Before any lessee of minerals shall commence development or operations upon the lands, such lessee shall execute and file with the commissioner a good and sufficient bond or undertaking in an amount to be fixed by the said commissioner, but not less than five thousand dollars ($5,000), in favor of the state of New Mexico, for the benefit of any surface lessee, patentee or contract purchaser, to secure the payment for such damage to the livestock, water, crops or other tangible improvements on such lands as may be suffered by reason of development, use and occupation of such lands by the said mining lessee. Provided in lieu thereof any lessee owning one or more mining leases may file a blanket bond in an amount to be fixed by the commissioner, but not less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), covering all leases then owned or thereafter acquired by him.

Provided, further, that if any such surface lessee, patentee or contract purchaser shall file with the commissioner a waiver duly executed and acknowledged by him of his right to require such bond, such development, occupation and use of the lands by a mineral lessee may be permitted without the bond herein required.

In addition, lessee may be required to furnish a bond in a reasonable amount to be set by the commissioner to guarantee payment of royalties to become due under the lease.

History: 1953 Comp., § 7-9-25, enacted by Laws 1955, ch. 53, § 9; 1957, ch. 42, § 1.

Cross references. — For bond required of mineral lessee of lands sold on deferred payment plan with reservation of minerals, see 19-10-26 NMSA 1978.

For bond filed by person leasing state lands for geothermal resource development, see 19-13-18 NMSA 1978.