Current through September 2, 2024
Section 20.03.15.075 - ASSIGNMENTS01.Prior Written Approval. In order for Lessee to effect an assignment, Lessee must, prior to the consummation of an effective sale, transfer or assignment of the lease between Lessee and its proposed assignee, provide to the Department certain information about the proposed assignment, including identification of the proposed assignee and general terms of the proposed assignment on assignment application forms provided by the Department. Any proposed total or partial assignment of a lease must be preapproved in writing by the Department prior to any proposed sale, transfer or assignment of the lease is consummated between Lessee and the proposed assignee. Approval will not be unreasonably withheld. Following the Department's written preapproval of the proposed assignee and general terms of the proposed assignment, Lessee and assignee may consummate any such sale, transfer or assignment of Lessee's leasehold interest in the lease. The consummation of any assignment agreement by the Lessee without the Department's prior written preapproval constitutes a default of the lease, and such sale, transfer or assignment may be rejected in the Department's sole discretion; and, such assignment will only be effective if the default is expressly waived in writing by the Department. In order for an assignment of Lessee's interest in the lease to be acceptable for approval by the Department, the consummated sale, transfer or assignment must include provisions wherein Lessee has sold, transferred or assigned to the assignee any and all interest that Lessee has in the lease together with any and all interest Lessee has in any and all improvements located upon the leased premises, and assignee must assume all liabilities of Lessee under the lease together with ownership of all improvements owned by Lessee. An assignment between Lessee and its assignee will only take effect following the Department's final written approval of the assignment following receipt of copies of the final, consummated sale, transfer or assignment agreement between Lessee and assignee.02.Full or Partial. A lease may be assigned as to all or part of the acreage included therein to any person qualified to hold a state lease, provided that neither the assigned nor the retained part created by the assignment contains less than forty (40) acres. No undivided interest in a lease of less than ten percent (10%) may be created by assignment.03.Overriding Royalty Disclosure. Overriding royalty interests created by an assignment are subject to the requirements in Section 080 of these rules.04.Responsibility. In an assignment of a partial or complete interest in all of the lands in a lease, the assignor and its surety continue to be responsible for performance of any and all obligations under the lease until such time as the Department, in writing, releases Lessee and its surety from obligations arising under the lease after the Department accepts any such assignment and provides a release of any or all obligations in writing. After the effective date of any assignment, the assignee and its surety will be bound by the terms of the lease to the same extent as if the assignee were the original Lessee, any conditions in the assignment to the contrary notwithstanding.05.Segregation of Assignment. An assignment of all or any portion of Lessee's record title of the complete interest in a portion of the lands in a lease must clearly identify and segregate the assigned and retained portions. After the effective date, the assignor will be released and discharged from any obligations thereafter accruing with respect to the assigned portion of the leased lands. Such segregated leases continue in full force and effect for the primary term of the original lease or as further extended pursuant to the terms of these rules.06.Joint Principal. Where an assignment does not segregate the record title to the lease, the assignee, if the assignment so provides, may become a joint principal on the bond with the assignor. The application must also be accompanied by a consent of assignor's surety to remain bound under the bond of record, if the bond, by its terms, does not contain such consent. If a party to the assignment has previously furnished a statewide bond, no additional showing by such party is necessary as to the bond requirement.07.Application. The application for approval of an assignment must be on forms approved by the Department.08.Denial. If the Lessee is in default of the lease at the time of a request for assignment approval, the Department may, at its sole discretion, reject any proposed assignment until the lease is brought into full compliance. The approval of an assignment of lease in good standing will not be unreasonably withheld provided such consent of the Department is requested and obtained prior to any assignment.Idaho Admin. Code r. 20.03.15.075