(a) The following entities may hold leases or interests therein:

(1) Citizens of the United States;

(2) Associations (including partnerships and trusts) of such citizens; and

(3) Corporations organized under the laws of the United States or of any state or territory thereof.

(b) Citizens of a foreign country may only hold interest in leases through stock ownership, stock holding, or stock control in such domestic corporations. Foreign citizens may hold stock in United States corporations that hold leases if the Secretary has not determined that laws, customs, or regulations of their country deny similar privileges to citizens or corporations of the United States.

(c) A minor may not hold a lease. A legal guardian or trustee of a minor may hold a lease.

(d) An entity must be in compliance with Section 2(a)(2)(A) of the Act in order to hold a lease. If the BLM erroneously issues a lease to an entity that is in violation of Section 2(a)(2)(A) of the Act, the BLM will void the lease.

Applicants must file with the BLM a statement and evidence that the qualification requirements in this subpart are met. These may be filed separately from the lease application, but must be filed in the same office as the application. After the BLM accepts the applicant's qualifications, any additional information may be provided to the same BLM office by referring to the serial number of the record in which the evidence is filed. All changes to the qualifications statement must be in writing. The evidence provided must be current, accurate, and complete.

The lease application and qualification evidence must be filed in the proper BLM office (see subpart 1821 of part 1820 of this chapter).

Individuals who are applicants must provide to the BLM a signed statement showing:

(a) U.S. citizenship; and

(b) That acreage holdings do not exceed the limits in § 3901.20 of this chapter. This includes holdings through a corporation, association, or partnership in which the individual is the beneficial owner of more than 10 percent of the stock or other instruments of control.

Associations that are applicants must provide to the BLM:

(a) A signed statement that:

(1) Lists the names, addresses, and citizenship of all members of the association who own or control 10 percent or more of the association or partnership, and certifies that the statement is true;

(2) Lists the names of the members authorized to act on behalf of the association; and

(3) Certifies that the association or partnership's acreage holdings and those of any member under paragraph (a)(1) of this section do not exceed the acreage limits in § 3901.20 of this chapter; and

(b) A copy of the articles of association or the partnership agreement.

Corporate officers or authorized attorneys-in-fact who represent applicants must provide to the BLM a signed statement that:

(a) Names the state or territory of incorporation;

(b) Lists the name and citizenship of, and percentage of stock owned, held, or controlled by, any stockholder owning, holding, or controlling more than 10 percent of the stock of the corporation, and certifies that the statement is true;

(c) Lists the names of the officers authorized to act on behalf of the corporation; and

(d) Certifies that the corporation's acreage holdings, and those of any stockholder identified under paragraph (b) of this section, do not exceed the acreage limits in § 3901.20 of this chapter.

Guardians or trustees for a trust, holding on behalf of a beneficiary, who are applicants must provide to the BLM:

(a) A signed statement that:

(1) Provides the beneficiary's citizenship;

(2) Provides the guardian's or trustee's citizenship;

(3) Provides the grantor's citizenship, if the trust is revocable; and

(4) Certifies the acreage holdings of the beneficiary, the guardian, trustee, or grantor, if the trust is revocable, do not exceed the aggregate acreage limitations in § 3901.20 of this chapter; and

(b) A copy of the court order or other document authorizing or creating the trust or guardianship.

If an applicant or successful bidder for a lease dies before the lease is issued:

(a) The BLM will issue the lease to the heirs or devisees, or their guardian, if probate of the estate has been completed or is not required. Before the BLM will recognize the heirs or devisees or their guardian as the record title holders of the lease, they must provide to the proper BLM office:

(1) A certified copy of the will or decree of distribution, or if no will or decree exists, a statement signed by the heirs that they are the only heirs and citing the provisions of the law of the deceased's last domicile showing that no probate is required; and

(2) A statement signed by each of the heirs or devisees with reference to citizenship and holdings as required by § 3902.23 of this chapter. If the heir or devisee is a minor, the guardian or trustee must sign the statement; and

(b) The BLM will issue the lease to the executor or administrator of the estate if probate is required, but is not completed. In this case, the BLM considers the executor or administrator to be the record title holder of the lease. Before the BLM will issue the lease to the executor or administrator, the executor or administrator must provide to the proper BLM office:

(1) Evidence that the person who, as executor or administrator, submits lease and bond forms has authority to act in that capacity and to sign those forms;

(2) A certified list of the heirs or devisees of the deceased; and

(3) A statement signed by each heir or devisee concerning citizenship and holdings, as required by § 3902.23 of this chapter.

Attorneys-in-fact must provide to the proper BLM office evidence of the authority to act on behalf of the applicant and a statement of the applicant's qualifications and acreage holdings if it is also empowered to make this statement. Otherwise, the applicant must provide the BLM this information separately.

If there is more than one party in interest in an application for a lease, include with the application the names of all other parties who hold or will hold any interest in the application or in the lease. All interested parties who wish to hold an interest in a lease must provide to the BLM the information required by this subpart to qualify to hold a lease interest.