| Show mining regulations in in russia recently adopted and promulgated previous to the breaking out of the european war much attention was being given by american metal mining and oil developing interests to russian fields of opportunity since the close of the war and during the reconstruction period in russia many inquiries have been made concerning the status of affairs in russia with respect to the soviet re regulations b pertaining to mining and prospecting in that country by outsiders in order that readers of the mining review may learn what present day regulations are th the t following article on the subject taken from the russian review a washington 6 D C publication representing the russian information bureau is reproduced reproduce dy as follows the union central executive committee issued a lengthy and detailed decree on july 13 published in Is vestia on july 20 determining the rights of possession in and of working 6 the mineral ini resources of the whole of the union this decree supersedes that of april aar ia 30 1920 1926 hitherto the mining legislation of the republic has not been sufficiently clear or complete with the result that the exploitation of the mineral wealth of the country has not lot proceeded in an ordeal orderly y and businesslike business like manner the new decree puts an end to this state of affairs and provides for or definite rules to govern prospecting b for minerals as well as their exploitation at the same time it i t reaffirms the principle that all land and the wealth contained therein is is the exclusive property of the people all matters in connection with prospecting and the working up of minerals is in the hands of the chief mining industries board of the fhe union supreme economic council below we give a ull full summary sum mary of this important decree general paragraphs 15 1 5 all the sources of mineral wealth in the territory of the union are the exclusive property of the union of so soviet republics Ru publics the right to work these properties mayy lay however be granted on bertain ler certain tain conditions to rusan lian citizens and organizations this right may also be ranted granted to foreign citizens and organizations t but only with he e consent of tte the union council of peoples commissaries Commis saries ln each individual case all H matters relating to mineral wealth solid I 1 liquid or gaseous to plans for the developments development of all branches of the mining industries and to the granting of permits to prospect for or work up minerals are the exclusive pre dative of the chief mining board of the supreme eco niec council of the unon the supreme economic council of bf the union will CO operate okra te in this matter with the union commissariats C for military and naval affairs and for transport and with the local commissariats for agriculture home affairs and health of the republic in which the territory in question is situated these bodies acting in agreement will determine 1 within what areas the working of minerals is wholly or partially prohibited in respect to certain minerals or at all 2 in what areas the working of minerals is to be permitted under certain restrictions 3 what areas or what kind of areas are not to be exploited for mining purposes or may maybe be exploited only in exceptional circumstances cum stances exceptions may be made to the application of the general propositions of the present decree but only with respect to such areas as are not already worked or under investigation and only on the authority of the union supreme economic council prospecting paragraphs 6 12 prospecting b for minerals including the collection of specimens geological magnetic electric and other forms of investigation not involving digging may be indulged in by anyone without special perin permits its certain districts may however be proclaimed prohibited areas by the union supreme economic council in conjunction with the commissariats above mentioned prospecting which is accompanied by actual land operations digging guing di ibb trenching drenching tren ching and tunneling may only be carried out by agreement with those using the land or by special permit mit of the local departments of the chief mining board jn in the case of soviet farms or holdings such prospecting is permitted by agreement with those using the land and with the corresponding land departments any person who has discovered evidence of the existence of a useful mineral and has given notice of his discovery within a month of having t made it to the chief mining industries Indu tries board of the union supreme economic econom ic council will be recognized as I 1 the discoverer and will be granted the exclusive right within the given area to carry on research as to to quality and utility of the particular mineral and the possibility of working it in the absence of a known discoverer this right will be granted to the person who is first to declare the existence of the mineral lists of such declarations shall be kept by the local departments of the chief mining industries ind board these may be inspected on request the right to prospect act for oil and mineral wealth will also furnishing geological geo logical or other proofs to be granted to persons per tn show that their existence is is pro probable bable in a given area different individuals may be empowered pondered em poNy ered to carlyon carryon carry on re for different minerals pro providing viding their bifid search on the same a area rea work does not clash the period granted for research will be anything up to five years allotment holders paragraphs 1318 13 18 on tile the comile completion tion of prospecting when it is proved that a mineral in a 6 given iven area is is worth working b the individual who has carried out the prospecting may be granted not more than four of the areas set aside for allotment for the purpose of working the mineral each of these areas is the minimum that can be conveniently worked as a single holding at the san sanie same ie time lie he will be granted the necessary subsidiary land for working up tip the mineral for housing the workers employed etc more than one mineral may be worked on tile the same allotment providing the one does not with the other disputes and misunderstandings on this score are settled by local departments of the chief mining industries board tile the assignation of allotments is carried out by these local departments in accordance with instructions drawn up jointly by the union supreme economic Couf council icil and the commissariat for agriculture of the republic in question in certain cases fully enumerated in the decree the national commissariats and executive committees of the republics and railway administrations and other bodies may proceed with such operations as hydro technical works or the construction of railway lines which necessitate the getting of clays sand and marble building material etc without the sanction of the chief mining industries board of the union supreme economic council allotments paragraphs 1930 19 30 the holder is empowered to work all the deposits of the mineral for which he holds a permit on his allotment as well as ther other minerals to be found in the same saine deposits in addition lie he may obtain and use all other widely distributed minerals and building materials on his allotment which are necessary for mining and the works connected with it in so far as the right to work these has not been gra granted anted to any other individual the holder of an allotment may assign it for exploitation to another individual empowered to carry on mining operations but only with the written consent of the chief minin mining 6 industries dus tries board should a holder not exploit his holdings when it is economically no possible and in the public interest to do so he may be called upon to do so in case of refusal the holding may be sold by auction to anyone who guarantees to work it no compensation will be given to the former holder when a holding has been duly exploited and work is ended the land reverts to the government mineral deposits not requiring further prospecting and research are handed over to the administration of the chief mining industries board but may be leased by them in accordance with the present decree state enterprises private individuals vi or companies not engaged in exporting mineral resources which have not yet made an agreement with the chief mining b industries board must conclude such an a agreement 9 reeni ent within a period to be fixed by the union supreme economic council the holder of a mining allotment must recompense the exporters of the land surface for all losses to the latter that result from his mining operations at the same time the exploiter p loiter of the land surface must not on pain of losing such recompense make any new buildings on or in any other way alter the holding without the consent of the holder of the mining rights should a state or public building be erected including a railway or canal etc on a mining allotment the holder 0 of f the latter will be recompensed tided for any losses occasioned thereby the holder of a mining allotment will be given every possible facility for the erection of surface buildings and der ground workings in neighboring allotments if required uti for the proper operation of his mining b works providing such constructions do not interfere unduly with the mining operations of the other allotments dues for mining paragraphs 31 34 in addition to the ordinary industrial or other taxes the exploiter of a mining holding will pay two further taxes I 1 DO 50 gold kepecs annually per dessi atin 27 acres of the holding 2 up tip to 5 per cent of the value of the products obtained the exact amount being b fixed by the chief alini n g industries board the exporter ex of a mining holding held on oil lease from the chief lk mining lining board of the union supreme economic council will pay in addition to the rent to be fixed in each case by the chief mining industries board one gold rouble annually per dessi atin or part of a dessi atin in the holding the union supreme economic council is empowered to make exceptions regarding 6 b the rent and dues per dessi atin to be paid by certain efterp enterprises rises and in the case of certain certa iii minerals regulations instructions and decisions regarding the application of this decree in special cases will be issued by the binion supreme economic econom bic council and chief mining industries board in conjunction with the departments responsible for the industries affected |
