area or in the vicinity thereof, is occasioned by such mining operations and does not threaten the structures, improvements or property incident to the mining operation, such persons shall be paid for their services at the current rate of pay of fire fighters employed by the United States.

(h) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to relieve the locator from complying with any requirements of the laws of the State of South Dakota, nor from compliance with or conformity to any requirements of any Federal law or regulation now existing or which later may be enacted or promulgated, and applicable to the subject involved in this section.

[13 FR 4792, Aug. 19, 1948, as amended at 48 FR 31854, July 12, 1983]

§ 251.14 - Conditions, rules and regulations to govern exercise of timber rights reserved in conveyance to the United States.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, in conveyance of lands to the United States under authorized programs of the Forest Service, where owners reserve the right to enter upon the conveyed lands and to cut and remove timber and timber products, said reservations shall be subject to the following conditions, rules and regulations which shall be expressed in and made a part of the deed of conveyance to the United States and such reservations shall be exercised thereunder and in obedience thereto:

(1) Whoever undertakes to exercise the reserved rights, hereinafter called operator, shall give prior written notice to Forest Service and shall submit satisfactory evidence of authority to exercise such rights. Operator shall repair, replace, or restore any improvements owned by the United States or its permittees, damaged or destroyed by the timber operations and he shall restore the land to a condition safe and reasonably serviceable for authorized programs of Forest Service.

(2) In cutting and removing timber and timber products and in locating, constructing and using mills, logging roads, railroads, chutes, landings, camps, or other improvements, no unnecessary damage shall be done to the air, water and soil resources, and to young growth or to trees left standing. All survey monuments and witness trees shall be preserved.

(3) All trees, timber or timber products of species or sizes not specifically reserved which are unnecessarily cut, damaged, or destroyed by operator shall be paid for at double the usual rates charged in the locality for sales of similar National Forest timber and timber products.

(4) Slash and debris resulting from the cutting, removal, or processing of timber or timber products, or from construction operations, shall be disposed of or otherwise treated by methods acceptable to the Forest Service. Such treatment or disposal shall comply with known air and water quality criteria and standards and include necessary preparatory work such as fireline constructing and snag falling. The timing of log removal and preparatory work shall not unnecessarily delay slash disposal or treatment.

(5) Operator is authorized to construct and maintain buildings, facilities, and other improvements, including roads needed to log the reserved timber. Construction and maintenance plans, designs, and location shall be approved in writing by Forest Service before construction is started.

(6) All buildings, camps, equipment, and other structures or improvements shall be removed from the lands within 6 months from date of completion or abandonment of the operation, unless relieved by Forest Service by issuance of a special-use permit. Otherwise such buildings, camps, equipment, and other structures or improvements shall become the property of the United States, but this does not relieve operator of liability for the cost of removal and restoration of the site.

(7) Nothing in this section shall be construed to exempt operator from any requirements of the laws of the States in which situated; nor from compliance with or conformity to any requirement of any law which later may be enacted and which otherwise would be applicable.

(8) While operations are in progress, operator, his employees, any subcontractors, and their employees, shall take all reasonable and practicable action in the prevention and suppression of fire, and shall be available for service in the suppression of all fires within the reserved area. On any fire not caused by negligence on the part of the operator, Forest Service shall pay operator at fire-fighting rates common in the area or at prior agreed rates for equipment or manpower furnished by operator.

(9) Only one cutting shall be made on any portion of the area on which timber is reserved. Forest Service may permit the cutting of special products, or products the cutting of which is seasonal, on any portion of the area in advance of the cutting of the chief products of the reserved timber. Each reservation of timber shall include a specific period of time within which material may be removed.

(10) Forest Service shall have the right to use any road constructed under the authority of this timber reservation for any and all purposes in connection with the protection and administration of the National Forest.

(11) Operator shall take all reasonable precautions to prevent pollution of the air, soil, and water, in operation hereunder.

(12) All activities by operator in the reserved area shall be conducted in a safe, orderly, and workmanlike manner.

(13) For the protection of streamcourses, the following measures shall be observed by operator: Culverts or bridges will be required on temporary roads at all points where it is necessary to cross streamcourses. Such facilities shall be of sufficient size and design to provide unobstructed flow of water. Equipment will not be operated in streamcourses except at designated crossings and as essential to construction or removal of culverts and bridges. Any stream that is temporarily diverted must be restored to the natural course as soon as practicable, and in any event prior to a major runoff season.

(14) Operator shall perform currently as weather and soil conditions permit, the following erosion control work on portions of the reserved area where logging is in progress or has been completed: Construct cross-ditches and water-spreading ditches where staked or otherwise marked on the ground by Forest Service; after a temporary road has served operator's purpose, operator shall remove culverts and bridges, eliminate ditches, out-slope and cross-drain roadbed and remove ruts and berms to the extent necessary to stabilize fills and otherwise minimize erosion; operator shall avoid felling into, yarding in, or crossing natural meadows; and operations will not take place when soil and water conditions are such that excessive damage will result.

(b) The conditions, rules and regulations set forth in paragraphs (a)(1) through (14) of this section shall not apply to reservations contained in conveyances of land to the United States under the Act of March 3, 1925, as amended (43 Stat. 1133, 64 Stat. 82, 16 U.S.C. 555).

(c) In cases where a State, or an agency, or a political subdivision thereof, reserves timber rights for the cutting and removal of timber and timber products, in the conveyance of land to the United States under authorized programs of the Forest Service and there are provisions in the laws of such State or in conditions, rules and regulations promulgated by such State, agency or political subdivision thereof, which the Chief, Forest Service, determines are adequate to protect the interest of the United States in the event of the exercise of such reservation, the Chief, Forest Service, is hereby authorized, in his discretion, to subject the exercise of the reservation to such statutory provisions or such conditions, rules, and regulations in lieu of the conditions, rules and regulations set forth in paragraphs (a) (1) through (14) of this section. In that event, such statutory provisions or such conditions, rules and regulations shall be expressed in and made a part of the deed of conveyance to the United States and the reservation shall be exercised thereunder and in obedience thereto.

All regulations heretofore issued by the Secretary of Agriculture to govern the exercise of timber rights reserved in conveyance of lands to the United States under authorized programs of Forest Service shall continue to be effective in the cases to which they are applicable, but are hereby superseded as to timber rights hereafter reserved in conveyances under such programs. [35 FR 5401, Apr. 1, 1970]

§ 251.15 - Conditions, rules and regulations to govern exercise of mineral rights reserved in conveyances to the United States.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, in conveyances of lands to the United States under authorized programs of the Forest Service, where owners reserve the right to enter upon the conveyed lands and to prospect for, mine and remove minerals, oil, gas, or other inorganic substances, said reservations shall be subject to the following conditions, rules and regulations which shall be expressed in and made a part of the deed of conveyance to the United States and such reservations shall be exercised thereunder and in obedience thereto:

(1) Whoever undertakes to exercise the reserved rights shall give prior written notice to the Forest Service and shall submit satisfactory evidence of authority to exercise such rights. Only so much of the surface of the lands shall be occupied, used, or disturbed as is necessary in bona fide prospecting for, drilling, mining (including the milling or concentration of ores), and removal of the reserved minerals, oil, gas, or other inorganic substances.

(2)(i) None of the lands in which minerals are reserved shall be so used, occupied, or disturbed as to preclude their full use for authorized programs of the Forest Service until the record owner of the reserved rights, or the successors, assigns, or lessees thereof, shall have applied for and received a permit authorizing such use, occupancy, or disturbance of those specifically described parts of the lands as may reasonably be necessary to exercise of the reserved rights.

(ii) Said permit shall be issued upon agreement as to conditions necessary to protect the interest of the United States including such conditions deemed necessary to provide for the safety of the public and other users of the land, and upon initial payment of the annual fee, which shall be at the rate of $2 per acre or fraction of acre included in the permit.

(iii) The permit shall also provide that the record owner of the reserved right or the successors, assigns, or lessees thereof, will repair or replace any improvements damaged or destroyed by the mining operations and restore the land to a condition safe and reasonably serviceable for authorized programs of the Forest Service, and shall provide for a bond in sufficient amount as determined necessary by the Forest Service to guarantee such repair, replacement or restoration.

(iv) Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the permit shall be cause for revocation of all rights to use, occupy, or disturb the surface of the lands covered by the permit, but in the event of revocation, a new permit shall be issued upon application when the causes for revocation of the preceding permit have been satisfactorily remedied and the United States has been reimbursed for any damages it has incurred from the noncompliance.

(3) All structures, other improvements, and materials shall be removed from the lands within one year after the date of revocation of the permit.

(4) Timber and/or young growth cut or destroyed in connection with exercise of the reserved right shall be paid for at rates determined by the Forest Service to be fair and equitable for comparable timber and/or young growth in the locality. All slash resulting from cutting or destruction of timber or young growth shall be disposed of as required by the Forest Service.

(5) In the prospecting for, mining, and removal of reserved minerals, oil, gas, or other inorganic substances all reasonable provisions shall be made for the disposal of tailings, dumpage, and other deleterious materials or substances in such manner as to prevent obstruction, pollution, or deterioration of water resources.

(6) Nothing herein contained shall be construed to exempt operators or the mining operations from any requirements of applicable State laws nor from compliance with or conformity to any requirement of any law which later may be enacted and which otherwise would be applicable.

(7) While any activities and/or operations incident to the exercise of the reserved rights are in progress, the operators, contractors, subcontractors, and any employees thereof shall use due diligence in the prevention and suppression of fires, and shall comply with all rules and regulations applicable to the land.

(b) The conditions, rules and regulations set forth in paragraphs (a) (1) through (7) of this section shall not apply to reservations contained in conveyances of lands to the United States under the Act of March 3, 1925, as amended (43 Stat. 1133, 64 Stat. 82; 16 U.S.C. 555).

(c) In cases where a State, or an agency, or a political subdivision thereof, reserves minerals, oil, gas, or other inorganic substances, in the conveyance of land to the United States under authorized programs of the Forest Service and there are provisions in the laws of such State or in conditions, rules and regulations promulgated by such State, agency or political subdivision thereof, which the Chief, Forest Service, determines are adequate to protect the interest of the United States in the event of the exercise of such reservation, the Chief, Forest Service, is hereby authorized, in his discretion, to subject the exercise of the reservation to such statutory provisions or such conditions, rules and regulations in lieu of the conditions, rules and regulations set forth in paragraphs (a) (1) through (7) of this section. In that event, such statutory provisions or such conditions, rules and regulations shall be expressed in and made a part of the deed of conveyance to the United States and the reservation shall be exercised thereunder and in obedience thereto.

All regulations heretofore issued by the Secretary of Agriculture to govern the exercise of mineral rights reserved in conveyances of lands to the United States under authorized programs of the Forest Service shall continue to be effective in the cases to which they are applicable, but are hereby superseded as to mineral rights hereafter reserved in conveyances under such programs. [28 FR 4440, May 3, 1963, as amended at 78 FR 33724, June 5, 2013]

Rights of Grantors

§ 251.17 - Grantor's right to occupy and use lands conveyed to the United States.

Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (h) of this section, in conveyances of lands to the United States under authorized programs of the Forest Service, where owners reserve the right to occupy and use the land for the purposes of residence, agriculture, industry, or commerce, said reservations shall be subject to the following conditions, rules and regulations which shall be expressed in and made a part of the deed of conveyance to the United States and such reservations shall be exercised thereunder and in obedience thereto:

(a) Except when provided otherwise by statute, the reservation so created shall not be assigned, used, or occupied by anyone other than the grantor without the consent of the United States.

(b) All reasonable precautions shall be taken by the grantor and all persons acting for or claiming under him to prevent and suppress forest fires upon or threatening the premises or other adjacent lands of the United States, and any person failing to comply with this requirement shall be responsible for any damages sustained by the United States by reason thereof.

(c) The premises shall not be used or permitted to be used, without the written consent of the United States, for any purpose or purposes other than those specified in the instrument creating the reservation.

(d) The grantor and all persons acting for or claiming under him shall maintain the premises and all buildings and structures thereon in proper repair and sanitation and shall comply with the National Forest laws and regulations and the laws and lawful orders of the State in which the premises are located.

(e) Except when provided otherwise by statute, the reservation shall terminate: (1) Upon the expiration of the period named in the deed; (2) upon failure for a period of more than one calendar year to use and occupy the premises for the purposes named in the deed; (3) by use and occupancy for unlawful purposes or for purposes other than those specified in the deed; and (4) by voluntary written relinquishment by the owner.

(f) Upon the termination of the reservation the owners of personal property remaining on the premises shall remove same within a period of three months, and all such property not so removed shall become the property of the United States except that when such removal is prevented by conditions beyond the control of the owners the period shall be extended in writing by the Forest Service to allow a reasonable time for said removal, but in no event longer than one year.

(g) The said reservation shall be subject to rights-of-way for the use of the United States or its permittees, upon, across, or through the said land, as may hereafter be required for the erection, construction, maintenance and operation of public utility systems over all or parts thereof, or for the construction and maintenance of any improvements necessary for the good administration and protection of the National Forests, and shall be subject to the right of officials or employees of the Forest Service to inspect the premises, or any part thereof, at all reasonable times and as often as deemed necessary in the performance of official duties in respect to the premises.

(h) The conditions, rules, and regulations set forth in paragraphs (a) through (g) of this section shall not apply to reservations contained in conveyances of lands to the United States under the Act of March 3, 1925, as amended (43 Stat. 1133, 64 Stat. 82; 16 U.S.C. 555).

[33 FR 11452, Aug. 13, 1968, as amended at 36 FR 156, Jan. 6, 1971]

§ 251.18 - Rights-of-way reserved by the grantor on lands conveyed to the United States.

This section governs the use, occupancy, and operation of rights-of-way reserved by a grantor of lands to the United States.

(a) Brush and refuse resulting from the exercise of the right-of-way reservation shall be disposed of to the satisfaction of the Forest Officer in charge.

(b) Timber cut and destroyed in the exercise of the right-of-way reservation shall be paid for at rates to be prescribed by the Forest Officer in charge, which rates shall be the usual stumpage prices charged in the locality in sales of national forest timber of the same kind or species; for injury to timber, second growth, and reproduction, the amount of actual damage shall be ascertained by the Forest Supervisor according to the rules applicable in such cases.

(c) All improvements built or maintained upon the right-of-way shall be kept in an orderly, safe and sanitary condition. Failure to maintain such conditions shall be cause for the termination of the reservation after 30 days' notice in writing to the occupant or user that unsatisfactory conditions exist and that the Department intends to terminate all rights under the reservation unless such conditions are forthwith corrected to the satisfaction of the Regional Forester.

(d) Upon the abandonment of a reserved right-of-way, either by formal release, by termination, or by non-use for a period of one calendar year, all improvements thereon not the property of the United States shall be removed therefrom within three months from the date of the abandonment, otherwise such improvements shall vest in and become the property of the United States.

(e) All reasonable precautions to prevent and suppress forest fires shall be taken by the grantor and all persons acting for or claiming under him; suitable crossings shall be constructed by grantor and/or said persons where the reserved right-of-way intersects existing roads and trails; borrow pits shall not be opened outside of the immediate graded section except under a special use permit from the Forest Supervisor.

(f) Officers of the Forest Service shall have free ingress and egress on and over the reserved rights-of-way for all purposes necessary and incidental to the protection and administration of the national forest.

[3 FR 1953, Aug. 9, 1938]

§ 251.19 - Exercise of water rights reserved by the grantor of lands conveyed to the United States.

This section governs the exercise of water and related rights reserved by the grantor of lands conveyed to the United States under the provisions of the act of March 1, 1911 (36 Stat. 961).

(a) All reasonable precautions shall be taken by the grantor and all persons acting for or claiming under him to prevent and suppress forest fires upon or threatening the premises or other adjacent lands of the United States, and any person failing to comply with this requirement shall be responsible for any damages sustained by the United States by reason thereof.

(b) All slash and debris resulting from the cutting and removal of timber shall be disposed of as directed by the Forest Officer in charge.

(c) Flowage and reservoir areas shall be cleared of timber and debris, in a manner satisfactory to the Forest Supervisor, or in accordance with a special agreement approved by him. Timber cut and destroyed in the exercise of the reserved rights shall be paid for at rates to be prescribed by the Forest Officer in charge, which rates shall be the usual stumpage price charged in the locality.

(d) The water surface created shall be open to the Forest Service and its permittees when such use does not interfere with the original purpose of the development.

(e) The water surface shall be open to fishing by the public in accordance with State laws when such use does not interfere with the original purpose of the development.

(f) Plans for dams and supplemental structures, impounding or controlling more than 10 acre-feet of water or with a head in excess of 6 feet, shall be approved by the Regional Engineer of the Forest Service before construction shall begin.

[3 FR 1953, Aug. 9, 1938]

Designation of Areas

§ 251.23 - Experimental areas and research natural areas.

The Chief of the Forest Service shall establish and permanently record a series of areas on National Forest land to be known as experimental forests or experimental ranges, sufficient in number and size to provide adequately for the research necessary to serve as a basis for the management of forest and range land in each forest region. Also, when appropriate, the Chief shall establish a series of research natural areas, sufficient in number and size to illustrate adequately or typify for research or educational purposes, the important forest and range types in each forest region, as well as other plant communities that have special or unique characteristics of scientific interest and importance. Research Natural Areas will be retained in a virgin or unmodified condition except where measures are required to maintain a plant community which the area is intended to represent. Within areas designated by this regulation, occupancy under a special-use permit shall not be allowed, nor the construction of permanent improvements permitted except improvements required in connection with their experimental use, unless authorized by the Chief of the Forest Service.

[31 FR 5072, Mar. 29, 1966]

Petersburg Watershed

§ 251.35 - Petersburg watershed.

(a) Except as authorized in paragraphs (b) and (c), access to lands within the Petersburg watershed, Tongass National Forest, as described in the Act of October 17, 1940 (54 Stat. 1197), is prohibited.

(b) Access to lands within the Petersburg watershed is hereby authorized, without further written approval, for the following routine purposes:

(1) The discharge of official duties related to management of the Tongass National Forest by Federal employees, holders of Forest Service contracts, or Forest Service agents;

(2) The operation, maintenance, and improvement of the municipal water system by Federal and State officials and employees of the city of Petersburg; and

(3) Public recreational use of the Raven's Roost Trail for access to and from the Raven's Roost public recreation cabin and the Alpine Recreation Area.

(c) Any person who wishes to enter upon the lands within the watershed for purposes other than those listed in paragraph (b) must obtain a permit that has been signed by the appropriate city official and countersigned by the District Ranger.

(d) Unauthorized entrance upon lands within the watershed is subject to punishment as provided in 36 CFR 261.1b.

(e) The Forest Supervisor of the Stikine Area of the Tongass National Forest may authorize the removal of timber from the watershed under the regulations governing disposal of National Forest timber (36 CFR part 223). In any removal of timber from the watershed, the Forest Supervisor shall provide adequate safeguards for the protection of the Petersburg municipal water supply.

[53 FR 26595, July 14, 1988]