Three changes in the Federal regulations governing the leasing of Indian lands for development of minerals other than oil and gas were announced today by Commissioner of Indian Affairs Glenn L. Emmons.
One change, involving the acreage of Indian land which may be leased to any one operator in a single State for development of uranium and associated minerals, removes the previous limitation of 960 acres and permits leasing for such purposes without acreage limitation.
Another modification fixes the annual rental under all mineral leases (except oil and gas) at a flat rate of one dollar per acre per year unless otherwise authorized by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. This represents an increase in rental since the former regulations provided generally for a sliding scale of 25 cents per acre the first year, 50 cents the second and third years, and one dollar thereafter.
The third amendment affects the development expenditures to be required in leases covering coal or uranium and associated minerals. Under the former regulations the minimum required was an amount which, with the annual rental, would add up to $100 for each 160 acres or fraction thereof. The new regulations require development expenditures which, with the annual rental, will amount to not less than $10 for every acre under lease.
