Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 46 Part 1.djvu/1568

 SEVENTY-FIRST CONGRESS. SESS. III. Ca. 506. 1931 . 1525 from combining their several interests so far as may be necessary Combinations for re- for the purposes of constructing and carrying on the business of a fineries, pipe lines, etc, refinery, or of establishing and constructing as a common carrier a pipe line or lines of railroads to be operated and used by them jointly in the transportation of oil from their several wells, or from the wells of other lessees under this Act, or the transportation of coal or to increase the acreage which may be acquired or held under section 17 of this Act : Provided further, That any combination for App roval necess ary. such p urpos e or purpos es sh all be subject to the appro val o f the Secretary of the Interior on application to him for permission to form the same : And provided further, That for the purpose of more Collective operation o f sin gle field auth or- properly conserving the natural resources of any single oil or gas ized. pool or field, permittees and lessees thereof and their representatives may unite with each other or jointly or separately with others in collecti vely ado pting an d operat ing unde r a coope rative o r unit p lan of development or operation of said pool or field, whenever deter- mined an d certif ied by t he Secre tary of the Inter ior to b e necess ary pub lic w hen necessary in interest, etc. or advisable in the public interest, and the Secretary of the Interior is thereunto authorized in his discretion, with the consent of the Drilling, producing holders of leases or permits involved, to establish, alter, change, or and royalty require- ments. revoke drilling, producing, and royalty requirements of such leases or permits, and to make such regulations with reference to such leases and permits with like consent on the part of the lessee or lessees and permittees in connection with the institution and operation of any such c ooper ative or unit plan as he may deem necessary or p roper to secure the proper protection of such public interest : And provided permit pro of of wholly very if or in further, Tha t whe n any permi t has been deter mined to be whol ly or part within producing in part within the limits of a producing oil or gas field which permit has been included, with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, in a unit operating agreement or other plan under this Act the Sec- retary of the Interior may issue a lease for the area of the permit so included in said plan without further proof of discovery : Provided ingetc l contractp erat- further, Tha t the Se cretary of the I nterior is hereb y author ized, on such conditions as he may prescribe, to approve operating, drilling or development contracts made by one or more permittees or lessees in oil or gas le ases or permits, with one or mor e persons, associ ations, or corporations, whenever in his discretion and regardless of acreage limitations, provided for in this Act, the conservation of natural products or the public convenience or necessity may require it or the interests of the United States may be best subserved thereby : And su b- provi ded That except as herein if any of the lands Forfeiture fo r further, provided, y leasing, etc ., to combi- or deposits leased under the provisions of this Act shall be sub- nations in restraint of leased, trusteed, possessed, or controlled by any device permanently, tra de. tempora rily, di rectly, indirect ly, taci tly, or in any m anner wh atso- ever, so that they form a part of or are in anywise controlled by any combination in the form of an unlawful trust, with consent of lessee, or form the subject of any contract or conspiracy in restraint of trade in the mining or selling of coal, phosphate, oil, oil shale, gas, or sodium entered into by the lessee, or any agreement or understand- ing, written, verbal, or otherwise, to which such lessee shall be a party, of which his or its output is to be or become the subject, to control the price or prices thereof or of any holding of such lands by any individu al, part nership, associa tion, co rporatio n, or co ntrol in excess of the amounts of lands provided in this Act, the lease thereof shall be forfeited by appropriate court proceedings : And provided further, That nothing in th is Act shall be construed as Naval Petroleum Re- affecting existing leases within the borders of the Naval Petroleum fected, leases not af- Reserves or agreements concerning operations thereunder or in rela- tion to the same, but the Secretary of the Navy is hereby authorized,

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