North Dakota § 38-18-03 Purpose and interpretation

North Dakota Statutes

§ 38-18-03 — Purpose and interpretation

North Dakota § 38-18-03

Title 38Mining and Gas and Oil Production

Ch. 38-18Surface Owner Protection Act

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Bluebook

N.D. Cent. Code § 38-18-03 (2026).

Text

It is the purpose of this chapter to provide the maximum amount of constitutionally
permissible protection to surface owners from the undesirable effects of development, without
their consent, of minerals underlying their surface. This chapter is to be interpreted in light of the
legislative intent expressed herein. The provisions of this chapter shall be interpreted to benefit
surface owners, regardless of how the mineral estate was separated from the surface estate
and regardless of who executed the document which gave the mineral developer the right to
conduct mining operations on the land.

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It is the purpose of this chapter to provide the maximum amount of constitutionally
permissible protection to surface owners from the undesirable effects of development, without
their consent, of minerals underlying their surface. This chapter is to be interpreted in light of the
legislative intent expressed herein. The provisions of this chapter shall be interpreted to benefit
surface owners, regardless of how the mineral estate was separated from the surface estate
and regardless of who executed the document which gave the mineral developer the right to
conduct mining operations on the land.