An 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, and to provide for the use and control of said lands and resources and the resources of
PL 83-31 (H.R.4198), enacted 05/22/1953

67 
S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 31-MAY 22, 1953 
29 
Public Law 31 
CHAPTER 65 
AN 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. 
May 22, 1953 
[H. R. 4198] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
nited States of America in Congress a 
be cited as the "Submerged Lands Act". 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That this Act may ^submerged Lands 
TITLE I 
DEFINITION 
SEC. 2. When used in this Act— 
(a) The term "lands beneath navigable waters" means— 
(1) all lands within the boundaries of each of the respective 
States which are covered by nontidal waters that were navigable 
under the laws of the United States at the time such State became 
a member of the Union, or acquired sovereignty over such lands 
and waters thereafter, up to the ordinary high water mark as 
heretofore or hereafter modified by accretion, erosion, and 
reliction; 
(2) all lands permanently or periodically covered by tidal 
waters up to but not above the line of mean high tide and seaward 
to a line three geographical miles distant from the coast line of 
each such State and to the boundary line of each such State where 
in any case such boundary as it existed at the time such State 
became a member of the Union, or as heretofore approved by 
Congress, extends seaward (or into the Gulf of Mexico) beyond 
three geographical miles, and 
(3) all filled in, made, or reclaimed lands which formerly were 
lands beneath navigable waters, as hereinabove defined; 
(b) The term "boundaries" includes the seaward boundaries of a 
State or its boundaries in the Gulf of Mexico or any of the Great 
Lakes as they existed at the time such State became a member of the 
Union, or as heretofore approved by the Congress, or as extended or 
confirmed pursuant to section 4 hereof but in no event shall the term 
"boundaries" or the term "lands beneath navigable waters" be inter-
preted as extending from the coast line more than three geographical 
miles into the Atlantic Ocean or the Pacific Ocean, or more than three 
marine leagues into the Gulf of Mexico; 
(c) The term "coast line" means the line of ordinary low water 
along that portion of the coast which is in direct contact with the 
open sea and the line marking the seaward limit of inland waters; 
(d) The terms "grantees" and "lessees" include (without limiting 
the generality thereof) all political subdivisions, municipalities, public 
and private corporations, and other persons holding grants or leases 
from a State, or from its predecessor sovereign if legally validated, 
to lands beneath navigable waters if such grants or leases were issued 
in accordance with the constitution, statutes, and decisions of the 
courts of the State in which such lands are situated, or of its prede-
cessor sovereign: Provided^ however^ That nothing herein shall be 
construed as conferring upon said grantees or lessees any greater 
rights or interests other than are described herein and in their respec-
tive grants from the State, or its predecessor sovereign; 
"Lands beneath 
navigable waters." 
"Boundaries." 
"Coast line." 
"Grantees" and 
" l e s s e e s . " 
27000 O - 53 - 5 
30 
PUBLIC LAW 31-MAY 22, 1953 
[67 S T A T . 
" N a t u r a l r« 
sources." 
"Person." 
(e) The term "natural resources" includes, without limiting the 
generality thereof, oil, gas, and all other minerals, and fish, shrimp, 
oysters, clams, crabs, lobsters, sponges, kelp, and other marine animal 
and plant life but does not include water power, or the use of water 
for the production of power; 
(f) The term "lands beneath navigable waters" does not include 
the beds of streams in lands now or heretofore constituting a part of 
the public lands of the United States if such streams were not 
meandered in connection with the public survey of such lands under 
the laws of the United States and if the title to the beds of such streams 
was lawfully patented or conveyed by the United States or any State 
to any person; 
(g) The term "State" means any State of the TJnion; 
(h) The term "person" includes, in addition to a natural person, 
an association, a State, a political subdivision of a State, or a private, 
public, or municipal corporation. 
TITLE I I 
Claims of U. S. 
LANDS BENEATH NAVIGABLE WATERS WITHIN STATE BOUNDARIES 
SEC. 3. RIGHTS OF THE STATES.— 
Title and powers. 
(a) It is hereby determined and declared to be in the public inter-
est that (1) title to and ownership of the lands beneath navigable 
waters within the boundaries of the respective States, and the natural 
resources within such lands and waters, and (2) the right and power 
to manage, administer, lease, develop, and use the said lands and 
natural resources all in accordance with applicable State law be, and 
they are hereby, subject to the provisions hereof, recognized, con-
firmed, established, and vested in and assigned to the respective States 
or the persons who were on June 5, 1950, entitled thereto under the 
law of the respective States in which the land is located, and the 
respective grantees, lessees, or successors in interest thereof; 
(b) (1) The United States hereby releases and relinquishes unto said 
States and persons aforesaid, except as otherwise reserved herein, all 
right, title, and interest of the United States, if any it has, in and to 
all said lands, improvements, and natural resources; (2) the United 
States hereby releases and relinquishes all claims of the United States, 
if any it has, for money or damages arising out of any operations of 
said States or persons pursuant to State authority upon or within 
said lands and navigable waters; and (3) the Secretary of the Interior 
or the Secretary of the Navy or the Treasurer of the United States 
shall pay to the respective States or their grantees issuing leases cover-
ing such lands or natural resources all moneys paid thereunder to the 
Secretary of the Interior or to the Secretary of the Navy or to the 
Treasurer of the United States and subject to the control of any of 
them or to the control of the United States on the effective date of this 
Act, except that portion of such moneys which (1) is rec[uired to be 
returned to a lessee; or (2) is deductible as provided by stipulation or 
agreement between the United States and any of said States; 
(c) The rights, powers, and titles hereby recognized, confirmed, 
established, and vested in and assigned to the respective States and 
their grantees are subject to each lease executed by a State, or its 
grantee, which was in force and effect on June 5, 1950, in accordance 
with its terms and provisions and the laws of the State issuing, or 
whose grantee issued, such lease, and such rights, powers, and titles 
are further subject to the rights herein now granted to any person 
holding any such lease to continue to maintain the lease, and to conduct 
operations thereunder, in accordance with its provisions, for the full 
Leases in effect 
on June 5, 1950. 
67 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 31-MAY 22, 1953 
31 
term thereof, and any extensions, renewals, or replacements author-
ized therein, or heretofore authorized by the laws of the State issuing, 
or whose grantee issued such lease: Provided^ however^ That, if oil 
or gas was not being produced from such lease on and before December 
11, 1950, or if the primary term of such lease has expired since 
December 11, 1950, then for a term from the effective date hereof 
equal to the term remaining unexpired on December 11, 1950, under 
the provisions of such lease or any extensions, renewals, or replace-
ments authorized therein, or heretofore authorized by the laws of the 
State issuing, or whose grantee issued, such lease: Provided^ however, 
That within ninety days from the effective date hereof (i) the lessee 
shall pay to the State or its grantee issuing such lease all rents, 
royalties, and other sums payable between June 5, 1950, and the 
effective date hereof, under such lease and the laws of the State issuing 
or whose grantee issued such lease, except such rents, royalties, and 
other sums as have been paid to the State, its grantee, the Secretary 
of the Interior or the Secretary of the Navy or the Treasurer of the 
United States and not refunded to the lessee; and (ii) the lessee shall 
file with the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of the Navy 
and with the State issuing or whose grantee issued such lease, instru-
ments consenting to the payment by the Secretary of the Interior or 
the Secretary of the Navy or the Treasurer of the United States to 
the State or its grantee issuing the lease, of all rents, royalties, and 
other payments under the control of the Secretary of the Interior or 
the Secretary of the Navy or the Treasurer of the United States or 
the United States which have been paid, under the lease, except such 
rentals, royalties, and other payments as have also been paid by the 
lessee to the State or its grantee; 
(d) Nothing in this Act shall affect the use, development, improve-
ment, or control by or under the constitutional authority of the 
United States of said lands and waters for the purposes of navigation 
or flood control or the production of power, or be construed as the 
release or relinquishment of any rights of the United States arising 
under the constitutional authority of Congress to regulate or improve 
navigation, or to provide for flood control, or the production of power; 
(e) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting or intended 
to affect or in any way interfere with or modify the laws of the States 
which lie wholly or in part westward of the ninety-eighth meridian, 
relating to the ownership and control of ground and surface waters; 
and the control, appropriation, use, and distribution of such waters 
shall continue to be in accordance with the laws of such States. 
SEC, 4. SEAWARD BOUNDARIES.—^The seaward boundary of each 
original coastal State is hereby approved and confirmed as a line 
three geographical miles distant from its coast line or, in the case 
of the Great Lakes, to the international boundary. Any State 
admitted subsequent to the formation of the Union which has not 
already done so may extend its seaward boundaries to a line three 
geographical miles distant from its coast line, or to the international 
boundaries of the United States in the Great Lakes or any other 
body of water traversed by such boundaries. Any claim heretofore 
or hereafter asserted either by constitutional provision, statute, or 
otherwise, indicating the intent of a State so to extend its boundaries 
is hereby approved and confirmed, without prejudice to its claim, if 
any it has, that its boundaries extend beyond that line. 
Nothing 
in this section is to be construed as questioning or in any manner 
prejudicing the existence of any State's seaward boundary beyond 
three geographical miles if it was so provided by its constitution or 
laws prior to or at the time such State became a member of the Union, 
or if it has been heretofore approved by Congress. 
Rights of U. S. 
respecting 
n a v i -
gation, etc. 
Surface w a t e r s 
west of 98th merict 
ian. 
32 
PUBLIC LAW 3l-MAY 22, 1953 
[67 S T A T . 
SEC. 5. EXCEPTIONS FROM OPERATION OF SECTION 3 OF THIS ACT.— 
There is excepted from the operation of section 3 of this Act— 
(a) all tracts or parcels of land together with all accretions 
thereto, resources therein, or improvements thereon, title to which 
has been lawfully and expressly acquired by the United States 
from any State or from any person in whom title had vested 
under the law of the State or of the United States, and all lands 
which the United States lawfully holds under the law of the 
State; all lands expressly retained by or ceded to the United 
States when the State entered the Union (otherwise than by a 
general retention or cession of lands underlying the marginal 
sea); all lands acquired by the United States by eminent domain 
proceedings, purchase, cession, gift, or otherwise in a proprietary 
capacity; all lands filled in, built up, or otherwise reclaimed by 
the United States for its own use; and any rights the United 
States has in lands presently and actually occupied by the United 
States under claim of right; 
(b) such lands beneath navigable waters held, or any interest 
in which is held by the United States for the benefit of any tribe, 
band, or group of Indians or for individual Indians; and 
(c) all structures and improvements constructed by the United 
States in the exercise of its navigational servitude. 
SEC. 6. POWERS KETAINED BY THE UNITED STATES.—(a) The United 
States retains all its navigational servitude and rights in and powers 
of regulation and control of said lands and navigable waters for the 
constitutional purposes of commerce, navigation, national defense, 
and international affairs, all of which shall be paramount to, but shall 
not be deemed to include, proprietary rights of ownership, or the 
rights of management, administration, leasing, use, and development 
of the lands and natural resources which are specifically recognized, 
confirmed, established, and vested in and assigned to the respective 
States and others by section 3 of this Act. 
(b) In time of war or when necessary for national defense, and 
the Congress or the President shall so prescribe, the United States 
shall have the right of first refusal to purchase at the prevailing 
market price, all or any portion of the said natural resources, or to 
acquire and use any portion of said lands by proceeding in accordance 
with due process of law and paying just compensation therefor. 
Tilf^4«id ^sis^^ 
^^^' '^- Nothing in this Act shall be deemed to amend, modify, or 
30 use 35736, 38. repeal the Acts of July 26, 1866 (14 Stat. 251), July 9, 1870 (16 
3 3 tfsc^Vol^"' Stat. 217), March 3,1877 (19 Stat. 377), June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 388), 
lld''Ao'?es, yosi a^^ December 22,1944 (58 Stat. 887), and Acts amendatory thereof or 
709; 43 use 321- supplementary thereto. 
l^rh-^^g's^plllim. 
SEC. 8. Nothing contained in this Act shall affect such rights, if 
661, 766. 
^^y^ ag j^ay have been acquired under any law of the United States by 
any person in lands subject to this Act and such rights, if any, shall be 
governed by the law in effect at the time they may have been acquired: 
Provided, however, That nothing contained in this Act is intended or 
shall be construed as a finding, interpretation, or construction by the 
Congress that the law under which such rights may be claimed in fact 
or in law applies to the lands subject to this Act, or authorizes or com-
pels the granting of such rights in such lands, and that the determina-
tion of the applicability or effect of such law shall be unaffected by 
anything contained in this Act. 
wa^d'orcontine^ 
^^^- ^- Nothing iu this Act shall be deemed to affect in any wise 
tai Shelf. 
the rights of the United States to the natural resources of that por-
tion of the subsoil and seabed of the Continental Shelf lying seaward 
and outside of the area of lands beneath navigable waters, as defined in 
section 2 hereof, all of which natural resources appertain to the United 
67 S T A T . 1 
PUBLIC LAW 32-MAY 22, 1953 
States, and the jurisdiction and control of which by the United States 
is hereby confirmed. 
SEC. 10. Executive Order Numbered 10426, dated January 16,1953, 
entitled "Setting Aside Submerged Lands of the Continental Shelf as 
a Naval Petroleum Reserve", is hereby revoked insofar as it applies 
to any lands beneath navigable waters as defined in section 2 hereof. 
SEC. 11. SEPARABILITY.—If any provision of this Act, or any sec-
tion, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or individual word, or the 
application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, 
the validity of the remainder of the Act and of the application of any 
such provision, section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or indi-
vidual word to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected 
thereby; without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if subsection 
3 (a) 1, 3 (a) 2, 3 (b) 1, 3 (b) 2, 3 (b) 3, or 3 (c) or any provision 
of any of those subsections is held invalid, such subsection or provision 
shall be held separable and the remaining subsections and provisions 
shall not be affected thereby. 
Approved May 22, 1953. 
18 FR 405. 
Public Law 32 
CHAPTER 66 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
To provide for proper participation by the United States Government in a 
national celebration of the fiftieth anniversary year of controlled powered 
flight occurring during the year from December 17, 1952, to December 17,1953. 
May 22, 1953 
[S. J. Res. 42] 
Whereas two Americans, Orville and Wilbur Wright, of Dayton, Ohio, 
made the world's first successful controlled powered flight in a 
heavier-than-air craft at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 
17,1903; and 
Whereas American inventiveness and competitive enterprise during 
the half-century since December 17,1903, has developed the airplane 
into one of mankind's most powerful economic tools, into a social 
force which has recast the earth, into the most decisive element in 
the armor of the free world; and 
Whereas the epochal contribution of the Wright Brothers is an his-
torical milestone in world aviation leadership; and 
Whereas the National Committee To Observe the Fiftieth Anniversary 
of Powered Flight desires and the President of the United States has 
directed the Federal Government to participate in a broad program 
of commemorative activities; and 
Whereas it is the judgment of the Congress that a proper coordination 
of Government participation in this anniversary be achieved: 
Therefore be it 
Resolved hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled^ That the period from Decem-
ber 17, 1952, to December 17, 1953, be, and it is hereby, declared the 
fiftieth anniversary year of controlled powered flight. 
The President of the Senate shall appoint six Members and the 
Speaker of the House shall appoint six Members to compose a Joint 
Committee on Observance of the Fiftieth Anniversary Year of Con-
trolled Powered Flight, and may appoint additional Members of their 
respective Houses, from time to time, to represent the Congress at 
principal national events during the fiftieth anniversary year of 
controlled flight. 
When requested thereto by the joint committee appointed pursuant 
to this resolution, the Secretary of Defense is authorized and directed 
to arrange for the cooperation of and appropriate participation by the 
50th anniversary 
of powered flight. 
Joint Committee 
on Observance.