# 43 U.S.C. § 15: Issuance and signing of patents by Secretary of the Interior; delegation of authority; notice

> Federal · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t43_s15

## Section

- **Citation:** 43 U.S.C. § 15
- **Heading:** Issuance and signing of patents by Secretary of the Interior; delegation of authority; notice
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** April 17, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 43—PUBLIC LANDS > CHAPTER 1—BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

## Text

All patents for public lands shall be issued and signed by the Secretary of the Interior in the name of the United States: Provided , That the Secretary may delegate his authority under this section to officers or employees of the Department of the Interior, but notice of any such delegation shall be given by publication in the Federal Register.

( June 17, 1948, ch. 496, § 1 , 62 Stat. 476 .)

## Nearby sections

- [43 U.S.C. § 2 Duties concerning public lands](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t43_s2.md)
- [43 U.S.C. § 3a Omitted](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t43_s3a.md)
- [43 U.S.C. § 4, 5 Repealed. Pub. L. 89–554, § 8(a) , Sept. 6, 1966 , 80 Stat. 632 , 641](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t43_s4%20_us_usc_t43_s5.md)
- [43 U.S.C. § 8 Omitted](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t43_s8.md)
- [43 U.S.C. § 15 Issuance and signing of patents by Secretary of the Interior; delegation of authority; notice](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t43_s15.md)
- [43 U.S.C. § 16 Engrossing and recording patents](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t43_s16.md)
- [43 U.S.C. § 18 Copies of papers filed](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t43_s18.md)
- [43 U.S.C. § 22 Repealed. July 30, 1947, ch. 354, § 2 , 61 Stat. 522](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t43_s22.md)
- [43 U.S.C. § 23 Repealed. Pub. L. 86–649, title II, § 202(b) , July 14, 1960 , 74 Stat. 507](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t43_s23.md)
- [43 U.S.C. § 25 to 25b Repealed. Oct. 25, 1951, ch. 562, § 1(25) , 65 Stat. 639](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t43_s25...25b.md)
- [43 U.S.C. § 31a Findings and purpose](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t43_s31a.md)
- [43 U.S.C. § 31d Advisory committee](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t43_s31d.md)
- [43 U.S.C. § 31e Geologic mapping program 5-year plan](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t43_s31e.md)
- [43 U.S.C. § 31f National geologic map database](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t43_s31f.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t43_s15. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.
