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north half of the northwest quarter of section 12, all in township 1 south, range 27 east, Montana principal meridian, and amounting to nine hundred eighty-three and seventy-two one-hundredths acres, more or less.

Approved, July 14, 1952.

PRIVATE LAW 871

AN ACT

CHAPTER 747

July 14, 1952 [H. R. 7009]

Authorizing the issuance of a patent in fee to Franklin Yarlott.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior is authorized and directed to issue to Franklin Yarlott a patent in fee to the following-described lands allotted to him on the Crow Indian Reservation, Montana: The south half of the southeast quarter of section 4, the north half and the north half of the southwest quarter of section 9, township 8 south, range 38 east, Montana principal meridian.

Approved, July 14, 1952.

66 Stat. A 163

Franklin Yarlott.

PRIVATE LAW 872

AN ACT

CHAPTER 748

Authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to issue a patent in fee to Viola Delaney. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior is authorized and directed to issue to Viola Delaney La patent in fee to the following-described lands allotted to her on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Montana: Lot 4 and the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 2, township 36 north, range 11 west, Montana principal meridian, containing eighty-seven and fifty-eight one-hundredths acres.

Approved, July 14, 1952.

July 14, 1952 [H. R. 7301] 66 Stat. A163

Viola Delaney.

1164

PRIVATE LAW 873

AN ACT

CHAPTER 749

Authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to issue patents in fee to certain allottees on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior is authorized and directed to issue to the following-named persons patents in fee to certain lands allotted to them on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Montana:

Fred Gerard, Junior, northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 4, township 35 north, range 12 west, Montana principal meridian, containing forty acres.

Hazel Gerard Powers, southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 34, township 36 north, range 12 west, Montana principal meridian, containing forty acres.

Lyda Rose Gerard Shelton, southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 4, township 35 north, range 12 west, Montana principal meridian, containing forty acres.

James Gerard, west half of the west half of the northeast quarter of section 10, township 35 north, range 12 west, Montana principal meridian, containing forty acres.

Approved, July 14, 1952.

July 14, 1952 [H. R. 7302]

66 Stat. A 164

Fred Gerard, Jr., and others.

July 14, 1952

[H. R. 7303]

66 Stat. A164

Reba Yarlott and others.

1165

July 14, 1952 [S. 2646]

66 Stat. A165

Trustees of Church Property of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Wyoming.

April 9, 1952 [S. Con. Res. 64]

tures.

66 Stat. B25

PRIVATE LAW 874

AN ACT

CHAPTER 750

Authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to issue patents in fee to certain allottees on the Crow Indian Reservation.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior is authorized and directed to issue to the following-named persons patents in fee to their allotted lands on the Crow Indian Reservation, Montana:

Reba Yarlott, northeast quarter and the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 7, township 3 south, range 35 east; northwest quarter of section 33, township 7 south, range 38 east; southwest quarter and the south half of the southeast quarter of section 3; lot 8, section 2, and the north half of section 10, township 8 south, range 38 east, Montana principal meridian, containing nine hundred sixty-two and fifty-nine one-hundredths acres.

Florence Mary Yarlott, the northeast quarter of section 32, township 7 south, range 38 east; the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 2, and lots 1, 2, 3, and 4, and the south half of the north half and the north half of the southeast quarter of section 3, township 8 south, range 38 east, containing five hundred eight and eighty onehundredths acres.

1 Charles Edward Yarlott, south half of the northeast quarter and the south half of section 33; south half of section 34; south half of section 35, township 7 south, range 38 east, Montana principal meridian, containing one thousand and forty acres.

Approved, July 14, 1952.

PRIVATE LAW 876

AN ACT

CHAPTER 752

To cancel irrigation maintenance and operation charges on the Shoshone Indian
Mission School lands on the Wind River Indian Reservation.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all unpaid irrigation maintenance and operation charges against the lands on the Wind River Indian Reservation, owned by the Trustees of Church Property of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Wyoming, a Wyoming corporation, and described as the north half of the southwest quarter, the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter, the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter, section 8, township 1 south, range 1 west, Wind River meridian, Wyoming, are hereby canceled and the accrual of such charges shall be suspended for such period, not to exceed five years, as said lands continue to be held by the present

owners.

Approved, July 14, 1952.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE EIGHTY-SECOND CONGRESS, SECOND
SESSION, 1952

JOINT COMMITTEE ON NAVAJO-HOPI INDIAN ADMINISTRATION Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), Authorized expendi That the Joint Committee on Navajo-Hopi Indian Administration is authorized to expend until January 31, 1953, not in excess of $25,000, one-half from the contingent fund of the Senate and one-half from the contingent fund of the House of Representatives, upon vouchers signed by the chairman, for the purpose of paying the expenses of the committee under section 10 of the Act entitled "An Act to promote the rehabilitation of the Navajo and Hopi Tribes of Indians and a better utilization of the resources of the Navajo and Hopi Indian Reservation, and for other purposes", approved April 19, 1950. Disbursements

64 Stat. 47.

25 U. S. C. 640.

to pay such expenses shall be made by the Secretary of the Senate out
of the contingent fund of the Senate, such contingent fund to be
reimbursed from the contingent fund of the House of Representatives
in the amount of one-half of disbursements so made.
Agreed to April 9, 1952.

PUBLIC LAWS OF THE EIGHTY-THIRD CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION, 1953
PUBLIC LAW 31

AN ACT

CHAPTER 65

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.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Submerged Lands Act".

TITLE I
DEFINITION

SEC. 2. When used in this Act

(a) The term “lands beneath navigable waters" means

May 22, 1953 [H. R. 4193] 67 Stat. 29

Submerged Lands

Act.

"Lands beneath nav

(1) all lands within the boundaries of each of the respective igable waters." 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 interpreted 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 predecessor sovereign: Provided, however, That nothing herein shall be construed as conferring upon said grantees or lessees any greater rights or

"Boundaries."

"Coast line."

"Grantees" and "les

sees.'

130

"Natural resources."

"Person."

Title and powers.

Claims of U. S.

Leases in effect on June 5, 1950.

131

interests other than are described herein and in their respective grants from the State, or its predecessor or sovereign;

1(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 Union;

(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 II

LANDS BENEATH NAVIGABLE WATERS WITHIN STATE BOUNDARIES
SEC. 3. RIGHTS OF THE STATES.-

(a) It is hereby determined and declared to be in the public interest 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, confirmed, 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 covering 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 required 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 term thereof, and any extensions, renewals, or replacements

authorized 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 replacements 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, instruments 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, improvement, 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.

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,

Rights of U. S. respecting navigation,

etc.

Surface waters west of 98th meridian.

132

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