What is the requirement for a surface owner to claim abandoned mineral rights under Ohio's Dormant Mineral Act?

To claim abandoned mineral rights under Ohio's Dormant Mineral Act, the surface owner must first provide proper notice and submit an affidavit of abandonment. This process is designed to ensure that mineral rights that have been inactive for a long period can be reclaimed by the surface owner, who might be impacted by the lack of oversight of those rights.

The requirement for notice serves to inform the holders of the mineral rights that their rights may be subject to abandonment due to inactivity, allowing them an opportunity to respond or reassert their claim. The affidavit of abandonment further formalizes the claim, documenting the surface owner's intent to reclaim the mineral rights and confirming that the conditions of abandonment have been met according to the stipulations of the law.

In contrast, other options like payment of tax and filing a deed, public auction and filing for mineral ownership, or needing legal representation and posting a bond do not accurately reflect the specific procedural requirements outlined in the Dormant Mineral Act for reclaiming abandoned mineral rights. These routes involve different procedures that are not relevant to the act's guidelines on handling dormant rights.