Authority: IC 14-38-1-19

Affected: IC 14-38-1-14

Sec. 6. (a) The commission may, through a publication under subsection (c), offer any public lands for exploration or production.

(b) A person who wishes to prospect and explore public lands, or to obtain a lease of public lands for production purposes, must make a written application to the division at its offices in Indianapolis. The application shall set forth the description of the lands and, if the application is for the purpose of exploration, describe the nature of the exploratory work contemplated.

(c) Upon receipt of an application under subsection (b), the commission may do either of the following:

1. (1) Return the application with the statement that the lands described are not available for exploration or production.
2. (2) If the lands are considered available, the commission shall publish a notice in at least one (1) newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the land lies, or if no newspaper is published in the county, in a newspaper in an adjoining county. Notice in writing shall also be given to at least ten (10) operators in the state. A notice under this subdivision shall be made at least ten (10) days before the deadline for receiving bids. The notice shall describe the public lands to be offered for exploration or production, any special terms and conditions, and the time and place that bids will be opened. A person desiring to receive notices under this subdivision may do so by filing a request with the division director setting forth the year covered by the request.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 17-1-6; filed Feb 23, 1998, 11:30 a.m.: 21 IR 2347; readopted filed Nov 17, 2004, 11:00 a.m.: 28 IR 1315; readopted filed Mar 25, 2010, 2:59 p.m.: 20100421-IR-312100038RFA; readopted filed Sep 30, 2015, 12:13 p.m.: 20151028-IR-312150224RFA; readopted filed May 19, 2021, 4:17 p.m.: 20210616-IR-312210111RFA; readopted filed Mar 25, 2025, 9:50 a.m.: 20250423-IR-312240574RFA)