US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

43 U.S.C. § 142

Rights of occupants or claimants of oil- or gas-bearing lands; exceptions to withdrawals

1

1 See References in Text note below.
And provided further1This section and section 141  of this title shall not be construed as a recognition, abridgment, or enlargement of any asserted rights or claims initiated upon any oil- or gas-bearing lands after any withdrawal of such lands made prior to : , That there shall be excepted from the force and effect of any withdrawal made under the provisions of this section and section 141  of this title all lands which are, on the date of such withdrawal, embraced in any lawful homestead or desert-land entry theretofore made, or upon which any valid settlement has been made and is at said date being maintained and perfected pursuant to law; but the terms of this proviso shall not continue to apply to any particular tract of land unless the entryman or settler shall continue to comply with the law under which the entry or settlement was made.

June 25, 1910, ch. 421, § 236 Stat. 847Aug. 24, 1912, ch. 36937 Stat. 497Pub. L. 94–579, title VII, § 704(a)90 Stat. 2792(, ; , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 141 of this titlePub. L. 94–579, title VII, § 704(a)90 Stat. 2792, referred to in text, was repealed by , , .

Codification

Act , substituted “metalliferous minerals” for “minerals other than coal, oil, gas, and phosphates” in the first clause of this section, and “” for “the passage of this Act” in the second proviso of this section.

act Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 290734 Stat. 1269In the last proviso of this section, “national forest” substituted for “forest reserve”, in view of , , providing that forest reserves should be known as national forests.

section 471 of Title 16The provisions of the last proviso of this section were also classified to , Conservation.

Amendments

Pub. L. 94–5791976— struck out provisions that all lands withdrawn under the act of , be open to exploration, occupation, and purchase under the mineral laws of the United States in respect to minerals other than coal, oil, gas, and phosphates and that no national forest be created or additions thereto made to those created before , in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, or Wyoming, except by Act of Congress.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Pub. L. 94–579, title VII, § 704(a)90 Stat. 2792, , , provided that the amendment made by section 704(a) is effective on and after .

Savings Provision

Pub. L. 94–579section 701 of Pub. L. 94–579section 1701 of this titleAmendment by not to be construed as terminating any valid lease, permit, patent, etc., existing on , see , set out as a note under .