# 30 U.S.C. § 186: Reservation of easements or rights-of-way for working purposes; reservation of right to dispose of surface of lands; determination before offering of lease; easement periods

> Federal · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t30_s186

## Section

- **Citation:** 30 U.S.C. § 186
- **Heading:** Reservation of easements or rights-of-way for working purposes; reservation of right to dispose of surface of lands; determination before offering of lease; easement periods
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** April 17, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 30—MINERAL LANDS AND MINING > CHAPTER 3A—LEASES AND PROSPECTING PERMITS > SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS

## Text

Any permit, lease, occupation, or use permitted under this chapter shall reserve to the Secretary of the Interior the right to permit upon such terms as he may determine to be just, for joint or several use, such easements or rights-of-way, including easements in tunnels upon, through, or in the lands leased, occupied, or used as may be necessary or appropriate to the working of the same, or of other lands containing the deposits described in this chapter, and the treatment and shipment of the products thereof by or under authority of the Government, its lessees, or permittees, and for other public purposes. The Secretary of the Interior, in his discretion, in making any lease under this chapter, may reserve to the United States the right to lease, sell, or otherwise dispose of the surface of the lands embraced within such lease under existing law or laws hereafter enacted, insofar as said surface is not necessary for use of the lessee in extracting and removing the deposits therein. If such reservation is made it shall be so determined before the offering of such lease. The said Secretary, during the life of the lease, is authorized to issue such permits for easements herein provided to be reserved.

( Feb. 25, 1920, ch. 85, § 29 , 41 Stat. 449 .)

## Nearby sections

- [30 U.S.C. § 181 Lands subject to disposition; persons entitled to benefits; reciprocal privileges; helium rights reserved](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t30_s181.md)
- [30 U.S.C. § 182 Lands disposed of with reservation of deposits of coal, etc.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t30_s182.md)
- [30 U.S.C. § 183 Cancellation of prospecting permits](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t30_s183.md)
- [30 U.S.C. § 184 Limitations on leases held, owned or controlled by persons, associations or corporations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t30_s184.md)
- [30 U.S.C. § 184a Authorization of States to include in agreements for conservation of oil and gas resources lands acquired from United States](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t30_s184a.md)
- [30 U.S.C. § 185 Rights-of-way for pipelines through Federal lands](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t30_s185.md)
- [30 U.S.C. § 186 Reservation of easements or rights-of-way for working purposes; reservation of right to dispose of surface of lands; determination before offering of lease; easement periods](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t30_s186.md)
- [30 U.S.C. § 187 Assignment or subletting of leases; relinquishment of rights under leases; conditions in leases for protection of diverse interests in operation of mines, wells, etc.; State laws not impaired](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t30_s187.md)
- [30 U.S.C. § 187a Oil or gas leases; partial assignments](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t30_s187a.md)
- [30 U.S.C. § 187b Oil or gas leases; written relinquishment of rights; release of obligations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t30_s187b.md)
- [30 U.S.C. § 188 Failure to comply with provisions of lease](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t30_s188.md)
- [30 U.S.C. § 188a Surrender of leases](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t30_s188a.md)
- [30 U.S.C. § 189 Rules and regulations; boundary lines; State rights unaffected; taxation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t30_s189.md)
- [30 U.S.C. § 190 Oath; requirement; form; blanks](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t30_s190.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t30_s186. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.