IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT __________________________ No. 01-31176 __________________________

STEVE H. CROOKS; ERA LEA CROOKS; THURSTON M. BEADLE, Plaintiffs-Appellants, versus PLACID OIL CO.; LOUISIANA HUNT PETROLEUM CORP.; HUNT PETROLEUM CORP.; GALE NORTON, Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Defendants-Appellees.

_______________________________________________ Appeal from the United States District Court For the Western District of Louisiana (No. 00-CV-1324) ___________________________________________________ September 9, 2002 Before REAVLEY, BARKSDALE, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:* After carefully reviewing the record and the briefs, we affirm for essentially the reasons given by the district court.

* Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the Court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.