SECTION 10-9-130. Department may issue leases or licenses; notice of applications.

The department may issue to any person who applies for a lease or license granting a general right to dig, mine, and remove phosphate rock and phosphatic deposits from all the navigable streams, waters, and marshes belonging to the State and also from such of the creeks, not navigable, lying therein as may contain phosphate rock and deposits belonging to the State and not previously granted. Such leases or licenses may be for such terms as may be determined by the department. The annual report of the department to the General Assembly shall include a list of all effective leases and licenses. The department may make a firm contract for the royalty to be paid the State which shall not be increased during the life of the license. Provided, that prior to the grant or issuance of any lease or license, the department shall cause to be published a notice of such application in a newspaper having general circulation in the county once a week for three successive weeks prior to the grant or issuance. However, the lessee or licensee shall not take possession if there is an adverse claim and the burden of proving ownership in the State shall be placed upon the lessee or licensee. Effect of Amendment 2014 Act No. 121, SECTION 7.M, substituted "department" for "board" throughout and made other nonsubstantive changes.