Show Mining Claims on DIM Lands Contested The first in a series of contests has been initiated by the Bureau of Land Management State Director for Utah t tT determine the validity of mining claims on oil shale lands in Uintah County TH TIE THE E FIRST Utah oil sh shale le area contest contest con con- test United States vs Merle I I. I fel et al ai was initiated September 25 1972 and involves 76 placer mining claims on lands proposed for a prototype oil shale leasing program Mr headquarters are in Shawnee Oklahoma Okla Okla- homa Oil shale lands have been withdrawn from all forms of mining claim location location location loca loca- tion since January 27 1967 and any claims located after January 27 1967 arc are null and void according to Robert RobertD D D. D Nielson State Director for Utah ANY PROSPECTING work or assessment assessment assess assess- ment w work rk done on invalid claims on withdrawn lands is a trespass action against the United States and persons doing such work are liable for damages he added To be valid claims located prior to January 27 1967 must show a discovery of a valuable mineral deposit Substantial Substantial compliance with assessment work requirements requirements' must have been accomplished accomplished accomplished in a timely manner Mr Nielson said Initiation or resumption of assessment as- as assessment as as- t work on invalid claims cannot cannot can ean- n not t change their invalid status and is generally destructive of surface resources re re- sources |