The objective of this subpart is to provide an application process through which the Department may consider holding lease sales apart from the competitive leasing process set out in §§3420.3 through 3420.5-2 of this title, where an emergency need for unleased coal deposits is demonstrated, or in areas outside coal production regions or outside eastern activity planning areas.

[44 FR 42615, July 19, 1979, as amended at 47 FR 33141, July 30, 1982]