| Show I I 1 I I I Lease I Controversy T To lobe be Resolved Washington Sen Frank E. E Moss Moss' CD Ut D-Ut Ut Thursday introduced intro a bill to resolve a controversy contra contro versy be between wen the Department of f Interior and individuals who claim oil oU and gas leases on lands in Utah recently conveyed to the Navajo Indian tribe The controversy arose because became of land exchanges made for the site sUe of the Glen Canyon dam the Senator said In exchange for land needed for the project other Federal lands were made part of the Navajo Indian reservation reservation reservation reser reser- subject however to valId valId Valid Val id existing rights lights he explained At the time of ena enactment of If this law withdrawing land for forthe forthe forthe the Navajo reservation Utah was repeatedly assured that passage passage pas pas- sage would not attest affect rights of the State of Utah or of its citizens citizens citi zens said Senator Moss The Moss 1 bill proposes to amend Public Law Congress approved Sept 2 1958 by adding after otter valid existing rights the following IncludIng including including ing but not limited to the rights of applicants for mineral leases This would reverse the position tion of the Department of Interior Inter lor which relying solely on tho Act of 19 1958 8 has refused to recognize re reo cognize mineral rights that have been In effect since before es establishment es es- of the Navajo res res- reservation reservation the Senator said |
