Approval of plan of operations (and unit and operating agreements).

§ 3140.4–1 Approval of plan of operations (and unit and operating agreements). (a) The owner of an oil and gas lease, or the owner of a valid claim based on a mineral location shall have such lease or claim converted to a combined hydrocarbon lease when the plan of operations, filed under § 3140.2 of this title, is deemed acceptable and is approved by the authorized officer. (b) The conversion of a lease within a unit of the National Park System shall be approved only with the consent of the Regional Director of the National Park Service in accordance with § 3140.7 of this title. (c) A plan of operations may not be approved in part but may be approved where it contains an appropriately staged plan of exploration and development operations. [47 FR 22478, May 24, 1982, as amended at 55 FR 12351, Apr. 3, 1990]