43 U.S.C. § 145 — Sale of lands withdrawn

This section covers lands that were withdrawn — set aside — under sections 141 and 142 of this title for exploratory drilling to find water supplies for irrigation or other purposes, and that have had wells or other permanent improvements built on them at the expense of the United States. If the Secretary of the Interior decides these lands and improvements are no longer needed for the purpose they were withdrawn and improved for, the Secretary may appraise them — set an official value for the land together with its improvements. The Secretary may then sell the land to a United States citizen for no less than that appraised value. The sale happens at public auction, going to the highest bidder. Before the sale, the Secretary must give public notice of the time and place. This notice must be posted on the land itself and published for at least thirty days in a newspaper that regularly circulates in the area near the land.