NMSA 70-6-3. Acquisition of lands for purposes of underground natural

70-6-3. Acquisition of lands for purposes of underground natural gas storage; lands controlled by public body, executor, administrator, guardian, receiver or trustee. Any natural gas company desiring to make use of a formation or stratum as a reservoir for the underground storage of natural gas shall attempt to acquire by option, lease, conveyance or other negotiated means, such formation or stratum prior to resorting to the exercise of the power of eminent domain as hereinafter granted. Any public body and any executor, administrator, guardian, receiver or trustee shall be authorized to grant to any such natural gas company rights for underground storage of natural gas in lands subject to its or his control in the same manner as provided by law for entering into oil and gas leases, or if any such public body, executor, administrator, guardian, receiver or trustee shall not be specifically authorized by law to make oil and gas leases, then in the manner provided by law for lease by such public body, executor, administrator, guardian, receiver or trustee of interests in land, or if any such public body, executor, administrator, guardian, receiver or trustee shall not be specifically authorized by law to make oil and gas leases or leases for interests in land, then in the manner provided by law for the sale by such public body, executor, administrator, guardian, receiver or trustee of interests in land. History: 1953 Comp., § 65-9-3, enacted by Laws 1963, ch. 139, § 3.