Sec. 63304.

If the court finds that the material assertions of the complaint are true and that the plaintiffs do own the required interest in the land or mineral rights as joint tenants, tenants in common, co-tenants, or co-parceners, or that the required proportion in interest of such owners consent to the granting of the relief prayed in the complaint, the court shall enter a decree authorizing the plaintiffs to lease for exploring, drilling, mining, and operating the land for mining purposes, except for oil and gas, and to remove the minerals or mineral products from the land and sell or dispose of the minerals or mineral products so as to realize the full value of the minerals or mineral products for the benefit of all entitled parties. The defendants and minority interest holders, whether owner of fee or royalty interests or their lessees, shall participate in their proportionate share of the proceeds derived from the sale of minerals or mineral products produced from the land. If the court finds that a lease of a royalty interest should be granted, the terms and conditions of the lease shall be fixed by the court in its decree, but the royalty payable to the royalty interest shall not be less than 1/10 of the minerals or mineral products or the value of the minerals or mineral products as produced and severed from the land at the point of production. The court shall provide by decree for the disposition by the plaintiffs of the proportionate part of the proceeds from the sale of the defendants' portion of the minerals or mineral products produced and shall provide for the payment and distribution of the proceeds to the defendants as their respective interests may appear, after deduction of the proportionate costs of the proceedings and those other expenses incurred by the plaintiffs that are approved by the court.

History: Add. 1995, Act 57, Imd. Eff. May 24, 1995 Popular Name: Act 451Popular Name: NREPA