Limitations on leases held, owned or controlled by persons, associations or corporations

No person, association, or corporation, or any subsidiary, affiliate, or persons controlled by or under common control with such person, association, or corporation shall take, hold, own or control at one time, whether acquired directly from the Secretary under this chapter or otherwise, coal leases or permits on an aggregate of more than 75,000 acres in any one State and in no case greater than an aggregate of 150,000 acres in the United States: Provided , That any person, association, or corporation currently holding, owning, or controlling more than an aggregate of 150,000 acres in the United States on the date of enactment of this section shall not be required on account of this section to relinquish said leases or permits: Provided, further , That in no case shall such person, association, or corporation be permitted to take, hold, own, or control any further Federal coal leases or permits until such time as their holdings, ownership, or control of Federal leases or permits has been reduced below an aggregate of 150,000 acres within the United States.

( Feb. 25, 1920, ch. 85, § 27 , 41 Stat. 448 ; Apr. 30, 1926, ch. 197 , 44 Stat. 373 ; July 3, 1930, ch. 854, § 1 , 46 Stat. 1007 ; Mar. 4, 1931, ch. 506 , 46 Stat. 1524 ; Aug. 8, 1946, ch. 916, § 6 , 60 Stat. 954 ; June 1, 1948, ch. 365 , 62 Stat. 285 ; June 3, 1948, ch. 379, § 6 , 62 Stat. 291 ; Aug. 2, 1954, ch. 650 , 68 Stat. 648 ; Pub. L. 85–122 , Aug. 13, 1957 , 71 Stat. 341 ; Pub. L. 85–698 , Aug. 21, 1958 , 72 Stat. 688 ; Pub. L. 86–294, § 1 , Sept. 21, 1959 , 73 Stat. 571 ; Pub. L. 86–391, § 1(c) , Mar. 18, 1960 , 74 Stat. 8 ; Pub. L. 86–705, § 3 , Sept. 2, 1960 , 74 Stat. 785 ; Pub. L. 88–526, § 1 , Aug. 31, 1964 , 78 Stat. 710 ; Pub. L. 88–548 , Aug. 31, 1964 , 78 Stat. 754 ; Pub. L. 94–377 , §§ 11, 15, Aug. 4, 1976 , 90 Stat. 1090 , 1091; Pub. L. 97–78, § 1(2) , (5), Nov. 16, 1981 , 95 Stat. 1070 ; Pub. L. 106–191, § 2 , Apr. 28, 2000 , 114 Stat. 232 ; Pub. L. 106–463, § 3 , Nov. 7, 2000 , 114 Stat. 2011 ; Pub. L. 109–58, title III, § 352 , Aug. 8, 2005 , 119 Stat. 714 .)