Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 112 Part 1.djvu/66

 112 STAT. 40 PUBLIC LAW 105-167—APR. 13, 1998 Apr. 13, 1998 [S. 750] Public Law 105-167 105th Congress An Act Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company. To consolidate certain mineral interests in the National Grasslands in Billings County, North Dakota, through the exchange of Federal and private mineral interests to enhance land management capabilities and environmental and wildlife protection, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. EXCHANGE OF CERTAIN MINERAL INTERESTS IN BIL- LINGS COUNTY, NORTH DAKOTA. (a) PURPOSE. — The purpose of this Act is to direct the consolidation of certain mineral interests in the Little Missouri National Grasslands in Billings County, North Dakota, through the exchange of Federal and private mineral interests in order to enhance land management capability and environmental and wildlife protection. (b) EXCHANGE. — Notwithstanding any other provision of law— (1) if, not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company (referred to in this Act as "Burlington" and formerly known as Meridian Oil Inc.), conveys title acceptable to the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this Act as the "Secretary") to all oil and gas rights and interests on lands identified on the map entitled "Billings County, North Dakota, Consolidated Mineral Exchange—November 1995", by quitclaim deed acceptable to the Secretary, the Secretary shall convey to Burlington, subject to valid existing rights, by quitclaim deed, all Federal oil and gas rights and interests on lands identified on that map; and (2) if Burlington makes the conveyance under paragraph (1) and, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the owners of the remaining non-oil and gas mineral interests on lands identified on that map convey title acceptable to the Secretary to all rights, title, and interests in the interests held by them, by quitclaim deed acceptable to the Secretary, the Secretary shall convey to those owners, subject to valid existing rights, by exchange deed, all remaining Federal nonoil and gas mineral rights, title, and interests in National Forest System lands and National Grasslands identified on that map in the State of North Dakota as are agreed to by the Secretary and the owners of those interests.

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