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FOREST SERVICE MANUAL
NORTHERN REGION (REGION 1)
MISSOULA, MT
FSM 2800 – MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
CHAPTER 2820 – MINERAL LEASES, PERMITS, AND LICENSES
Supplement No.: 2800-2011-1
Effective Date: August 1, 2011
Duration: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
Approved: JANE L. COTTRELL FOR
LESLIE A. C. WELDON
Regional Forester
Date Approved: 08/01/2011
Posting Instructions: Supplements are numbered consecutively by title and calendar year.
Post by document; remove the entire document and replace it with this supplement. Retain this
transmittal as the first page(s) of this document. The last supplement to this title was 2800-20043 to chapter Zero Code.
New Document
2820
2 Pages
Superseded Document(s) by
Issuance Number and
Effective Date
2800-2003-1 (06/09/2003) chapter 2820
1 Page
Digest: 2822.04c -has been updated to state that the authority related to post lease activity or
actions may be re-delegated to the District Ranger provided they have the expertise to
accomplish the work.
In addition, the supplement removes reference to the responsibilities of the Regional Office,
Recreation, Minerals, Lands, Heritage and Wilderness staff, replacing it with the Centralized
National Operations (CNO), Minerals and Geology Leasing Team in relation leasing procedures
and record keeping. This change was made due to a major organizational change in how
Minerals and Geology operate at the Regional and Washington Office level.
R1 SUPPLEMENT 2800-2011-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 08/01/2011
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSM 2800 – MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
CHAPTER 2810 – MINERAL LEASES, PERMITS, AND LICENSES
2822.04c - Forest Supervisors
Forest Supervisors are delegated the authority to sign responses to proposals, forwarded by the
Bureau of Land Management, to issue oil and gas, coal, phosphate, sodium, geothermal, and
potassium leases/licenses/permits for lands under their jurisdiction other than those reserved to
the Chief (2822.04a). Forest Supervisors may also sign all NEPA documentation associated with
these actions. This authority related to post lease activity or actions may be re-delegated to
District Rangers provided they have the necessary expertise to accomplish the work. The
Regional Forester shall give final authorization and transmit oil and gas lease parcels to the
BLM.
The Leasing Team, Centralized National Operations, Minerals and Geology Staff, is the
processing point of contact between the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. All
Bureau of Land Management requests should be submitted to the CNO Leasing Team, and then
forwarded to the Forests. Forests shall send a copy (electronic preferred) of all finalized
consent/recommend/not object responses to the Leasing Team. The CNO maintains the official
Forest Service records for all leasable actions.
2822.31e - Rights to Use of Surface
Associated uses by the Lessee or operator, directly related to the drilling and/or production of an
oil and gas well, should be approved as part of the Surface Use Plan of Operations whether
located on or off lease. These uses would typically involve such things as off lease road access,
crew camps, helispot, flowlines, for example. Uses by other than the lessee or operator, must be
authorized through the issuance of a Special Use Permit or other means of authorization.