---
kind: "section"
citation: "25 C.F.R. § 226.16"
title: "25"
number: "226.16"
heading: "Commencement of operations."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/25/226.16"
---

# §226.16. Commencement of operations.

- (a) No operations shall be permitted upon any tract of land until a lease covering such tract shall have been approved by the Superintendent: Provided, That the Superintendent may grant authority to any party under such rules, consistent with the regulations in this part that he deems proper, to conduct geophysical and geological exploration work.
- (b) Lessee shall submit applications on forms to be furnished by the Superintendent and secure his approval before:
  - (1) **Well drilling, treating, or workover operations are started on the leased premises.**
  - (2) **Removing casing from any well.**
- (c) Lessee shall notify the Superintendent a reasonable time in advance of starting work, of intention to drill, redrill, deepen, plug, or abandon a well.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: Sec. 3, 34 Stat. 543; secs. 1, 2, 45 Stat. 1478; sec. 3, 52 Stat. 1034, 1035; sec. 2(a), 92 Stat. 1660; and Sec. 701, Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 599.

### Source

Source: 81 FR 39573, June 17, 2016, unless otherwise noted.