[¶ 1] Michael Sorenson appeals from a judgment quieting title to certain mineral interests in Ken Alinder, Robert Alinder, and Sharon Dragland, the children of Russell and Edna Alinder. Because the district court erred in applying N.D.C.C. § 38-18.1-06, we reverse and remand for entry of an order quieting title to the mineral interests in Sorenson.
I
[¶ 2] Sorenson is the surface owner of certain real property located in Mountrail County. In 2008, Sorenson sued to quiet title in the mineral interests. Sorenson claimed the mineral interests of Russell and Edna Alinder had lapsed under N.D.C.C. ch. 38-18.1, which governs termination of abandoned mineral interests and permits a surface owner to reclaim the mineral interests after 20 years of non-use by the mineral owner. Russell and Edna Alinder had acquired their mineral interest in the real property in a mineral deed recorded in November 1953. Because more than 50 years had passed without the Alinders having used these minerals, Sor-enson published notice of the lapse of the minerals in January 2007. Sorenson also mailed the notice of lapse to Russell and Edna Alinder at their address of record in Buffalo, North Dakota, within ten days after the last publication. Russell Alinder had died in 1980, and Edna Alinder had died in 1999.
[¶ 3] In May 2008, the Alindere’ children — Ken Alinder, Robert Alinder, and Sharon Dragland — filed statements of claim to the mineral interests. Sorenson then brought this quiet title action to clear title to the mineral interests. The Alinder children counterclaimed to quiet title to the minerals in their names. After a bench trial, the district court concluded that Sorenson’s abandoned mineral interest claim failed because he failed to strictly comply with statutory requirements to claim ownership of the mineral interests. The court held Sorenson had failed to conduct a “reasonable inquiry” to locate the addresses of the Alindere and their successors in interest before mailing a required statutory notice.
II
[¶ 4] The dispositive issue on appeal is whether the district court erred in
[¶ 5] “The interpretation and application of a statute is a question of law, which is fully reviewable on appeal.” Halvorson v. Starr,
The publication provided for in subsection 1 must be made once each week for three weeks in the official county newspaper of the county in which the mineral interest is located; however, if the address of the mineral interest owner is shown of record or can he determined upon reasonable inquiry, notice must also be made by mailing a copy of the notice to the owner of the mineral interest within ten days after the last publication is made.
(Emphasis added.)
[¶ 6] In Sorenson v. Felton,
[¶ 7] We therefore conclude the district court erred as a matter of law, and we reverse the court’s judgment. Because of our disposition, we need not address the remaining issues raised by Sorenson on appeal.
Ill
[¶ 8] The district court judgment is reversed and remanded for entry of an order quieting title to the mineral interests in Sorenson.