# 25 U.S.C. § 396b: Public auction of oil and gas leases; requirements

> Federal · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t25_s396b

## Section

- **Citation:** 25 U.S.C. § 396b
- **Heading:** Public auction of oil and gas leases; requirements
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** May 6, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 25—INDIANS > CHAPTER 12—LEASE, SALE, OR SURRENDER OF ALLOTTED OR UNALLOTTED LANDS

## Text

Leases for oil- and/or gas-mining purposes covering such unallotted lands shall be offered for sale to the highest responsible qualified bidder, at public auction or on sealed bids, after notice and advertisement, upon such terms and subject to such conditions as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe. Such advertisement shall reserve to the Secretary of the Interior the right to reject all bids whenever in his judgment the interest of the Indians will be served by so doing, and if no satisfactory bid is received, or the accepted bidder fails to complete the lease, or the Secretary of the Interior shall determine that it is unwise in the interest of the Indians to accept the highest bid, said Secretary may readvertise such lease for sale, or with the consent of the tribal council or other governing tribal authorities, a lease may be made by private negotiations: Provided , That the foregoing provisions shall in no manner restrict the right of tribes organized and incorporated under sections 16 and 17 of the Act of June 18, 1934 ( 48 Stat. 984 ) [ 25 U.S.C. 5123 , 5124], to lease lands for mining purposes as therein provided and in accordance with the provisions of any constitution and charter adopted by any Indian tribe pursuant to the Act of June 18, 1934 [ 25 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.].

( May 11, 1938, ch. 198, § 2 , 52 Stat. 347 .)

## Nearby sections

- [25 U.S.C. § 4 Defective record of deeds and papers legalized](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t25_s4.md)
- [25 U.S.C. § 7 Fees for furnishing certified copies of records](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t25_s7.md)
- [25 U.S.C. § 13a Carryover funding](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t25_s13a.md)
- [25 U.S.C. § 13c Source of funds to pay cost of lunches for nonboarding public school students](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t25_s13c.md)
- [25 U.S.C. § 13e Expenses of exhibits; advance payments for services; termination of Federal supervision; treaty expenses](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t25_s13e.md)
- [25 U.S.C. § 13f Tribal priority allocations in Alaska](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t25_s13f.md)
- [25 U.S.C. § 14a Deposit of grant funds received by Bureau from other Federal agencies](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t25_s14a.md)
- [25 U.S.C. § 28 to 31 Repealed. Pub. L. 89–554, § 8(a) , Sept. 6, 1966 , 80 Stat. 632 , 634](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t25_s28...31.md)
- [25 U.S.C. § 38 Repealed. Dec. 16, 1930, ch. 14, § 1 , 46 Stat. 1028](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t25_s38.md)
- [25 U.S.C. § 41 Special agents and commissioners](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t25_s41.md)
- [25 U.S.C. § 42 Repealed. Pub. L. 89–554, § 8(a) , Sept. 6, 1966 , 80 Stat. 632](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t25_s42.md)
- [25 U.S.C. § 43 Persons paid for other services not paid for interpreting](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t25_s43.md)
- [25 U.S.C. § 47 Employment of Indian labor and purchase of products of Indian industry; participation in Mentor-Protege Program](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t25_s47.md)
- [25 U.S.C. § 50 Repealed. Pub. L. 88–448, title IV, § 402(a)(2) , Aug. 19, 1964 , 78 Stat. 492](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t25_s50.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t25_s396b. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.