Submerged Lands Act

The Submerged Lands Act of 1953[2] is a U.S. federal law that recognized the title of the states to submerged navigable lands within their boundaries at the time they entered the Union. They include navigable waterways, such as rivers, as well as marine waters within the state's boundaries, generally three geographical miles (almost exactly 3 nautical miles or 5.6 kilometres) from the coastline.[3]

Submerged Lands Act
Great Seal of the United States
Long titleAn Act to confirm and establish the titles of the States to lands beneath navigable waters within State boundaries and to the natural resources within such lands and waters, to provide for the use and control of said lands and resources, and to confirm the jurisdiction and control of the United States over the natural resources of the seabed of the Continental Shelf seaward of State boundaries.
NicknamesSubmerged Lands Act of 1953
Enacted bythe 83rd United States Congress
EffectiveMay 22, 1953
Citations
Public lawPub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 83–31
Statutes at Large67 Stat. 29
Codification
Titles amended43 U.S.C.: Public Lands
U.S.C. sections created43 U.S.C. ch. 29 § 1301 et seq.
Legislative history
  • Introduced in the House as H.R. 4198[1]
  • Committee consideration by House Judiciary
  • Passed the House on April 1, 1953 (285-108)
  • Passed the Senate on May 5, 1953 (56-35, in lieu of S.J.Res. 13)
  • Signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on May 22, 1953

The Submerged Lands Act of 1953 was immediately followed by the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.[4] Under the latter, the Secretary of the Interior is responsible for the administration of mineral exploration and development of the Outer Continental Shelf (O.C.S.). The Secretary of the Interior is empowered to grant leases to the highest qualified responsible bidder and to formulate regulations as necessary to carry out the provisions of the Act. O.C.S.L.A. provides guidelines for implementing an Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas exploration and development program.[5]

References
  1. "H.R. 4198 - Submerged Lands Act of 1953". Congress.gov. May 22, 1953.
  2. Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 83–31, 67 Stat. 29, enacted May 22, 1953, since codified at 43 U.S.C. § 1301 et seq.
  3. Description of the Submerged Lands Act; Federal Wildlife Laws Handbook (University of New Mexico)
  4. Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 83–212, 67 Stat. 462, enacted August 7, 1953, since codified at 43 U.S.C. § 1331 et seq.
  5. "OCS Lands Act History | Bureau of Ocean Energy Management".


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