As used in this subpart, the term:

(a) Prospective record owner means a person who has a contract or other agreement to purchase a tract of land that is in non-Federal ownership with a reservation of minerals in the United States, or a person who is purchasing a tract of land under the provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 or other laws authorizing the conveyance of Federal lands subject to the reservation of a mineral interest.

(b) Known mineral values means mineral rights in lands containing geologic formations that are valuable in the monetary sense for exploring, developing, or producing natural mineral deposits. The presence of such mineral deposits with potential for mineral development may be known because of previous exploration, or may be inferred based on geologic information.

(c) Authorized officer means any employee of the Bureau of Land Management to whom has been delegated the authority to perform the duties described in this part.

(d) Proof of ownership means evidence of title acceptable in local realty practice by attorneys and title examiners and may include a current title attorney's opinon, based on a current abstract of title prepared by a bonded title insurance or title abstract company doing business in the locale where the lands are located.

[44 FR 1342, Jan. 4, 1979, as amended at 51 FR 9657, Mar. 20, 1986; 60 FR 12711, Mar. 8, 1995]